OP-ED: Bigger view needed on immigration

We have been following the series of articles that gives different perspectives of illegal immigration in respect to southern Utah. The articles are very informative and they give the readers an opportunity to see this issue of illegal immigration on a personal level.

While it is easy to feel bad about the situation when seen through a magnifying glass, the College Republicans feel that it is important to step back and discuss this issue in terms that include our country as a whole. When seen from a larger scale, it is apparent that illegal immigration has negative effects on the U.S. that can be felt by each of us in many ways.

One major cost that comes along with a porous border is that of our education system.

As America's youth struggles to keep up with students from other countries from an academic standpoint, it's hard to ignore the fact that we are spending over $30 billion a year educating children of illegal immigrants. This doesn't even include the amount spent providing these children with school lunches and other welfare benefits that are included in school budgets.

In addition to the higher costs of education, these immigrants are not required to contribute to the funding of their children's education because they are not required to pay taxes.

In addition to the money being taken directly out of our education system, we need to think about the money being taken out of our economy as well. Although we are the richest country in the world, we have poor people just like any other country, and we simply cannot afford to support any poor person that wants to come here.

As millions of illegal immigrants work in America, many of them are simply taking money out of our economy. It is said that somewhere between $6 to $8 billion a year is leaving our country and being sent south to Mexico to help support the Mexican economy. This is a Mexican economy that is rich in natural resources and oil with all the potential to become a super power throughout the globe, yet because they have corrupt leadership and a thoroughly incompetent government we are forced to take care of their citizens. It just doesn't seem right.

While education and the economy remains a problem inside our borders, outside of the country we are also fighting a war on terror. As evidenced by the Sept. 11 attacks, the threat of terrorism and American hate is as clear today as ever.

It is pretty clear that if we have people crossing the border illegally just to go to work, then terrorists with a burning determination to destroy this country will have no problem getting into America.

There are other issues that have gone untouched such as crime rates, jobs, and health care, each affecting us on an everyday basis, and it is important not to overlook these issues when thinking of illegal immigration.

The SUU College Republicans can be contacted through its president, Steve Spooner, a senior accounting major from Cedar City, at spoons_1186@yahoo.com.