Immigration Reform.

A friend sent me an article Oklahoma's new bill fighting illegal immigration.

Here are some of my thoughts in general about this issue.

The number one way to fight "illegal immigration" is to go after the employers of undocumented workers. I am weary of efforts made to punish those who come here looking for a better life. US corporations build factories in Mexico and other impoverished countries because the labor is so cheap there and they do not have to follow the same safety, health, and pollution regulations.
I also disagree with the notion that Mexican's are "not Americans." The countries south of our border are still in America. This ethnocentric idea that only US citizens are true Americans is ignorant at best. The United States boasts of being a country of immigrants but whenever a new wave of immigration appears a xenophobic attack is launched against whoever it is crossing our boarder. The same happened when Italians and Irish came to this country. Yes, it is wrong to come here illegally, but the people coming here are being exploited on both sides of the boarder. I disagree with those who want to have private militias (the Minutemen) patrolling the boarder or those who want to refuse children of undocumented works health care and education; this false patriotism is just veiled racism.
If there are no jobs for undocumented workers, they will stop coming. The jobs that they used to do will have to offer decent wages, and hopefully they will begin to seek answers in their own countries and we should help them change their corrupt governments and at the same time prosecute the corrupt corporations that exploit their situation.

Thom Hartmann one of my favorite authors wrote a collum about the split in the Rebublican party over Immagration reform.

Today's Immigration Battle
Corporatists vs. Racists (and Labor is Left Behind)

by Thom Hartmann

The corporatist Republicans ("amnesty!") are fighting with the racist Republicans ("fence!"), and it provides an opportunity for progressives to step forward with a clear solution to the immigration problem facing America.

Both the corporatists and the racists are fond of the mantra, "There are some jobs Americans won't do." It's a lie.

Americans will do virtually any job if they're paid a decent wage. This isn't about immigration - it's about economics. Industry and agriculture won't collapse without illegal labor, but the middle class is being crushed by it....read more.