By C. J. Garbo | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice
Let’s set the record straight. Immigration is not a right. Not under the U.S. Constitution. Not under international law. Not by any moral, legal, or civil standard.
It is a privilege, and one granted by a sovereign nation to those who respect its laws, value its principles, and are willing to contribute to its future.
That privilege, once respected and coveted as one of the greatest honors in the world, is now under relentless attack – distorted by entitlement, corrupted by politics, and weaponized by those who seek to benefit without belonging.
To understand this clearly, let’s use a comparison everyone can relate to: driving a car.
The Driving Analogy
Driving isn’t a right. It’s a regulated privilege. It offers freedom, power, and opportunity. But you don’t just jump behind the wheel because you feel like it. You take the tests. You learn the laws. You buy and insure your vehicle. You practice, demonstrate, and learn through the process a sense of greater responsibility to yourself and others.
When you do it right, you make the roads better and safer, not just for yourself, but for everyone around you.
Now, imagine someone wants to drive but refuses to learn the rules. They don’t get a license. They steal car keys. They hijack a vehicle. They don’t know the speed limits, the signs, or the responsibilities. They skip insurance and drive without regard for others, valuing self-benefit over responsibility.
So, when a crash happens, they flee the scene, having never cared for the car, the law, or the people they put at risk or injure.
That’s illegal immigration. It’s not romantic. It’s not noble. It’s not about “chasing the American Dream.” It’s about skipping the process and taking for oneself what hasn’t been earned.
The Two Realities of Immigration
Now, let’s be very clear – because the distinction is essential.
There are millions of immigrants who come to this country the right way. They wait in line. They study. They work. They sacrifice.
They love this country and the freedom it offers. These are the men and women who earn their place in America. They serve in our military. They run businesses. They fight to uphold our Constitution. And they would never lift a finger to harm this nation or its people.
I have had the privilege and the honor of guiding men and women, along with their families, through the legal process of immigrating to the United States in my capacity in leadership for global companies. I have witnessed their reverence for our laws, their tireless dedication, and their deep longing to become part of something greater than themselves.
These are not people looking for a handout – they are answering a higher calling.
They leave behind the familiar not to escape, but to embrace the promise of liberty. Their eyes are fixed not on what they can take, but on what they can contribute. And when they arrive, they do so with humility, pride, and profound gratitude for the opportunity to call America home.
There are millions like them. They wait their turn with patience. They study our history, our language, and our Constitution. They labor in silence. They sacrifice comfort for a future rooted in freedom.
They love this country, not out of convenience, but out of conviction.
These are the immigrants who earn their place in the American story. They serve in uniform. They build businesses from the ground up. They defend our ideals with more clarity than many born here. And they would sooner die than do harm to the nation that gave them hope and prosperity.
They are what’s right about immigration.
They are the reason the United States was once viewed as the most meritocratic society on earth.
But then there are others – the smug, entitled, and often violent actors who demand the benefits of citizenship without any of the burdens. They cross the border illegally, ignore our laws, exploit our welfare systems, and then insult this country while flying the flag of the very nations they fled.
They riot in the streets when we dare enforce our laws. They trample the American flag while waving their own. They call the deportation of criminal offenders a form of racism or fascism. And they attack the very law enforcement agencies tasked with protecting American families from real harm.
That is not love of country. That is exploitation.
That is not immigration. That is invasion – slow, political, and strategically enabled by those who profit from chaos.
The Political and Media Machine
Who benefits from this lawlessness? The politicians who buy votes with handouts. The media outlets that spin suffering into a narrative. The corporations that seek cheap, unregulated labor.
They are not fighting for human dignity. They are fighting for power, and they’re doing it on the backs of law-abiding Americans, legal immigrants, and the very system that has made this country great.
They blur the lines. They conflate legal immigrants with illegal entrants. They hijack the stories of those who earned their place to justify the presence of those who refuse to. They call all enforcement “inhumane,” all accountability “racist,” and any defense of sovereignty “authoritarian.”
It’s not just dishonest. It’s destructive.
Defending Sovereignty Is Not Hate – It’s Duty and Responsibility
No nation survives without borders. No republic stands without law. If we are to preserve the freedom, opportunity, and prosperity that define America, we must return to a fundamental truth:
Immigration is not a right. It is a privilege.
It must be earned, not demanded.
It must be honored, not abused.
It must be protected, not politicized.
This country will always welcome those who are willing to work hard, follow the law, and love this nation. But it cannot – and will not – survive a system that rewards exploitation, enables entitlement, and punishes those who play by the rules.
To those who riot, destroy, and demand from a country they refuse to respect: you do not represent the spirit of immigration. You represent its perversion.
To those who came here legally, who waited, who sacrificed, and who love this country as their own: we see you. We value you. We love you. And we will fight for a system that honors your effort, not erases it.
The American people are waking up. And we will not be guilted, gaslit, or manipulated into surrendering our nation for the sake of those who would take from it but never give.
America is worth protecting, and that starts with knowing who belongs – and why.
C. J. Garbo, M.Sc., is a seasoned political strategist and a 15-year law enforcement veteran. He has served as a campaign manager and advisor at the local, state, and federal levels, working to elect principled, Constitution-focused leaders. His background in law enforcement gives him firsthand insight into the importance of justice, accountability, and public policy. C. J. brings a no-nonsense approach to political commentary, driven by his belief that government exists to serve its citizens, not rule over them. He is a strong advocate for restoring ethical leadership and defending the rights of everyday Americans.
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.