In an interesting twist to the CIR fiasco, one voice is suggesting that maybe the immigration system is not broken.
This interesting point of view came from a man who followed the “system” to become an American citizen. He went from a student visa to a work visa to a work permit and then a green card. Within three years, he was an American citizen. He did it legally and used the existing system to get from point A to point B. He does not understand why people suggest that the immigration system is broken beyond repair and needs to be fixed.
This man’s opinion is that immigration is legally achievable, and within the system that is currently in place. Further, he feels that the system is there for a reason and that people have broken it, and now they want to government to fix it for them. It is an interesting point of view and one that may have a great deal of merit if you stop to think about it for a minute – sort of like the chicken and the egg question. Definitely food for thought.
This brings up a whole passel of questions relating to federal authority, what laws can be defended in a court of law, which laws will not fly in court, how the laws may affect various citizens and other constitutional questions. Call it a melting pot of immigration issues, flavored with the uncertainty of where a state fits into the picture. Immigration is largely a federal concern, with states attempting to deal with their immigration problems in their own fashion and not always doing such a fine job. Think Arizona.
What is happening right now is that the federal government is not doing anything about CIR and this has forced the States to play in their own sandbox and make up immigration rules and laws as they go. The resulting dog’s breakfast of federal laws versus state laws is undeniably a complete mess, which makes the point of view that if it really “isn’t broke, don’t fix it” a very refreshing and piquant point of view.
Of course, it’s a point of view that very few others may agree with, but, perhaps it is time for some common sense to prevail – something that is undoubtedly in very short supply in the face of political agendas. Maybe it is time for another agenda; one that says we are the authors of our own misfortune and need to abide by what is in place and stop trying to bend the rules to our benefit.
Sally Odell – Rifkin & Fox-Isicoff, PA is an immigration lawyer in Miami with immigration law offices in Orlando and Miami Florida. To learn more, visit http://www.rifkinandfoxisicoff.com.
