Staff Reports
The Biden administration has unveiled a new immigration program that supposedly aims to provide “security” to illegal immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens. Still, it’s looking more like a generous, all-you-can-eat buffet for those who want to bypass the legal immigration process. Under this new initiative, dubbed “parole,” the illegal alien spouses will receive work permits, Social Security numbers, and even some taxpayer-funded benefits—because why not reward people for breaking the law?
With the stroke of a bureaucratic pen, the administration claims half a million illegal immigrants married to American citizens will have the opportunity to apply for this program. When you add the stepchildren into the mix, the number grows to nearly 50,000. It seems that the motto could very well be, “If you can’t beat ’em, just grant them legal status.” Rather than shore up borders and enforce existing immigration laws, the administration’s solution is to extend more formal recognition to those who have ignored those laws.
DHS says new spouse ‘parole’ program will keep other illegal immigrants from cominghttps://t.co/mi2Yfy9GVq pic.twitter.com/MTHoOhiZ8z
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) August 20, 2024
One of the flowing arguments from the Biden administration is that this new program will help reduce illegal immigration by enabling these folks to send money back to their home countries, purportedly stabilizing those regions so that their citizens won’t want to migrate. This oddly assumes that cash transfers will single-handedly solve the issues driving immigration in the first place. However, many skeptics point out that increased remittances often amplify the incentives to move. After all, if someone can earn a comfortable living in America and send money back home, why wouldn’t others attempt to make the perilous journey?
The program also claims to create a safer environment by encouraging illegal immigrants to report crimes and decline unsafe working conditions. It sounds nice in theory, but it’s hard to imagine how someone who entered the country unlawfully would feel empowered to take on unscrupulous employers or report crime without the fear of deportation hanging over their heads. In reality, this could simply result in a more complacent workforce, less willing to rock the boat, and more reliant on the handouts they might receive from a government that seems more intent on granting favors than enforcing the law.
As if the benefits of this new program weren’t enough, the administration argues it could improve relations with countries like Mexico and Colombia. In a rare stroke of international diplomacy, the thought is that more protections for illegal immigrants will compel those nations to step up their border security efforts. This could very well be the first time anyone has suggested that granting legal immunity would actually lead to stricter enforcement. History, however, suggests that nations more often respond to strong borders and clear laws than to lax policies and promises.
The crowning irony in this whole charade is the jubilant response from immigrant rights activists, who view these cards as a welcome mat rather than a door that should only be open for those who follow the law. As they prepare clinics to help illegals cash in on these new benefits, one has to question who’s really benefiting in this scenario. While Democratic leaders paint a rosy picture of “family unity” and opportunity, many Americans are left wondering just who exactly is looking out for their interests. The message is clear: when it comes to immigration policy, the line between legality and illegality has never been blurrier.
