Why the No One Is Illegal Movement Is Wrong

The immigration and illegal immigration debate is a messy one with several factions on each side. As a supporter of immigration reform that includes a Pathway to Citizenship for those that qualify , I have pointed out several times what I view where these factions go wrong.

Today I want to point out where I think where some factions are going wrong in the legalization of illegal aliens camp. There are two issues this particular faction in that wider movement for legalization of illegal aliens are wrongheaded on.

First there is the stop the deportations crowd which I see a few tweets on each day. Conservatives might think that this administration is not deporting anyone. The fact is during the Obama administration deportations were reaching some all time highs. This infuriated quite a few and resulted in uncomfortable moments for the Obama administration with some on the left.

My question to the "stop deportations" crowd is where on where do they think the Obama administration as the executive has the power to stop deportations? Obama heads the executive which means he is responsible that the laws be executed. I cannot imagine the Constitutional crisis we would have if the Executive started just ignoring Congressional laws at whim. Further this is in my view self defeating. Part of the bargain in legalization of illegal aliens that qualify is that BORDER SECURITY will work!! People are not going to have a lot of confidence in that if the deportations stop. Thus the final resolution to this question is put off.

Related is the "no one is illegal" movement that we see. That is the pressure not to have news organizations , social welfare groups, politicos, Churches, etc call "undocumented" aliens "illegal" In fact we should just call them immigrants.

This too will backfire. I know that on both sides there has been "illegal" conduct. However at the end of the day they did and still are in the process of breaking the law. Their conduct is "illegal". I think most Americans know that though their conduct is illegal the reality is that this is a complicated situation with conflicting moral claims and demands.

However the American people I believe in their compassion and sense of fairness is open to Pathway to Citizenship for those that qualify. Trying to play word games and denying their "illegal" status will backfire. Its hard to get people in the compassion mode if they are being told there is nothing to be compassionate about. That their conduct is not "wrong" at all.

It also appears to be an "Open Borders" position in which most Americans very much oppose. I oppose an "Open Borders" position and I support immigration reform. So it is problematic on many levels.