I don't know what it is that Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner has against illegal immigrants, but residents of Wisconsin's 5th Congressional District, who have continuously elected the man since 1978, should be embarrassed by his latest immigration reform package.

Sensenbrenner's proposal, in the eyes of the law, would treat illegal immigrants as if they were suspected terrorists. For example, the bill penalizes those who assist illegal immigrants, makes it a felony for illegal immigrants to be in the United States illegally, penalizes employers who hire illegal immigrants, requires the deportation of illegal immigrants who use fake state issued identity cards or social security cards and authorizes the construction of 700 miles of fencing along the Mexican border.

Perhaps the Chairman knows more than he let's on and is anticipating a war with Mexico, but I doubt it. Or, maybe he just really hates the idea of America continuing to be the land of opportunity for those born into less opportunistic countries. Either way, it seems quite obvious that anyone risking their life by crossing the treacherous southern border can't possibly have the resources to be a terrorist.

Apparently, I'm not the only skeptic. This past week 100,000 people gathered in downtown Los Angeles for a "Weekend of Action," 15,000 rallied in Phoenix, and another 15,000 people rallied in Milwaukee supporting "A Day Without Latinos." Two weeks ago, another 100,000 gathered in Chicago, all protesting what they see as punitive and mean-spirited legislation.

Mr. Sensenbrenner responded to the public outcry in Milwaukee against his legislation with a statement on his website the following day. The statement concluded, "America is a compassionate nation that should continue to be the land of opportunity. But the best way to help illegal aliens is by stopping illegal immigration."

Fortunately, Mr. Sensenbrenner does not have unilateral authority to make our country's laws.

The Senate is scheduled to enter the debate this week in one of many ways; possibly through Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, who said he would bring a new bill to the Senate floor that would tighten control of the nation's borders without creating a new guest worker program if the Senate Judiciary Committee didn't come out with its bill by today.

Presidential hopefuls have also plugged into the debate. Senator John McCain took sides with the President, calling for tougher border security along with an immigrant guest-worker program that would allow businesses to offer special work visas to illegal immigrants already in the country if they can show that American workers would not take the positions. Senator Hillary Clinton blasted Mr. Frist's proposal as unsympathetic to immigrants, saying that efforts to criminalize illegal immigrants would "literally criminalize the good Samaritan."

Senator Clinton is right on. If, in Mr. Sensenbrenner's words, America really is the land of opportunity, why would we want to deprive not only immigrants but all Americans of the opportunity to benefit from these immigrants? I can't think of one service industry that is not reliant on the immigrant population. Anywhere you go, from restaurants to hotels, immigrants provide the labor necessary to maintain a cost-effective business.

In the 2004 film, "A Day Without a Mexican," producer Sergio Arau captures this precise message. The film illustrates what one day in California would be like with no Mexicans, legal or illegal. The film's message is clear: People take for granted the work that Latinos, legal and illegal do, as they do the work that others, for whatever reason, are unwilling to do.

On the other side of the debate, representatives for the anti-illegal immigration movement argue that they need to fight illegal immigration to defend our land and values from those who would cross the border without permission. They continue to argue that white people are disappearing, and that illegal immigrants are stealing their way of life.

In 1831, Alexis de Tocqueville set off in search of the meaning of democracy in America. He traveled the country for nine months, writing sometime later, "Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the greatness and the genius of America. … America is good. And if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."

Whether Tocqueville's writings ring true today depends on whether America embraces or rejects others seeking a better way of life. Unfortunately, almost all those seeking illegal entry into the United States do so because they are born into a country with few opportunities and limited freedoms. Punishing those who seek the same freedoms we work so hard to protect is hypocritical and un-American.

Jason Saltoun Ebin ([email protected]) is a second-year law student.