Illegal Border Crossing Needs To Be Prosecuted As A Felony!

Border Patrol agents with one of four illegal immigrants arrested at a medical aid camp in the desert near Arivaca. (Photo courtesy Customs and Border Protection)

Our current process of catch and release as a misdemeanor offense and future court hearing for illegals entering the U.S. is a joke and is not working. The concept that most illegal border crossers present no threat to our citizens is completely erroneous as it provides a cover for criminals to enter our communities. Moreover, the entry of illegals creates an erosion of citizens’ rights, while unfairly burdening tax supported services for non-citizens who should be denied access into our sovereign nation.

The first step in preventing illegal entry is to establish an irrevocable identity that a felony charge will be imposed to those who illegally cross our borders. The second step is to provide a wall that provides a physical barrier and a monitoring system that makes it nearly impossible to illegally enter the United States.  The third step is to provide limited entry work permits for farm and unskilled services that allows for supervised entry, which ensures the perimeter with fair labor practices. The fourth step is to develop a process whereby the existing millions of illegal border crossers who already found shelter in the U.S. can qualify for a pardon of these charges and earn the right to become citizens by engaging in  work service provided they do not possess a criminal record.  These four steps on immigration control is a humanitarian approach to overcome a problem that has existed for decades caused by our inept, weak or corrupt politicians who have ignored the issue.

I, and a lot of others are tired of being relegated to a status of second class citizens when there is a priority to protect the rights of illegal border crossers who should be identified as felons. The constant barrage of propaganda by vocal liberals for open borders is an unforgivable crime against out sovereign nation. These comments should not be held out by the media as a standard of care. Our news reporters, commentators and administration should not be supporting fake news that portrays those who violate our border as model citizens. The proponents of sanctuary cities are both stupid and ignorant advocates who mindlessly provide shelter to criminals who find cover from their violent acts of drug running, thievery, rape and human trafficking in addition to being felons for crossing the U.S. border illegally.

   David V. MacCollum
President Trump is an effective leader by calling in the National Guard to secure the border and make it impenetrable until the wall is built. Stopping the flow of criminals is necessary and a clear priority is needed to put teeth in our prevention of these illegal border crossers.  Understandably, we should allow entry to those who seek safety from persecution in their own countries for religious or other reasons.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has initiated a policy of zero tolerance for border crossers and has defined them as felons.  Border patrol experience shows that border crossings decrease when facing criminal charges. This should be our National Goal and these felons would be deported. With the assistance of the U.S. National Guard, entry of felons can be stopped and ICE should continue to locate, capture, record and deport those who have already entered into the U.S. illegally and have committed crimes. Our national ethic should have no tolerance or public acceptance of illegal border crossers who in all aspects are felons.

About David V. MacCollum 56 Articles
David V. MacCollum is a past president of the American Society of Safety Engineers and was a member of the first U.S. Secretary of Labor's Construction Safety Advisory Committee [1969-1972]. He is the author of: Construction Safety Planning (Jun 16, 1995) Crane Hazards and Their Prevention (Jan 1, 1991) Construction Safety Engineering Principles (McGraw-Hill Construction Series): Designing and Managing Safer Job Sites Jan 8, 2007) Building Design and Construction Hazards (May 15, 2005)