WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Addressing the country last month on the divisive issue of immigration reform, President George W. Bush intoned:

“We’re a nation of laws, and we must enforce our laws. We’re also a nation of immigrants, and we must uphold that tradition, which has strengthened our country in so many ways. These are not contradictory goals. America can be a lawful society and a welcoming society at the same time.”

The speechwriter should be commended. That is the most exquisite piece of empty doublespeak I have ever heard.

The issue is not whether the United States should seal the borders and stop all immigration, as the president very well knows. It is whether illegal aliens should be given amnesty for their crimes and allowed to benefit from their fraud. That is the crux of the controversy.

Last month, the Senate passed a “comprehensive” immigration reform bill that would permit illegal aliens in the country for at least five years to remain, continue working, pay fines and back taxes, and learn English. Instead of enforcing current immigration laws and strengthening the border, the federal government would busy itself implementing a guest worker program and granting amnesty to illegal aliens and their employers. Those who obtained fake documents, cheated on taxes and committed Social Security fraud will get to remain in the U.S. and also claim Social Security benefits based on their illegal employment.

A nation of laws, President Bush? The “comprehensive” immigration plan is too obscene for words.

The very existence of a law implies the existence of consequences for disobeying the law. A country that allows millions of criminals to go unpunished and to profit from their unlawful acts ceases to be a nation of laws.

America — that proverbial beacon of hope for the world — is said to be a land of immigrants. Millions of people have come to these shores seeking their fortune and a better way of life. Even the poorest of the earth can fulfill his dreams and live in peace. But America is also a beacon of justice. What attracts so many would-be Americans is the idea of a “rule of law.”

Rather than arbitrary will, we are governed through a fair and rational process that protects the interests of individuals. Under the same process, individuals are subject to the law and face penalties for breaking the law. Any immigration reform plan that doesn’t take into account this fundamental principle weakens the rule of law.

What is the rule of law for immigration? Foreigners who want to travel to the U.S. must obtain either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. Those who wish to apply for citizenship must live in the U.S. legally for a continuous period of time, be able to read, write and speak English, understand our history and government, have good moral character, an attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution and a favorable disposition toward the United States.

Sounds quaint, doesn’t it?

Under the president’s amnesty plan, foreigners who’ve disregarded each and every one of those rules (and more) will be rewarded with a sweet path to American citizenship. The unfairness of it all frustrates people who followed the rules to become legal residents and naturalized citizens. In my next column, you will hear from some of them.

To be fair, illegal aliens aren’t entirely to blame. The federal government is ignoring its own laws. While Washington fiddles, local jurisdictions are forced to deal with what is largely a federal matter. For example, to alleviate the public nuisance caused by day laborers — illegal aliens hanging around a neighborhood 7-Eleven store waiting for jobs — legislators in Herndon, Va., decided to use taxes paid by legal citizens to build a day labor center. In essence, because of the federal government’s neglect, Herndon residents were coerced into facilitating the commerce of illegal activities.

President Bush speaks of compassion for “decent, hardworking” people who come to the U.S. to work, but his compassion for decent, hardworking, and law-abiding people who put him in office — and pay for his office — is sorely lacking.

La Shawn Barber blogs at www.lashawnbarber.com. This is the first of a three-part series on immigration.