Has the immigration “debate” made you nauseated yet?
It should. Because, after all, it’s a fetid, reeking pile of political posturing and irrationality.
And I’m usually a fan of our vicious democratic process.
A debate, incidentally, is a discussion or deliberation. Nothing resembling dialogue is ongoing in today’s supposed immigration debate. One side offers highly suspect “reform,” while the other offers little more than an angry chorus of “no.”
No. As in no solution.
Meanwhile, locally, officials are only empowered to enact enforcement in dribs and drabs. Typically, this is meant to satisfy the angry mob. Though, more often than not, toothless enforcement only enrages it further.
Case in point: This week, news of a Colorado State Patrol unit designed to “help enforce federal immigration” laws beginning July 1 was unveiled.
Twenty-two Colorado troopers, having completed a special five-week Immigration and Customs Enforcement training program, are now deputized to assist in dealing with the state’s illegal-immigration problem.
To say that these agents will have a negligible effect on the situation in Colorado would be an exaggeration of vast proportions.
“Troopers will be doing their jobs,” Sgt. Jeff Goodwin, a patrol spokesman, tells me. “The difference is now when they encounter illegal immigrants, as part of regular duties, they will have the authority to proceed in ways they could not have before. They can arrest them. Transfer them to ICE agents. Get the paperwork started.”
It must have been one intense class.
Patrols, in addition to paperwork duty, will also help “identify and remove” illegal immigrants involved in criminal activity. Consequently, one might wonder where exactly they will be removed to? And if we “remove” them to, say, Mexico, what’s to stop the energetic migrant hiker from coming back next week?
Aren’t these 22 officers, with such a vague charge, wasting their time?
“Beforehand, we couldn’t enforce federal law,” Goodwin explains. “They would call ICE and find out one way or another how to deal with the situation. Now, instead of waiting for a decision from another agency, our troopers will be making decisions.”
So, 22 agents – of approximately 490 – can now deal with shifty illegals instead of relying on ICE. If it works, will Colorado mandate that more agents undergo this program?
Goodwin explains that the situation will be revisited in two years, and then, perhaps, the program will expand. But there is really no way of knowing. By my calculations, all Colorado agents will be ready to roll by the year 2197.
Will it make a difference?
“Hard to say,” Goodwin says. “It’s a fair question. We don’t know. This is a brand-new realm and a new expertise we have not been able to utilize yet. We are going to give it an honest shot. The guys in this unit are very sharp.”
With all due respect to the troopers, this is another piecemeal solution. Enforcement- only advocates will cry out for more draconian measures. Business owners in jail. Huge fines. When it comes to illegal immigrants, no punishment is too harsh.
The solution is in Washington, not on Colorado highways. And there is no perfect answer. Polls indicate that most Americans want to control the border, but most also want to extend some route to legality for the reportedly 12 million illegal immigrants in the country. (A path otherwise known as “amnesty.”)
A noisy minority isn’t interested in a solution or a compromise. It would rather peddle theories about a conspiratorial war on the middle class. The other side would rather call you a racist for believing that borders should mean something.
I don’t believe most Coloradans fall into either extreme camp – any more than I believe they want Colorado State Patrol troopers spending their time doing the U.S. Border Patrol’s job.
David Harsanyi’s column appears Monday and Thursday. Reach him at 303-954-1255 or dharsanyi@denverpost.com.
