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I have blogged and responded extensively to the issue of illegal aliens. I oppose any proposal that gives amnesty, por that allows, in any way, foriegn national from coming into this country in illegal fashions.

However, over the weekend, I was educated in what it is like to be a legal alien, and the restrictions and the regulations they must follow. Now, I'm not arguing that we shoul dnot have restrictions, nor am I arguing that we should not have regulations. The regulation of immigration is both sensible from an economic and national security perspective.

What smacked me in the face was how stupid we are, as a country, in our different treatment of illegal and legal aliens. OkieDokie and I took a collegue of hers and his friend to the playoff game on Saturday in Foxboro. Both of these gentlemen are Indian nationals (I'm talkin' India here, folks...). They are here legally, with valid "Green Cards". They did all the things they had to do legally to get here. They both work daily, in responsible jobs. They pay taxes to both the Federal government and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. They pay Social Security tax in spite of the fact that they, if their status stays the same, cannot collect it.

Neither of these men complains about this, and both are in the process of seeking citizenship. I'd be proud if these men were "Americans".

Me being me, I had to ask....":How do yo feel about all of this talk about illegal aliens?" Now, understand that I have talked politics with "Girish" before. He is a conservative man in every way but his stance on "the war", or for that matter, "war in general". "Remember Chip, I come from India, where Gandhi drove the British out with firing a shot."

This highly intelligent, soft spoken man of kindness' face hardened. Spittle formed at the corner of his mouth. He went on and on. He even interjected a few "four letter words", spoken in perfect, yet accented English. I wondered if Gandhi ever swroe....certainly this man doesn't frequently.

He told us of how unfair it is. I pulled out of him; he is a humble man; how hard he worked to get here. The two years of waiting, the endless paperwork. The "finding a job where people could wait" for his Green card to come through. He spoke of the taxes he paid, not from a perspective of resentment at our government, but from a deep resentment that he paid taxes, the benefits of which he doesn't receive, that illegals are tapping into. This is a responsible, honest, hardworking gentleman, who owns a home and two cars. He has a pregnant wife and a young son. They speak English in their home, and thses two Indian gentlemen speak English to each other. He spoke of the insulting interview with the consulate in Bombay, where his wife was told, "We don't think your marriage is real. We think you are lying to gain entry." But mostly he spoke of honesty, of the value of rules, and the requirement that good men behave legally.

And when he realized that both OkieDokie and I respect him both for his work coming here, and his values while here, he told us the truth....the sad, heart-wrenching truth about America. We punish the legal immigrants and allow the illegal ones to get off scot-free. Because he is registered;because he went through the paperwork to get here,because there is a record of his immigration, his behavior here is monitored. His "Green Card" allows him to work here, but requires him to leave if he loses his job. If he leaves his job, for any reason, he must find another within 10 days, or face deportment. He cannot tap into unemployment, in spite of the fact that he paid in. This man has paid state and federal taxes since the day her arrived. He owns a home and two cars. He pays property taxes and excise tax. But gone he'd be.

Here's my question: How dumbassed is it to treat the folks who follow your rules worse than you do those who break them? If you even begin to wonder why we are in the mess we are in, just go speak to legal aliens! They are just plain more sophisticated.....

Chip's Blog

On Legal Aliens

Chip

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