Question of the Week: Should we crack down on illegal immigration?

By DUANE NOLLEN
The Oskaloosa Herald

May 15, 2007 02:20 pm

— By a ratio of more than 4 to 1, people who answered last week’s Question of the Week: “Are you tired of politics?” Answered “Yes.”
Thirty-eight — 80.85 percent — said “Yes,” while nine — 19.15 percent — said “No.”
The Question of the Week poll is not scientific and only reflects the opinions of those Internet users who have chosen to participate. The Question of the Week is just another way the Herald’s readers can voice their opinions about issues that affect them.
This week’s Question of the Week deals with illegal immigration.
Illegal immigration is a hot-button issue that has inspired heated debate ranging from protests in the street to a hot confrontation recently between Bill O’Rielly and Geraldo Rivera on Fox News. This week, the FBI broke up a terror cell that was plotting to buy AK-47 and M-16 assault rifles to kill soldiers at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Three of the terror suspects were illegal immigrants.
There are an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States.
The news is filled with stories about illegal immigrants. Those stories range from illegal immigrants who had killed people on the nation’s highways in drunken driving accidents to articles about government raids on businesses to round up illegal immigrants in places such as Marshalltown in Iowa.
The Bush administration made a proposal in March that would grant illegal immigrants three-year work visas for $3,500 but also require them to return home to apply for U.S. residency and pay a $10,000 fine. That has not gone over well with immigrant groups.
Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean told immigrant supporters in Miami that the Republican proposal was “insane” because it would require many illegal immigrants to return home before applying for citizenship, the Associated Press reported.
Is illegal immigration an issue that is spiraling out of control?
What do you think?
This week’s Question of the Week: Should we crack down on illegal immigration? Yes or No.
People can vote on The Herald’s Web site, oskaloosa.com, from Monday through noon on Friday. Then, votes will be tallied and published the following Monday.