Local opinion: Whom should we deport?

Should we deport your landscaper?

My answer? It depends. Not all undocumented immigrants should be deported, and not all should be left to continue their undocumented lives here in the U.S., unimpeded.

First, let’s define an “undocumented person.” These are immigrants who are not technically here legally: They’ve either crossed our border undetected (as get-aways) or they (or their parents) may have been caught and assigned a court date to have an asylum claim adjudicated but never showed up, or they may have overstayed a student or tourist visa and just never left.

But there are other important (but different) classifications as well.

So let’s think of these people as being in one of three broad groups.

1. Criminal suspects, engaged in illegal behavior here or in the country they’ve fled. “Criminal behavior” means that, according to our laws, you could be arrested and charged with whatever illegal activity you are (or have been) involved in.

2. Person(s) not supporting themselves, living on the dole and taking advantage of social programs and benefits meant to temporarily support those in need.

3. Individuals (and their families) innocent of any crime other than their technical undocumented status, while living and working and supporting themselves and their family, paying taxes and contributing to our economy.

Number three would include your landscaper, farmworker, roofer, construction worker, hotel maid, food service employee, etc., etc.

IMHO, we should not be automatically deporting those in group 3. Rather, we should recognize that they are contributing to our culture and economy and may just be too terrified to identify themselves and/or seek guidance as to how to attain legal status. And so, we need to fix (and expedite) that process. That means, if they are caught up in an immigration raid, they should be given one last chance to re-enter the process and attain expedited legal status.

But groups 1 and 2 should be removed (or prosecuted for their crimes) and deported post haste.

Finally, we need to improve (dramatically) our ability to process and adjudicate the circumstances and claims of new arrivals. The inadequacy and waiting times of our current judicial system and administrative red tape are a big part of the problem. We need to fix that with as much vigor as that which we’re employing to hunt down this incredible, diverse mixture of people who are here for a wide variety of reasons.

And so, yes, let’s close the border, reduce the “got-aways” to as close to zero as possible. And let’s embrace (and expedite the process of attaining legal citizenship for) those who are living or coming here, contributing to the amazing tapestry of the fabric of America.

Like your landscaper or the hotel maid or the cook at your favorite restaurant.