by Alex Pilz | Special to the Courier

First, I would like to say that although I am a social and fiscal conservative registered Independent, Trump/Pence and Trump/Vance voter, I don’t consider myself a red ball cap wearing MAGA Republican.

I’m also not a political idealogue but see myself as a follow the rules (mostly) pragmatist. Many times in the past, whenever I mentioned to new acquaintances that I voted for Donald Trump, I immediately sensed the person thought of me as just another knuckle-dragging, mouth-breathing cave dweller. I also want to set the record straight that I’m not a racist or fascist as I have friends from a variety of diverse ethnic backgrounds.

The issue of immigration affects me on a personal level. My parents emigrated legally from Germany to America in 1958. I’m first generation American and was born at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center in 1960. My parents went through the arduous process of submitting lengthy documents, finding a sponsor, providing proof that they would be able to financially support themselves without state assistance and then … they waited in line. After a long while they finally received that coveted green card. I wonder how today’s immigrants who follow the same process feel about those who simply stroll across the border.

Uncontrolled illegal immigration has been a problem for many years during both Republican and Democrat administrations. Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Alejandro Mayorkas repeatedly told us “The border is secure.” Simply not true. Even Joe Biden’s climate czar John Kerry is now saying the Biden administration’s border policy was a mistake. One wonders why Kerry is saying this now and not four years ago. If he had, then maybe we wouldn’t be in this mess now. Then again maybe he did tell Joe Biden, but Joe didn’t understand what Kerry was saying to him. The impact of crime (see the murders of Laken Riley and Jocelyn Nungaray) and financial strain (cost of social services) on the economy is unsustainable. Not to mention the huge influx of illicit drugs and dangerous fentanyl.

This same game is underway with different players in Europe. In 2015, the left leaning former German Chancellor Angela Merkel opened the gates and put out the welcome mat to more than one million unvetted Middle Eastern refugees. Her mantra was “Wir schaffen das!” (We can handle this). One could theorize that Joe Biden admired this and decided to do the same. Many knife attacks and car rammings by Middle Eastern migrants such as in Solingen and Berlin, Germany have resulted in the murder and serious injury of innocent civilians. Former German soccer star Toni Kroos, who played many years for Real Madrid, decided to move his family back to his homeland after retirement. He told the Daily Mail, “I don’t recognize my country anymore” about the drastic demographic change in Germany. Former Chancellor Merkel’s actions have led to the hockey stick like rise of the far-right AfD party. (Yes, the same party endorsed by Elon Musk.) Current German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his center right party CDU are now trying to opt-out of the Schengen Agreement which was established to abolish border controls and promote free-flowing commerce and travel among the European Union nations. Deportation flights are now underway departing from Frankfurt to Kabul and Damascus.

Many on the American left are protesting against deportations without due process, and federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents wearing masks during apprehensions. Interestingly, the ACLU reported in 2014 that Barack Obama initiated deportations without due process as well. So where was the outrage then? Face masks serve a variety of purposes (e.g., reduce contagion and conceal identity). Antifa and pro-Palestinian protesters wear face masks, concealing their identity to avoid arrest and doxing. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents wear them to conceal their identity to avoid retaliatory violence against their family members.

I do believe that our country’s immigration policy is outdated and in much need of reform. The optimist in me hopes that the politicians in D.C. will put their heads together and figure out a fair and sensible plan, but the pragmatist in me tells me not to hold my breath.

Alex Pilz is a long-time Claremont resident looking forward to retirement and proud CHS Wolfpack soccer alum.