COMMUNITY COMMENTARY:Another disaster for Congress

When Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast last year, the federal government was quick to declare it one of the worst natural disasters to ever strike our country. Emergency aid was rushed to the area and billions of dollars were showered on the region by a benevolent Congress.

However, it quickly became apparent that the crisis was spinning out of control. Immediately after the hurricane struck, the efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency were inept, wasteful and did little to help the victims of Katrina.

Across the nation, TV screens were filled with images of desperate children clinging to their parents and senior citizens collapsing from the heat. In the days and weeks following Katrina, the federal government’s continuing response to the crisis was likewise woefully inadequate.

Even today, the communities affected by Hurricane Katrina have not been restored to what they once were. Simply stated, Congress couldn’t get the job done immediately following the crisis, and it likewise gets a failing grade for the rebuilding effort.

So is it any surprise that Congress is also unable to deal with the massive illegal immigration problem in our country? Both Katrina and illegal immigration are disasters of an unimaginable size and scope.

Why hasn’t Congress rushed to correct the problems associated with illegal immigration, just as it tried to do with the Katrina disaster? The failure of Congress to act and provide solid, meaningful immigration reform is a disgrace to our country.

Hurricane Katrina caused billions of dollars in damages. But what about the costs associated with illegal immigration? In California, illegal immigration has put a tremendous strain on our health care and social service systems. It has also caused a huge increase in the amount California has to spend on education and the prison system.

The cost to taxpayers, in California alone, for illegal immigration is estimated at $10.2 billion dollars per year. If Congress can appropriate billions of dollars for Gulf Coast disaster relief, why can’t Congress give financial relief to those states suffering from the disaster known as illegal immigration? After all, one disaster is just as important as another disaster!

Congress, and only Congress, is to blame for the problems associated with illegal immigration. For decades, Congress has refused to recognize illegal immigration as the catastrophe it has become. Like you, I am sick and tired of footing the bill. Something needs to be done, and it needs to be done now.

For starters, our borders must be secured. Illegal immigration can’t be stopped unless our borders are secure. In late August, just before adjourning for the year, Congress sent President Bush a bill authorizing 700 miles of fencing for the 2,000-mile border our country shares with Mexico.

When I heard about this action by Congress I thought, “Finally, Congress is starting to deal with the problem.” With nearly 5,000 illegal immigrants from Mexico crossing into our country each and every day, our border looks like a piece of Swiss cheese. No other country in the world has unprotected borders like the United States. While the fence will help, it is probably too little too late.

Just like the Katrina fiasco, Congress doesn’t seem to be able to do what’s necessary to fix the illegal immigration problem. Come on Congress; learn from the mistakes of Katrina. Get off the dime and do something. It’s time for action!