I suppose I should weigh in the issue of immigration since that seems to be the hot issue of the day.

I wonder who gets to decide what the hot issue is.

I mean, is immigration a bigger problem now than it was in 2005? 2000? 1990? 1980?

I seem to remember immigration being a big issue during Reagan's presidency.

But why all the attention on it now? Sometimes I think our government officials try to divert our attention from other issues.

I think they'd rather have the media doing stories on immigration instead of the Iraq war, gas prices, the deficit, nukes in Iran, Hamas vs. Israel or a whole list of other issues.

But since immigration is the hot issue, here's my two cents.

Seems to me part of the problem is the degree of difficulty involved in becoming a U.S. citizen.

Looks to me like immigration laws were written to discourage people from coming here.

For example, here, briefly are the paths to legal immigration:

• Family Immigration

nEmployment Immigration

nInvestment Immigration

• Lottery

• Adoption

• Refugees & Asylum

Now, looking at that list, one might think it's fairly easy to come into the country.

It's not.

To get in under family immigration you must have a relative who is a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. who can provide documentation proving their status and is willing to sponsor you for lawful permanent residency.

And then your relative must prove they can support you by providing documentation that their income is at least 125 percent above the U.S. poverty level for their household size, including you and all other sponsored family members.

Of course, a spouse is a family member. Everybody's heard about how marrying a U.S. citizen will get you a green card. Frankly, after looking over the immigration process, that's probably the easiest route.

Under employment immigration, there are five types of work visas available, but they are for "extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics" or "professionals with advanced degrees ..." or "skilled or professional workers" or "religious workers ..." or "immigrant investors."

Under employment, there is an "other workers" category, that encompasses immigrants "in positions that require less than two years of higher education, training, or experience, such as an unskilled worker who can perform labor for which qualified workers are not available in the United States."

Sounds great, but then there's this:

"However, due to the long backlog, a petitioner could expect to wait many years before being granted a visa under this category."

Investment immigration basically requires the immigrant to have a lot of money to invest in a capital expansion, job creation or commercial enterprise.

The lottery is, well, a lottery.

Adoption is pretty self explanatory.

And refugees and asylum has to do with politics.

Now, even if you fit into one of these narrowly defined categories, the process to becoming a citizen of the U.S. is still pretty ponderous.

So, basically, our government has made it pretty darn difficult to become a citizen.

Maybe that was by design, to keep the level of immigration in check.

Or maybe it was by accident, as immigration law evolved over the years.

Whatever the reason, I think it's the level of difficulty that makes so many illegal aliens illegal.

If it was easier to become a citizen, I think more immigrants would follow the rules.

They'd get in the process to become a citizen. They'd get a Social Security card and a job. They'd pay taxes and integrate into society.

I don't think this would lead to the U.S. being overrun with immigrants. Seems to me there would be a finite number of people who want to immigrate and over a period of time it would stabilize.

So maybe part of the solution is to streamline the whole process of becoming a citizen.

Of course, this doesn't address the issue of the 11 or 12 million illegal immigrants currently residing in the U.S.

I certainly am not harsh or indifferent to the plight of immigrants, but this is a nation of laws and it seems odd that we as a nation would simply look the other way when millions of people are breaking the law.

At the same time, I can't imagine attempting to round up all the illegal immigrants and deporting them.

I suppose that what makes the issue so vexing.

And that's also why I don't hate W's idea to create a "guest worker" program and give illegal immigrants a chance to earn citizenship.

(I would advocate a provision in that legislation to require immigrants to learn English and sing the National Anthem in English.)

Maybe we should get illegal immigrants on a path toward legal status and make the whole process a little less ponderous for future immigrants.

Maybe we would have a lot more responsible, taxpaying citizens, instead of illegals hiding in the shadows of society. [[In-content Ad]]