This editorial by Chris Hackett was published in The Times Leader Sunday, Dec. 16, 2007.
Illegal immigration to U.S., hypocrisy of former Mexican leader Fox criticized
A Dec. 2 letter to the editor criticized my company for supporting the Wilkes University Outstanding Leaders Forum.
I'm proud of our support for the Wilkes University forum, which has hosted such fine speakers as Gen. Colin Powell and Mayor Rudy Giuliani in previous years.
While forum sponsors like my company have no input in the selection of speakers, this year's lecture was given by former Mexican President Vicente Fox. Because I disagree with his immigration policies, I registered my protest.
Regarding U.S. immigration policy, I believe in what I call "high fences and wide gates" as the basis for a sound approach to our current challenge. As a descendant of Irish immigrants who came here legally, I admire immigrants and America 's immigrant traditions. But in order for immigration to work, and for the rule of law to be respected, we must ensure that immigration is done legally and we must stop illegal immigration.
I want our borders secure and legal immigration kept at levels that support the continued prosperity of America . I can understand why people from all over the world want to become Americans. If I lived anywhere else in the world, I would come here, too -- legally.
I believe that beyond immediately securing our borders, we need to enforce the immigration laws we have and never again go down the failed path of amnesty. What's ironic about the former Mexican president is that at the same time he did next to nothing to prevent Mexican citizens from illegally crossing our borders, he enforced strict domestic immigration policies in Mexico.
Mexican internal immigration policies include imprisoning or deporting violators, and banning legal immigrants from many jobs. I would say that the hypocrisy of President Fox is in itself worthy of protest.