Gibsons Passion essays

Gibson's Passion essays The problem of illegal immigration is twofoldone, there is the problem that illegal immigrants take jobs away from American citizens. The second, a more recently recognized threat, is that because illegal immigrants often lay America open to terrorist threats. Approaching this problem must not simply be confined to improving airport security, border patrols and creating less permeable borders. Many high-risk immigrants penetrate the border legally, often with temporary visas. Once in the country, they find work under the table.' Thus, first and foremost individuals who give illegal immigrants employment and who provide financial sustenance for this underground economy must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Another potential solution that has been offered is introducing a national identification card. However, such a card already effectively exists, that of a driver's license that one must use to board planes. According to David Simcox, "despite a campaign by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators for more uniformity, the formats, security features and databases of state licenses vary wildly. A majority does not require the Social Security number. Only a handful use biometrics, usually fingerprints. And there is a hodgepodge of mutually incompatible formulas for assigning unique numbers to drivers." (Simcox, 2002) This criticism should not be leveled simply upon driver's licenses, but upon all forms of identification for American citizens. A national identity card is less necessary than greater uniformity of all documentation, and more responsible checking for documents that exist. Consider visas, for instance. Surprisingly, even after September 11, the United States government has also failed to enforce time limits on visas of foreign-born nationals. (Camarota, 2002) If the U.S. Government ...