obama Recently the Secretary of Homeland Security, Ms. Janet "the-system-works" Napolitano, announced that young people that had been brought to the country illegally as children and raised here would not be deported. Additionally, they’d be eligible to apply for work authorization.

You know, because deportation of college-aged illegal Americans is such a huge problem right now. *Insert eye roll here*

This is a distraction from the real issues. Seriously, why talk about the economy, or energy exploration, or skyrocketing health care costs when we can talk about a problem that doesn’t really exist? After all, school-aged children are entitled to a public school education, regardless of their immigration status, and the schools aren’t even allowed to inquire about it. 

Less than 4% of illegal aliens were deported in 2011, and the majority of those were criminals. No one on either side of the aisle is suggesting a massive roundup and deportation of all ‘undocumented citizens.’

This is just the latest ploy by the Team Obama to change the topic of conversation so that maybe we’ll forget about $4/gallon gasoline or record-breaking economic downturn. By saying that the Democratic administration wants to offer a chance for children not to be ripped from the only home they have known and sent back to third world countries, the assumption is that that is what the Republicans want to do.

On the contrary, GOP leaders from across the conservative spectrum have put forth plans and ideas that suggest a deep compassion for young people that were brought here by their parents, through no action of their own.

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney said in a 2011 interview, “Those people who have come here illegally … should be able to sign up for permanent residency or citizenship, but the should not be given a special pathway.” This is consistent with the Republican anti-amnesty stance, while offering illegal aliens the chance to stay here and obtain legal status.

Florida Senator and Tea Party darling Marco Rubio offers some grace to parents that bring their children here. He writes in his new book An American Son:

Many people who came here illegally are doing exactly what we would do if we lived in a country where we couldn't feed our families. If my kids went to sleep hungry every night and my country didn't give me an opportunity to feed them, there isn't a law, no matter how restrictive, that would prevent me from coming here.

Rubio is the son of Cuban immigrants, and is a natural born citizen.

Rather than debate whether or not upstanding citizens should be deported based on their current immigration status, maybe we could talk about securing our borders, and keeping taxpayer money from being funneled to Mexican drug cartels through Operation Fast and Furious. That is a border issue that actually matters this election cycle.

This post is part of a weekly conversation with our Moms Matter 2012 political bloggers. To see the original question and see what all the bloggers had to say, read What Do You Think of President Obama's Immigration Decision?

Image via An Honorable German/Flickr