Friday, April 12, 2013

Give Them Time Served, Then Let Them Stay

   Hmm, we could put them all on probation, these people here in America without our permission. After all, many of us (maybe most) already think of them as common criminals. So, punish them (waterboarding comes to mind), and then put them on probation.
   Actually, the waterboarding might not be a good idea. But, as an alternative, we could place them in prison for three months. Now, you are going to have to answer this question before you tell that we should deport them instead of just placing them in prison for three months: Why is it that prison is the answer for just about any other crime, but it is not good enough of a punishment for the undocumented Americans? Prison is good for murderers, and burglars, and arsonists. Yet,  if they commit the crime of not having paperwork, well, prison is letting them off a little easy. The average court case for deportation is 550 days (last I heard). That's about 1.5 years. Why not just say, Time served, and let them back in? Fair is fair, and if we accord that justice to all other criminals, why do we suppose those whose crime is not having our permission ought to be treated a little rougher? Are they worse than the other criminals? I mean, not obtaining paperwork is a pretty heavy thing.
   Actually, I'm not a favor of prison. I think it overused for a lot of crimes. I'd rather see them work off their punishment. Or, send them back to their home country for three months. 
   The point is, punish them, if we must, and then let them live among us.
   And, put them on probation, if we must. Since we seem to think they are more inclined to rob banks than the rest of us, tell them that if they have any criminal offense in their first year here -- any -- then, they're out. And, if they have any serious crime -- burglary, home invasion, or whatever -- in 10 years, they're out. If we want, we can add other probationary terms. Maybe we could say they cannot collect welfare or social aid that first year.
   If we must hold to the idea that wanting to be an American and coming to America without permission is such a bad thing, then, put them through the be-punished-and-be-probated ringer, like we do all our other criminals. Why should such a process not be adequate for the paperless?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/02/22/many-immigrants-facing-deportation-must-wait-550-days-for-their-day-in-court/

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