James Walker: Illegals? Where is the dream for Americans?

James Walker, New Haven Register. James Walker, New Haven Register. Photo: Joe Amarante / Journal Register Co. Photo: Joe Amarante / Journal Register Co. Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close James Walker: Illegals? Where is the dream for Americans? 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

It seems unseemly that in a country built on the sweat of immigrants, that it would be immigration dividing the nation.

But reader’s reactions to my last two columns, “Immigration? Lady Liberty, don’t you weep,” and “Snatched? Where are the tears for American kids?” shows they are mirroring the attitude of the country as comments were divided right down the middle.

But whether readers were on the left or right, there was one commonality: there is mounting resentment for the amount of money that is being used to help migrants and immigrants while problems here in America that affect a vast number of Americans have been relegated to second-class status.

Maybe that is why we (readers and I) have bonded on Sundays.

I am one of those people who is divided within my own self about the current state of our immigration system.

I have written before that I believe the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants that were in the country when President Obama took office in 2009 should be left alone and a path cleared so they can become citizens and stop this ridiculous hide-and-seek game with ICE.

No matter how America wants to dress it up, those undocumented immigrants were allowed to stay, live and play.

But for the migrants who now openly thumb their noses at our country’s laws and march to America’s borders demanding that they be let in, I have closed the door.

I don’t like being bullied and I feel like I am being bullied.

What is it that migrants are running from that isn’t happening in this country? Poverty, lack of opportunity, saturated gang violence? Sounds like what is going on in a lot of cities and towns in America — and that is not fake news.

I personally am tired of hearing about the plight of migrants and immigrants when a vast number of American people are suffering and are being treated like second-class citizens.

I am sick of seeing our tax dollars go to help people who have done nothing to nurture and sustain this country while Americans who work every day are standing in food lines and filling out applications for assistance.

The bombs being dropped here may not be destroying buildings but the economic bombs are destructive as Americans are faced with financial shortfalls in everything that affects their American dream — from education to job training to housing.

So, no, I can’t help the way I feel about what is going on at the borders in terms of money.

I want American taxpayer dollars going to shore up Americans and my reasoning is simple, sound and very basic: you take care of family first.

And that is not what America is doing.

We keep hearing that we have no choice because it would be turning our backs on our Constitution.

I disagree.

I feel it is the “American” Constitution and its promise must live up to Americans first. I find it unbelievable that when our Founding Fathers put those quill pens to paper, they were not thinking about Americans.

Sometimes an issue gets so hot that it is impossible to turn down the heat.

This country can turn down the heat on migrants and immigrants by turning its attention back to the people who work hard to help keep the American dream alive for those coming to our borders.

But it is hard to be welcoming when there are crumbs are on the dinner table for Americans but a full meal for those at the border.

Illegals? Where is the dream for Americans?

James Walker is the Register’s senior editor. He can be reached at 203-680-9389 or james.walker@hearstmediact.com. Follow him on Twitter @thelieonroars