The population of the United States of America is estimated 
to be 300 million people.  The quality of life is such that 
the average life expectancy gets longer each year.  Our 
population is growing at an incredible rate, and each
year more than one million people immigrate to this country. 
That is more that the number of immigrants moving to every other
country in the world, combined.  I have always felt, by the way,
that the best way to evaluate the condition of a country was to
look at the way that country had to guard it's gates.  Do they
have to control the flow of people into the country or out of the
country?  That should provide the best clue as to the standard of
living and the satisfaction of the people already living in that
place.  

There seems to be a tidal wave of emotion against accepting
new immigrants.  The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
is working overtime to ensure that those people who have entered 
the country illegally or are remaining in the country illegally 
are being caught and forced to leave.  California, a state that 
is acquiring over 50% of all new immigrants, recently voted in 
a law that refuses welfare and human services for health and 
education to anyone who could not prove that they were in this 
country legally.  Obviously this is an economic issue.  The cost 
of providing these services are being borne by the working citizens 
and legal aliens who are paying taxes.  In most other states in 
the union, with the possible exception of Texas and Florida, this 
problem is not significant.  But California has been hard hit with 
the costs associated with schools, clinics and shelters for illegal 
aliens.

Many of the world's civilized countries discourage immigration.  
France doesn't allow it at all.  Germany discourages immigration.  
Some countries take this position because there are severe land 
restrictions - they just don't have the space to support large 
numbers of new citizens.  Other countries can't afford to feed 
and care for any more than they already have.  The United States 
doesn't fall into either category.  We have plenty of land and 
we have the capability to feed and shelter over twice the current 
population.  We need to stop and remember that the current dominant 
people in this country were never "Native Americans".  Most of us 
are here because of immigration.  While it is true that some of 
that immigration was as early as the 16th and 17th century, the 
greatest portion of it was during the last hundred years.
  
Speaking strictly, from an economic viewpoint, immigration is
healthy.  The increase in adult population creates new consumer
demand which increases the Gross National Product.  This, in turn, 
creates new employment opportunities.  Many of those opportunities 
are at "entry level" positions that can be filled by the immigrants 
themselves.  Historically, immigrants have been willing to take work 
that many American citizens feel is beneath them, no matter how much 
they may need any kind of work at all.  Once a new immigrant 
recognizes the advantages available to any normal American citizen, 
that person is motivated to work harder and study longer to learn the 
language, save some money, and make a life.  Yes, we make jokes about 
the people working in the all-night convenient store - but if it weren't 
for them, those stores would not be so convenient.

Speaking from a humanistic viewpoint, it is all to easy to
make this an "us versus them" problem and attempt to blockade the
immigrant from climbing on our "gravy train".  It would seem that
the term "Brotherhood" only exists one week a year.  That would
be "Brotherhood Week".  In fact, if we don't wake up and realize
that brotherhood is a twenty-four hour per day, seven day per week 
evolution, we may soon not have a country left for immigrants to enter.  

Yes, people come from different cultures and speak different languages.  
They enjoy different kinds of foods.  What is wrong with that?  If 
they don't like what you like, eat what you eat, or dress as you dress, 
are they bad?  Does that make them dangerous?  And human beings that 
left poverty and oppression seeking a new and better life are entitled 
to the same human kindness as anyone else.  A piece of paper should not 
make them legal or illegal.  How do you know that the child you refuse 
to educate or provide health care to may not grow up and become the 
person who discovers the cure for AIDS?  Or may not someday become a 
fireman and save your life and property?  Or maybe will only be a 
school crossing guard and provide safety for the children of your 
community?  

The whole concept of needing official papers to travel to
different countries is strange to me.  It is very similar to the
arguments that are used against gun control.  Criminals are still
going to have guns.  They are committing crimes anyway, so what
is the problem with having an illegal gun?  If the reason for
requiring passports of travelers is to keep criminals out of
other countries, it is not working.  We have simply established a
thriving market in forged papers.  While I am well aware that it
is useless to advocate the elimination of the passport/visa
system, I can certainly be for much less restrictive laws
regarding the legal entry into the USA.  It may be costly and
difficult to absorb the thousands upon thousands of people who
will want to immigrate to our country, but we have the land and
the resources to accommodate them, so why not try?
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