Former President Clinton and current President Trump sound much alike in regard to illegal immigration.
The ads appeared a few days before the Presidential Inauguration. President Trump’s inauguration speech, and several subsequent actions by him, though creating much fervor in some quarters, seemed, in large part, to have been directed toward enhancing job creation in the nation. He also continued to talk about illegal immigration. To put President Trump’s speech and actions in prospective we suggest that you listen to this linked speech by former President Bill Clinton given before Congress while he was President. It was recorded by C-Span:
President Clinton’s speech also dealt with illegal immigration. You will note the similarity in the messages from the two presidents, though perhaps not in their style of presentation.
While it would appear that President Trump’s message about illegal immigration might have been seconded by former President Clinton, there is strong vocal opposition in some parts of New Mexico to the messages of both presidents. For instance, Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales has strongly suggested that Santa Fe will remain a Sanctuary City[i] while Representative Patricia Roybal Caballero has filed a bill under which the whole state of New Mexico would again become a Sanctuary State.[ii]
One issue not often discussed by the proponents of illegal immigration is the effect of illegal immigration on the capacity of our school systems to educate our children. Much of the brunt of the blame for the often poorly educated product emerging from our school system is put on teachers. Yet, teachers feel overwhelmed and point to the lack of parental involvement with their children’s education as the culprit. And, studies suggest that there is a strong correlation between a child’s likely success in the school system and, for instance, the propensity of parents to read at home with their child. Indeed, the present movement in the state for “early childhood education” has much to do with giving to some children the education they are not receiving at home.
Many, though perhaps not all, illegal immigrants from Mexico and other Latin American countries are themselves poorly educated. Consequently, their children are often, if not usually, not receiving at home the education they need in order to succeed in the school system. Consequently, an additional burden is placed on our already stressed school system.
We believe that all children need to be educated, but we also believe proponents of ideas such as those supporting “sanctuary” status must be aware of the “unintended consequences” of their proposals.
[i] T.S. Last, “Trump sanctuary order ‘declaration of war, ‘says Santa Fe councilor,” Albuquerque Journal, 1/25-26/2017.
[ii] Steve Terrell, “Legislator seeks to bar New Mexico police from aiding deportations,” Santa Fe New Mexican, 1/24/2017. The bill would bar police from using state funds for detecting or apprehending a person whose violation of the law is entering or residing illegally in the U.S., according to Terrell.