We constantly hear that undocumented immigrants are not obeying the “rule of law” or that because we are “country of laws” undocumented immigrants need to be arrested and deported regardless of their situation and the consequences to either them or the U.S. These phrases are thrown about randomly because they surely sound good. Who does not want to live in a “country of laws” where we are governed by the “rule of law?” But an understanding of the concept of the “rule of law” in the context of the U.S. immigration system might better serve our national debate on immigration and bring us closer to resolving a problem that is not intractable.
James Wilson said during the Philadelphia Convention in 1787 that, “Laws may be unjust, may be unwise, may be dangerous, may be destructive; and yet not be so unconstitutional as to justify the Judges in refusing to give them effect.” George Mason agreed that judges “could declare an unconstitutional law void. But with regard to every law, however unjust, oppressive or pernicious, which did not come plainly under this description, they would be under the necessity as judges to give it a free course.”[27]
You should run for office or at least be a lobbyst
I have a family member in this situation. She came here around 16 years old. Her parents have never been in trouble with the law. They have been here for 10 years. She is the mother of my grandchild. We really feel helpless with the present environment of mean spiritedness that fills this debate. She would gladly go home if she would not have such a heave penalty to pay. May be we should just allow amnesty for people to leave the country. That would solve a lot of this situation.