Don't feel guilty about enforcing immigration laws

It's a terrible mistake to let sympathy for individual illegal immigrants set the standard for immigration law....

The U.S. cannot admit all the millions of people in the world who would like to live here. Considering the huge sums of money this country has spent for decades to help poor countries improve their economies and governments — plus all the technical assistance — we don't need to feel guilty about enforcing our immigration laws.

First and foremost, U.S. immigration law and policies should always prioritize the interests of citizens as a whole...

... Immigration laws are an important safeguard. All advanced countries have them, and if the laws are not enforced, citizens pay a heavy price.

Concerning the driver's card issue here in Oregon, there is no way the DMV can accurately certify the identity of an illegal immigrant. They do not have the necessary resources or expertise...

Because of our neglect in enforcing immigration laws adequately for many years, we now have a large illegal population. Public expenses in Oregon for their presence and their U.S.-born children run to millions annually for education, social services and health care — while they pay little in taxes due to low wages. The Treasury Department reports that illegal immigrants in the U.S. collected $4.2 billion in 2010 alone through the Additional Child Tax Credit program.

Accommodating illegal immigrants with benefits encourages more illegal immigration...

Illegal immigration has mushroomed in recent years because it's very profitable to employers. Providing official driver's cards to illegal immigrants is a government subsidy to their employers, stimulates further illegal immigration and dangerously downgrades the value of citizenship.

We need mandatory use of E-Verify for current work-forces and new hires...

Contrary to misinformation from supporters of illegal immigrants, Oregon and all states do have many options to help control immigration. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a former law professor, summarized them well in a Reuters article entitled, "Immigration isn't just a federal matter." One of the most useful tools is the restriction of driver's licenses to citizens and legal residents only.

Elizabeth Van Staaveren, a longtime member of Oregonians for Immigration Reform, lives in McMinnville.