There are an estimated 11 to 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States today. Run that again: 12 million people, roughly equal to the combined world population of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have come into the country illegally.

Recently, thousands of people took to the streets in large protests throughout several major American cities. But, how can people who snuck in, and are here illegally, possibly demand rights? They are attempting to force their way into the country. This was once a nation based on truths and morals; Americans cannot allow their country to be overrun by those who refuse to respect the laws of the land. Those protests were a slap in the face for everything good and honest.

Many Americans are downright angry about this, and many are suggesting that deporting all illegal immigrants, as the original bill passed back in December stipulates, is our best course of action. It really is the honest thing to do. Sure, the costs of deportation would be outrageous and it would probably run about as smoothly as the Iraq War. But it would create a lot of jobs and help with the unemployment rate, right?

OK, Americans all know such a thing could never happen, as it is simply unreasonable. But the alternative, to grant amnesty, would be immoral and foolish. Should those immigrants who are here legally have to wait while those who came illegally get to walk right in?

Or perhaps we should just look the other way and change nothing — illegal immigration is good. The argument goes that there are many jobs average Americans are not willing to do, thus illegal immigrants should be allowed into the country to fill such jobs. But, didn’t some terrorists supposedly get past our immigration system, come into our country and crash airplanes into the World Trade Center? Don’t a large percentage of the illegal drugs in the country come via illegal immigration? Obviously something needs to change to make the borders more secure.

President Bush wants illegal immigrants to stay, under what he’s calling Comprehensive Immigration Reform. As part of the plan, the president has already sent the National Guard to help increase border security until new patrollers are in place. The plan will change several policies regarding immigration and ultimately allow most illegal immigrants already in the country to remain here. The president is headed in the right direction.

The proposal would create a temporary worker program, which would allow most illegal immigrants to stay legally, continue working and even apply for citizenship. There would be no amnesty granted, and those who applied for citizenship or permanent residence would have to wait in line just as the legal immigrants.

Hopefully, any legislation passed will improve our current Citizenship and Immigration Service, which was formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The department is still working on applications for permanent residence that were made in 2002. Who knows how many have slipped through the system.

For once President Bush is headed in the right direction, and his plans for immigration should be supported.