After a lecture on immigration reform, I asked my students which of three policy directions they preferred: (1) the House of Representatives bill passed late last year that would build a 700mile fence across the border with Mexico, criminalize assisting illegals and make illegal entry a felony; (2) a guest worker program for registered immigrants; or (3) a true full amnesty program enabling illegals to quickly obtain green cards and citizenship. An overwhelming majority favored (2), a guest worker program like the one endorsed by President George W. Bush. My students argued that the full amnesty option I preferred, long in the tooth liberal that I am, would condone wrongdoing and serve as a slap in the face to legal immigrants who had played by the rules to earn their lawful status.
