Immigration Create a guest worker program!Send ‘em all home!Amnesty!What a mess. The reason this topic is under commentary and not solutions is because I am running for the office of State Assembly.Immigration policy and protecting our borders is clearly a federal issue.Some states have become frustrated with the current situation because it appears that we have porous borders where non-citizens come as they please.On one hand, states bear an incredible burden as they fund services for these non-citizens and it frustrates some that there is this large group of people that are clearly breaking the law, which does not sit well with many.On the other hand, these non-citizens provide a huge amount of labor to many industries, and many have become truly integrated into our society.They came to America because it is a better place for them to live. Voters and legislators in a few states that are frustrated with the lack of federal enforcement of current policy have taken it upon themselves to write state laws to deal with illegal immigrants.This has caused the federal government to sue the states over who has jurisdiction over the related issues. Why are we in this mess?Lack of leadership and courage at the federal level.In the interest of getting elected or re-elected, those who have the ability to solve the issue have not done anything because of fear it will alienate those who disagree with their chosen solution. What should a member of California’s State Assembly do?Not waste time drafting laws that attempt to circumvent federal law.That would divert time, energy, and resources from other things that are more properly addressed in Sacramento.However, what a member could do is get a significant coalition and start lobbying Congress and the President.California has 12% of the nation’s population, and that creates a large voice in Washington. That loud voice should say: 1.Seal the borders.Get the immigration enforcement agencies all the resources they need to do the job effectively.Show the People that the country is going to take this task seriously and give them confidence that it will be done. 2.Give those that are here and are productive a legal path to being here.We cannot deny the agriculture and other industries that have become dependent on the labor and in some cases, the innovative, entrepreneurial, highly educated insights that immigrants provide the United States. 3.Deport those that do not want to follow the rules of the United States of America and the State of California. It is very difficult being more specific than that, as I am running for the office of State Assembly and am focused on state issues, which immigration policy is not.However, I will be representing taxpayers who’s resources pay for the services of all of those receiving them and employers who could suffer if we change their business model that is extremely dependent on a resource that is very large and that current practice has given them.We need to move forward, stop what is a most serious aggravating problem and finger pointing, and appreciate leaders willing to go out on a limb to solve the problem.