ImmigrationCounters.com is dedicated to those concerned with how their borders and immigration laws are being managed. It shows the realities of illegal immigration, while challenging the popular myths. After decades of passively watching these problems grow, Americans are now waking up to the severity of this issue. Thanks to informed citizens' quick actions, 20 loopholes were discovered in the 347-page Immigration Reform Act. The document became suspect when a complex, previously ignored problem suddenly had a bill "living in the shadows" that required a quick vote. Because the Federal Government has failed to control illegal immigration, legislators are now addressing the issues at their local levels with bills to manage it incrementally, piece-by-piece, rather than trying to fix the entire national crisis at once--an impossible task. Securing our borders, enforce the existing laws equally with no sanctuary status, punish employers who violate our laws, remove the "magnets" by curbing free social services for those in the country illegally and pressure the Latin American leaders to create a strong middle class for their people. We must also address the fact that we're soft on illegal immigrants caught in crimes and not deported. No other country would allow this to continue. If we remove the many "magnets" which attract illegal immigrants into our country, we'll see significant self-deportation as a result. Government agencies and officials at all levels must address the concerns of the nation as well as local communities when it comes to immigration, both legal and illegal. Past mistakes have been made in attempts to fix immigration and our communities can no longer afford these kinds of mistakes.

America must have immigration enforcement that reflects the nation's voice in balance with the human side of illegal immigration, the narrow interests of the business lobby, expanding government service agencies, and pro big government officials who envision their expanding dependent class. Neither should America suddenly disregard our forefathers' immigration principles simply to appease the business lobby. Citizenship is not for sale to immigration lawbreakers with credit cards. Our legal principles are precisely what have made our country successful, stable and unique. These concerns do not represent a selfish interest in protecting our country from the inclusion of healthy and legal immigration; rather, they are about being a nation of laws. These laws and responsibilities apply to everyone and have nothing to do with racism. History cannot be rewound as some activists would like in their "Reconquista" to reconquer the land (as in the days of the Pueblo People, a land of barrenness before the borders were established). Every developed country now has immigration laws. Without them, sovereignty and national identity are both weakened, security is lost, and a perpetual string of problems occur as a result. The United States naturalization laws were established in 1790. Since 1929, illegal entry into the United States has been a federal crime.

Most Americans respect the laws while raising their children to do the same, yet they are aware of millions in our country who violate not only immigration laws but virtually every law that exists. Americans notice the unscrupulous businesses that hire them and the government agencies that cater to them at a great expense. Our officials are charged with the responsibility of oversight and have failed to do so on a scale unimaginable. It's obvious our officials have allowed this problem to grow. Government agencies and lobbyist have a convenient history of under-estimating statistics and costs. If an automatic "path to citizenship" (i.e., Amnesty) is offered, government leaders will quickly realize there are significantly more than 10-11 million in the country--in fact, there are more than 20 million. This would also be an offense to the millions of honest immigrants who have become citizens through the established legal process. The opportunity to live and work in America must remain an invited and controlled privilege, not to be gained by backdoor tactics.

Illegal immigrants are not "victims" who need us to rescue them. Yes, many are hard working and only wanting a better life as those in all countries do. However, the problem is much broader than what some media images suggest (e.g., the harvesting of crops, immigrants feeding their families, or emotional photos of parents deported from their anchor child--an extremely rare event). A significant number are single males with no families to feed. In fact, illegal immigrants know that having an anchor child greatly reduces their chances of being deported. Yet the same media is not sympathetic to American parents separated from their children when they're caught breaking the law. In the real world, Americans have witnessed millions of illegals openly engage in undesirable activities, while enjoying special treatment that our own citizens don't receive. Such activities include catch-and-release (a type of sanctuary status that even foreign diplomats don't get), failure to appear in court, immigrant gangs, drug and human smuggling, violent crimes, massive identity fraud, illegal voting, driving under the influence, hit-and-run accidents and various other motor vehicle violations, tax free incomes, free social services (including housing and food stamps), free emergency room care, public school enrollments, a full range of medical services for family members due to chain migration--including elderly parents who draw on the healthcare system and maternity care for their anchor babies. As if this weren't enough, they then wave their foreign flags in the streets of America demanding their rights, yet they don't have the courage to demonstrate in their native countries in order to fix their own countries' problems. Across the nation, District Attorneys routinely cut plea bargains with illegals caught in serious crimes who aren't deported or even incarcerated, only to repeat their crimes in the future. If they agree to be deported (many times agreeing to self-deportation), they often return to the U.S. in short order. These kinds of activities are hard on the nation and its communities, yet amazingly people are expected to buy the myth that illegal immigration is somehow "good for America." Americans must ask themselves if these are the people they want to reward with citizenship while many others have waited in line to be here legally. Americans are also learning that the 14th Amendment was not intended to give special treatment to illegal mothers and their anchor babies. Americans are becoming outraged that their leadership has allowed this amendment to be a huge magnet for illegal immigration and its associated costs.

