Farmers Branch and the rule of law

For years, Farmers Branch was a quiet community between Carrollton and Dallas, west of Addison and east of Irving. Today, FB is in the middle of a huge battle.

Should FB be enforcing immigration laws? No. The feds should be doing that. Of course, our federal government isn't.

It did not take long for some to accuse FB city council members of "racism", anti Mexico-ism, anti Spanish-ism, anti immigrant-ism and every other "ism" in the lexicon.

What is the new definition of "racist"? It is opposing open borders and the rampant violation of immigration laws.

We need to contact the Academy in Madrid and update Spanish dictionaries: "Racismo" is now opposing illegal immigration!

How in the world do you accuse someone of "racism" because they believe that employers should hire legal workers?

Of course, Farmers Branch, and other 50 cities contemplating similar initiatives, are not against Mexico, Spanish or anything else.

This is about the rule of law. This is not about immigrants. This is about illegal immigrants.

Again, this is about the rule of law.

This is about defending the law abiding employer who hires legal workers and respects the law. We should not be defending the one who hires illegals to get around labor laws and minimum standards.

Shouldn't we applaud the honest employer? Yes. We should honor him by shutting down the dishonest employer who is using illegal workers to make a higher profit or to get around the law.

Why does the rule of law matter? The answer is that you cannot have prosperity without a respect for the law.

Hernando de Soto is president of the Institute for Liberty and Democracy (ILD), the Lima, Peru-based think tank that advocates for property-rights reforms in developing nations.

I agree with De Soto:

"People need the rule of law," he said.

"That's why they migrate to the United States. They leave countries that are lawless. Everybody likes certainty; they like standards. People understand that's the only way you can find security."

Again, why does the rule of law matter? See this from the Fraser Institute--Economic Freedom and Rule of Law Key to Ending Latin America’s Years of Stagnation and Poverty:

"Latin America has never had a sustained market-based reform effort and, most dangerously, has failed to establish the rule of law.

If Latin Americans are ever going to build prosperity and reduce poverty, we must enter into a period of real reform – especially in building the rule of law.”

Question: Should we allow people to break the law without consequences? We should not.

Let's call it what it is. This is a debate about illegal immigrants and the rule of law. This is not about immigrants and Mexico!

Yes, I support a guest worker program. However, I do not support massive violations of our immigration or labor laws.

Last but not least, let's remember that forcing Mexico to reform itself is the most humane thing that we can do. We are not helping Mexico by allowing its political class to punt on difficult issues and export its problems to the US.

Again, the rule of law matters. It matters a lot!