Let Reason, Not Emotion, Lead the Debate

Illegal immigration is one of the most complex and challenging issues facing our country and our commonwealth. The policy decisions we make will affect individuals, communities and our economy. We are a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. That the federal government has failed in its duty to adequately address illegal immigration is certain. No one disputes that policies governing United States citizenship are best handled by the federal government.

To date, Virginia's response to illegal immigration is comparable to many similarly situated states. What we must wrestle with during the General Assembly session is how much additional responsibility the state should take for addressing illegal immigration before the federal government arrives at a consensus about a sensible immigration policy. As we address the issue, we should think not only about the effect of our policies, but also be mindful of the effect of our rhetoric and make careful, thoughtful choices about how we move forward.

It is important that we enforce the laws of our nation and our commonwealth, and it is important to address the fiscal and public safety consequences of illegal immigration. It is equally important to recognize the many positive benefits of legal immigration to our economy, our culture and our quality of life. None of the answers will fit neatly on a bumper sticker, but the debate is important enough to warrant attention to the details.

Last year, the General Assembly and I appointed a Commission on Immigration, made up of citizens, experts and lawmakers, which has already started meeting to gather information on these issues. The State Crime Commission has also put forth some proposals of merit, many of which will be debated during the upcoming session.

While we must have the discussion about what changes we should make to address illegal immigration, we should also recognize the steps we have already taken. For nearly 10 years, Virginia law has prohibited any person who is not legally in the country from receiving state or locally funded benefits, with only a few exceptions, like emergency health care and care for contagious diseases.

Virginia law enforcement puts a high priority on addressing the public safety challenges posed by illegal immigration. When a Virginia state trooper comes in contact with a person suspected of being in the country illegally, he or she contacts Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Eighty percent of those reports made since March 1 of last year have resulted in ICE beginning deportation proceedings.

The state police also participate in regional task forces that target violent gang activity by illegal immigrants. The Virginia Department of Corrections notifies ICE of any foreign-born offender who is convicted and placed in DOC custody, to determine the offender's immigration status. The Virginia National Guard has been deployed along the Mexican border to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

We must also recognize the potential consequences of engaging in emotion-driven rhetoric. As we wrestle with the consequences of illegal immigration, we do not want to send a message that our country is unwelcoming to those who would come here legally.

Ours is a nation of immigrants. Last year, we commemorated the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first English immigrants to American soil, in search of a better life. That tradition of opportunity, of welcome, continues today.

One in 10 Virginians was born outside of the United States, and most of us can trace our ancestors back to another country in only a few generations. Immigration continues to invigorate our culture, provide new energy to our economy and expand our view of the world we live in.

In the last year, several of our largest and most exciting economic development announcements were about foreign companies making more than $770 million in investments in Virginia, bringing more than 2,000 new jobs to the commonwealth. We are in a fierce competition with other states and countries for those jobs. We cannot afford to give the world the impression that we are not willing to engage with people from other countries in global commerce.

In addition, some of our largest industries, like agriculture, are dependent on immigrant workers. We must ensure that our actions do not punish law-abiding business owners or hurt their ability to grow and create jobs.

As this debate continues, we have a responsibility to go beyond rhetoric and sound bites. We are challenged to enforce the law. We are also challenged to maintain a manageable system of allowing legal immigration without undue delays, and to avoid overbroad solutions that stigmatize entire communities and hurt Virginia's economy. This is a debate that we should take very seriously, and spend the time it will take to craft balanced responses to the challenges of immigration.

This op-ed was published in the Roanoke Times.