COLUMN: Illegal aliens: The truth behind the reality

As a former contributor to the Log’s opinion section on many occasions, I have previously commented on scientific issues including shark tournaments, the erosion of Norriego Point, and the critical issue of beach erosion.

However after reading the May 27, 2009, Log article entitled “Community Still Rallying Behind Chilean Survivors” and having lived in San Diego, Calif., now for almost three years, I felt compelled to write about one of the most insidious issues facing the United States today … that of illegal immigration, primarily from Mexico.

Clearly what happened to those Chilean students in the Log article was a criminal travesty and had nothing to do with American patriotism.

However, despite the horror of the deed, it clearly reflects the mounting frustration that most taxpaying Americans are currently feeling regarding the trampling and curtailment of our constitutional rights and freedoms by too much immigration - primarily the economic ramifications of rampant illegal Mexican immigration within the United States.

It is an issue that is steeped in political rhetoric and positioning and is something that our politicians on both sides are advocating for votes and for the continuance of their parties to stay in power.

Only now, under the current administration, is the border fence being constructed in specific high traffic sections but not in entirety across our southern border.

It is likely this is being done now as a progressive olive branch to the American people and a prelude to the Obama administration’s presidential campaign promise to Latino groups of granting amnesty or a path to citizenship to the likely 30 million illegal Mexican immigrants - yes, that’s 30 million folks, and probably more, currently living in the United States. 

In any time, but especially under the current U.S. and global economy, such an amnesty would be economically devastating to the United States, much like the basically uncontrolled illegal immigration has been to the economic demise of the state of California.

After decades and decades, this once great state is now in serious economic woe and turmoil with the state government facing bankruptcy, primarily due to a lack of federal (taxpayer) funding for long-term absorption and tax-free subsidization of illegal Mexican immigrants and their ever-expanding population within the state.

And what is happening in California is a microcosm to what is slowly happening across the U.S.

Given Florida’s rank as the third state in the union as containing the most Mexican illegal immigrants, what has happened in California will eventually befall Florida.

So what can you do?

Contact your congressmen and senators and voice your opinion against the upcoming amnesty or path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

And join your local Minuteman Groups. As I hope this article has conveyed, it is an issue that has many sides and perhaps much of this is unknown to many of you.

Given the absolute travesty of it and the very surprising advocacy by many of our politicians for both political, opportunistic, and self-serving purposes, we the people must make our voices heard and deal with the issue from within.
If we don’t, you best have your children learn to speak Spanish.

Dr. Joseph Hunt is a former Log contributor and an American geologist who lives in San Diego, Calif.