Are all illegal immigrants bad people? Of course not. Obviously, some work hard and try their best to support themselves independently. However, all illegal immigrants have in bad faith violated our federal immigration. This, in turn, leads to a long string of other violations, negative social impacts, and attitudes that affect our communities. The illegals themselves often pay a high price for living in the shadows. For example, many crimes against illegal immigrants go unreported for fear of deportation. Our government has also confused the illegals by not sending a strong message to the world about our laws. Instead the message has been: "If you can get across the border, you're 'home free.'" Now they're stuck in the middle of this problem also. Most illegals will not assimilate, because they never planned or need to with so many catering to them there's little incentive to assimilate. Many live quite well here, while others with thrifty lifestyles wire billions of dollars worth of tax-free income back to their native countries for powerful savings accounts. As the Data Sources Page sites, an entire new housing market has evolved in Latin America to build homes from remittance money, homes that many Americans will never realize themselves. In many cases, Americans who lose their homes are, as a result of illegal hiring, the undercutting of prevailing wages, jobs lost to NAFTA and offshore business. Rarely are the savings passed on to the American consumers. When the business organizations lobby our elected officials (a partial list is provided on this page) that they need illegals otherwise they can't fill their jobs, this is a self-serving and completely unfounded myth. Citizens and legal immigrants would proudly fill those jobs. Business organizations are simply salivating at undercutting the prevailing wages or expanding their consumer markets. This is their shortsighted "rush to the bottom line" at the expense of lost jobs to citizens and lost business for employers who obey the laws. This is not the American way of healthy business competition that encourages progress. Rather, it is the worst form of activity to be found in business. Business lobbyists also fail to consider how this activity shifts numerous social costs onto the rest of the nation.

Americans know that one phone call from their President could charge the United States military to secure (even under strict rules of engagement) the remaining open-border sections known for illegal crossings. But he capitulated with the Mexican President's request not to secure the borders. Internally, because of their activities in the country, more than 600,000 state and local law enforcement officers come into contact with illegal aliens every day, yet few are turned over to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This must stop. ICE often claims it does not have the resources to pick up even those who are already detained for them, Americans expect more than excuses. If even our military bases' security is now being contracted out, why doesn't ICE contract out-trained drivers in government vans to pick up those detained by law enforcement? Because government managers have failed to manage the existing immigration laws, how will they manage a new and greatly expanded immigration program? Recently, the State Department has been unable to manage the new passport requirements for only two countries. Because illegal immigrants have failed to follow the existing laws, why would anyone think they will suddenly come forward and follow more immigration laws or pay the proposed fines? Americans also see the inconsistency between "talking tough" about border security while at the same time providing billions of dollars in government services for those in the country illegally. Most agencies don't even bother to ask for their legal status! By providing free services to illegal immigrants, these agencies use up resources that our citizens need--citizens who deserve to have priority. The costs for providing those 'free' services are being shifted over into higher taxes and insurance costs. As a result, many hospitals are closing or moving, schools and agencies are stretched to the limit, taxes are on the increase. The American people can no longer be forced bear the weight of the failed leadership of its neighboring countries. Those countries and their people must now bear that weight for themselves. Immigrants will not value a better quality of life and free social services that are instantly and illegally provided in America. All countries must of their own sweat equity develop better standards and opportunities for themselves. Only then will it be embraced.

The business lobby for cheap, illegal labor is shortsighted. We're getting reports that many illegals are now getting selective about the jobs they'll do and how much they're paid. If they're granted legal status they'll demand the same prevailing wages and standards that citizens receive, thereby eliminating one of the key provisions of the business lobby. Because the Latin American leaders have failed to create a strong middle class, illegal immigration is now hurting the American working class while self-serving businesses and government agencies look the other way. The shortsighted business community harms their own long term interests and that of America by lowering their employment standards instead of raising them. We're seeing the many results of those decisions already. This debate is if America is going to be a nation of laws and principles, or if the vanishing dollar will overrule all else. When laws and principles are broken on a scale this large, we now find ourselves with repercussions few could have ever imagined. This is about national security, jobs for citizens and legal immigrants, saving our communities from third-world standards and demanding what is best for America above the political and business self-interest.