When it comes to immigration, I realize that I read a lot of articles and blogs on many sides of the issue, some of which infuriate me, others that sharpen my thinking, either by challenging it or by reinforcing it, and others that just seem to stir the pot of opinions.One danger that I see happening among those expressing more conservative, though legitimate, opinions about immigration reform, is the general scapegoating of immigrants. Dangerous because the tides of immigration are - in my mildly marxist interpretation - the byproduct of a global economic reality. To scapegoat the many immigrants, who on a basic level, are just trying to provide for themselves and their families, fails to expose the corporate responsibilities of multi-national companies, the governmental roles of treaties, tariffs and trade patterns, or the historical realities of immigration in our country.

On a fundamental level, immigration is as American as apple pie. Whether voluntarily (my family came over on the Elizabeth 20-30 years after the Mayflower), or as refugees (eg. Irish potato famine, SouthAsian or Latin-American military conflicts) or forcefully (eg. African slave trade, or ‘removal’ of Native populations - see Trail of Tears) American is 100% a country of immigrants.

Don’t get me wrong: I do believe that there needs to be significant reform of the immigration system in the US. I don’t believe that the US should open its doors freely to terrorists or criminals from other countries. And I do believe that the economic toll of immigration is serious and needs serious new solutions.

But the need for reform needs to be conducted without scapegoating immigrants. As long as employers that hire undocumented workers remain unpunished - read about gov’t suing employers who hire undocumented workers - people will come to work. There are measures already in place for employers to verify Social Security numbers. But few employers have used this service.

Instead of forming Minute Men Patrols to stalk the borders, what if measures were taken to create stronger enforcement of current measure against employers, and then greater global economic development.