By Joey Lauer

The hot-button issue of illegal immigration has bubbled to the top once again over the summer. The SB1070 law from Arizona has sparked politicians into taking another stab at the immigration problem. But what’s it going to take for true immigration reform this time around?

States like Arizona have it the hardest being on the border when it comes to illegal immigration. The flow of illegal immigrants contributes to drug and violence related crime, and also puts stress on services such as hospitals and the public school system. They are a burden on the taxpayers and they can take away jobs from citizens. The people in Arizona are desperate for solutions to the immigration problem, especially with the murder of Arizona rancher Robert Krentz by a suspected Mexican drug trafficker.

With the federal government lacking solutions that get to the heart of the problem, Arizona lawmakers took the matter into their own hands. The now infamous Arizona law SB1070 was passed in response, including key provisions such as making illegal immigration a state crime and allowing officers to check immigration status. The officers would only be able to check the status during a lawful stop for another offense. Once officers make the stop, they must additionally have reasonable suspicion that the person is here illegally. Whether the law would actually be effective is up for debate, especially since the aforementioned provisions were blocked by a federal judge for now.

President Obama and the Justice department filed this lawsuit with Arizona based on the potential of racial discrimination and overstepping the already existing federal law. This is politics at its finest however, because the law specifically bans racial profiling and compliments the existing federal law (it is less strict in fact). It is merely a maneuver to please the constituents who are opposed to enforcing the laws.

It would seem the real reason for attacking Arizona policy is that Obama and many Democrats want comprehensive immigration reform first. Arizona senator Jon Kyl heard it first hand when he spoke with the president on the issue. Obama said if the borders were secured, there would be no reason for Republicans to support comprehensive immigration reform. The “comprehensive” policy would most likely involve giving amnesty to the illegal immigrants already here. In other words, they want to make it easier to become a citizen, and then maybe talk about enforcing the border as an afterthought. That’s already been tried with the amnesty legislation of 1986. It failed because it didn’t attack the heart of the problem – unsecure borders.

If true immigration reform is to happen, it must be looked at as an issue of safety before all else. With the little enforcement we have on the borders, it creates an incentive for criminals and terrorists to access our country. It is a huge source for the transport of illegal drugs as well. If politicians truly care about homeland security, they will do everything to close off our border. People do not like the extra tax burden illegal immigrants place, but it is primarily a problem of protecting Americans.
Politicians who have emphasized securing the border are already starting to see the benefit. Jan Brewer, the governor of Arizona, took a stand for securing the borders and signed the SB 1070 law. Since then, she has gained favor with Arizonans and easily won her primary election. John McCain also handily won his primary after a strong shift to the right on immigration policy. In the polls, Arizonans supported the law with over 60%, and a majority of Americans supported it as well. It is an issue that Americans are fed up with and they want to see action. Republicans might be divided on ways to implement immigration reform, but they all need to agree on securing the borders first and foremost. It is the desire of the people, and Republicans would be wise to continue the push.

To their credit, President Obama and congress have been taking action on the issue. Arizona is now starting to receive their share of 500 of 1,200 National Guard troops ordered by Obama to patrol the southern border. Just recently, Obama signed an immigration spending bill with bipartisan support. The measure will pay for 1500 more border agents among other security provisions. Senators Jon Kyl and John McCain continue to fight for the border saying that the new law doesn’t do as much as it should. It is a step in the right direction, but there is still much to be done before stopping the flow of illegal immigration.

In the meantime, states should continue to pass legislation to secure their borders. It reflects the desire of the people and it sends a message to Washington to act. Immigration advocates will still be pushing for easier access to America, but conservatives should stay on track by implementing practical reforms such as troop deployment, surveillance, and physical walls. Once we can prevent illegal immigrants from coming across the borders, the rest will fall into place. With the source of the problem cut off, congress can take a fresh look at reforming immigration policy for those who are already here. Who knows, Republicans might even be open to talk about streamlining access to America.