Truth or a shell game?

Well, I couldn't believe my eyes and ears the other night when I saw a press conference given by NY Senator Charles Schumer during which he used the following words: "People who enter the United States without our permission are illegal aliens, and illegal aliens should not be treated the same as people who entered the United States legally." http://schumer.senate.gov/new_website/record.cfm?id=314990 Wow! Someone is finally grasping the concept that the United States of America is a country of laws.

Personally, I always, as the granddaughter of legal emigrants to the United States, have been offended by the tendency of our elected officials and the media to refer to people here illegally as "undocumented workers" or "immigrants". Immigrants come to this country legally, learn our customs, follow our laws and wish to add value to our nation. Illegal aliens do none of the above, and, in fact, show the quality of their character by making their first act in our country one that is in violation of our laws.

After reading Senator Schumer's press release and comments (link above), I applaud what he had to say, for the most part. I do however, take umbrage at one of his seven principals: " All illegal aliens present in the United States on the date of enactment of our bill must quickly register their presence with the United States Government—and submit to a rigorous process of converting to legal status and earning a path to citizenship—or face imminent deportation." I have no problem with the requirement that illegal aliens register; I do however, have a problem with any attempt to "reward" illegals by allowing them to "buy" their way to citizenship with taxes and fines or to jump ahead of those who are trying to come to the United States legally.

I urge everyone to read what the Senator said, but to take it with a grain of salt. The cynic in me questions whether the Senator is saying what he thinks Americans want to hear so that we will be less vigilant at Congress' next attempt at "comprehensive immigration reform". We need to remain vigilant and to watch Congress' every step on this matter, or we will have a repeat of 1986's mass amnesty (aka the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986) , regardless of press releases that say what we would like to hear.