Solving illegal immigration problem could be simple

These is little dispute that America’s legal immigration system should be reformed in order to more easily admit and naturalize educated, accomplished immigrants who are able to supplement a domestic workforce which has unnecessarily suffered under a repressive, underperforming public education monopoly and a system of higher education, much of which is more focused on creating “safe spaces” than graduating mature, independent, jobready citizens.

U.S. employers are finding it increasingly difficult to find enough skilled workers among the thousands of Americans graduating annually.

The nation is running out of qualified workers in hundreds of specialties, circumstances that, over the longer term, threaten our economy. There are few signs that the population of educated, qualified, working-age Americans will grow sufficiently to replace Baby Boomer retirees and meet rising employers’ demands in an improving economy.

Solving America’s illegal immigration problem could be simple. If the government were to enforce the immigration laws already on the books, the problem of illegal immigration would begin to solve itself.

Unfortunately, for eight years, America’s chief executive has been disinterested in, even hostile to the foundational presidential duty expressed in Article Two, Section Three of the United States Constitution: To “take care that the laws be faithfully executed” — even those he doesn’t like.

His campaign promises and President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of an immigration hawk, Sen. Jeff Sessions, as Attorney General signal that, in 2017, Trump intends to enforce immigration laws. The left, which views open borders and amnestying illegals as a means of expanding its voter base, is furious.

A few Senate Democrats have pledged to filibuster Session’s confirmation, promises rendered moot by Sen. Harry Reid’s 2013 modification of Senate rules to prevent Republican filibusters of a Democratic president’s nominations. Ironic, huh?

Left-leaning beltway outlet Politico whined: “Immigration-hardliner Sessions could execute crackdown as AG.” […] “If confirmed as Trump’s attorney general, the Alabama sen- ator would instantly become one of the most powerful people overseeing the nation’s immigration policy, with wide latitude over the kinds of immigration violations to prosecute and who would be deported.” […] “… Sessions would be able to direct limited department resources to pursuing immigration cases. He could launch federal investigations into what he perceives as discrimination against U.S. citizens caused by immigration.” Sanctuary cities would likely lose federal funds.

Politico’s report included this jaw-dropping comment: “Some immigrant advocates are alarmed by … a Justice Department led by someone they see as far outside the mainstream.”

Only in the most progressive circles are enforcing duly-enacted American laws described in such a cavalier manner. It certainly isn’t “far outside the mainstream” for a new president to pursue policies on which he campaigned and was elected.

But a Mexican border wall, already mandated by law, may be unnecessary.

If the border is enforced using conventional resources, and President Trump’s administration fulfills its executive responsibility to enforce immigration laws, including prosecuting employers who hire illegals, the job market for illegals will dry up, and many, perhaps most of them, will peacefully self-deport.

Jerry Shenk is a Lebanon County-based columnist whose work is featured at www. patownhall.com. You can email him at jshenk2010@gmail.com