Nov 15, 2014 3 min read

The United States has periodically endured periods where the conversation over immigration is overrun with irrationality and paranoia, whether the objects of this fear are the Germans, Irish, Chinese, or any other group thought to be bringing corrupt ideas or alien customs to the American Eden.

More recently, those making their way into our country from Mexico and Central America were the object of suspicion, contempt and conspiracy theories that can be safely filed under “kooky.” Take, for instance, the claim during the recent midterm campaign by New Hampshire Republican Senate candidate Scott Brown that some of the barbarians from ISIS could enter the United States through our southern border and wreak havoc.

This ignores, of course, the fact hundreds of miles of our border with our northern neighbor, Canada, are either completely unguarded or only lightly so. And, according to a CNN story a few months back, over 100 Canadian citizens ventured abroad to cast their lot with various terrorist groups that do not take kindly to Uncle Sam. Yet, Brown and most of his compatriots have not called for increased security on the Canadian border.

A great deal of this debate, let’s face it, is laced with hysteria and hatemongering.

It’s expected, at some point in the coming week, President Obama will announce an overhaul of the United States’ immigration system through an executive order that would shield up to 5 million immigrants who entered the country illegally from being deported, and give work permits to those who have children that were born in this country and are now citizens.

Obama’s Republican opponents will reflexively raise a ruckus, and some will surely pound the impeachment drums because this is being done by executive order. But, in lieu of Congress taking action to overhaul the country’s dysfunctional immigration system – something that is about as likely as Abraham Lincoln rising from the dead and taking a train to the Capitol – this is the best option on the table.

Convicted criminals who are undocumented, along with those who are thought to pose a risk to the country’s security, will still be subject to deportation, along with those who recently made their way into the country illegally. The executive order will protect those who are law-abiding, raising families, have jobs and, like it or not, are making contributions to American life.

Many conservatives insisted America must take the hardest of hard lines when it comes to the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants who are now in the country. But deporting all of them would take unimaginable amounts of money and manpower. It will not happen. Undocumented workers have also been absorbed into our economy. Granting amnesty and, yes, getting them documented and paying taxes, would be the best route to pursue.

And opponents of immigration reform would do well to remember President Ronald Reagan himself signed off on a 1986 immigration overhaul that gave amnesty to undocumented immigrants if they arrived in the country before Jan. 1, 1982, and had some grasp of English, American history and how the country’s government functions.

The Gipper himself said, “I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and who have lived here even though some time back they may have entered illegally.”

Those who claim to be Reagan’s heirs should heed his words.