At age 18 , Kamal Shah came to the United States from India by boat with $21 in his pocket. In order to remain legal when his student visa expired, he found a job selling bicycle trailers. He remained a legal resident alien until 2001, when he endured the naturalization process and became a United States citizen.
Each year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, roughly one million immigrants follow in the footsteps of Mr. Shah and become legally naturalized, while over 350,000 people arrive in the United States illegally. This past week, State Rep. Pedro Colón (D-Milwaukee) introduced a bill in the Assembly that would offer illegal immigrants who attend Wisconsin high schools in-state tuition at universities within the UW System. So long as they promise to obtain visas, they would receive the same treatment as legal immigrants and other in-state residents.
In essence, the very fact that any of our elected representatives would consider this legislation delivers a sucker punch to any of those who slog through the bureaucratic mire to become legal residents or citizens. Because their illegal crossing of the border results in stricter immigration policies across the board, those who live in nearby countries and enter illegally often deny other prospective citizens from poorer countries across the sea the opportunity to obtain visitor visas and green cards. Rewarding these illegals does a terrible disservice to those who seek to legally become Americans, especially those who encounter great difficulty because of the stringent regulations.
To be sure, many supporters of this legislation sincerely care about the hopes and dreams of immigrants — both legal and illicit. Indeed, those who cross the border illegally do so for the right reasons: opportunity and a chance to live out the American dream. They deserve sympathy. But any legislation in direct contradiction with immigration laws would compromise the integrity of the legal system. Simply put, Rep. Colón’s bill is tantamount to telling a bank robber that not only can he keep the money he stole, but that the state will pay him interest on it.
To liken this ostensibly “humane” piece of legislation to abetting criminals may sound harsh or even cruel, but when stripped of the veneer of feel-good rhetoric and appeals to bleeding hearts, the fact remains that the people this bill aims to help have committed illegal actions. They may seek the American dream, as do so many others, but they have broken the laws of the land and cannot in good conscience be rewarded, in spite of this “detail.” Even when acting out of altruism, we cannot turn a blind eye to the law. The American dream is about arriving in the United States in search of a better life, working hard, hopefully catching a few breaks, and ultimately forging a better life for oneself. It is a perversion of this concept to believe that it may be attained by less-than-honest means.
In addition to Rep. Colón’s bill in the State Assembly, similar bills await the judiciary and education committees in the U.S. House of Representatives. Fortunately, both Colón’s bill and its federal counterpart stand a slim chance of passing — or in the federal bill’s case, even making it out of committee. In Wisconsin, the Assembly Republicans who form the majority, in addition to any Democrats who esteem the law, will see to it that this inane bill meets its deserved doom. The prevalence of common sense should provide a similar barrier in the Republican House of Representatives.
So why is this bill worth venting about? In short, it is troubling that there are legislators — lawmakers — who apparently either fancy subverting the law or misunderstand it so grossly that they would attempt to afford illegal immigrants the same educational benefits enjoyed by legal immigrants and students native to the United States. Is it really that inhumane to wait for them to obtain citizenship before we treat them as citizens?
The mere fact that the United States receives such a staggering amount of immigrants each year, both legal and illegal, testifies to the promise others see in this great land. They see the prevalence of liberty and the promise of opportunity. Neither of these alluring qualities would exist, however, if not for the rule of law — from the U.S. Constitution at the top all the way down to state statutes.
Well-intentioned as it may be, Rep. Colón’s bill would undermine this sacred rule of law, serving only to reward shortcuts and insult those who immigrate legally.
Frank Hennick ([email protected]) is a sophomore majoring in political science.
