European Problem
Illegal Aliens Who Are Americans
By Daniel Muniz

When people hear the term “illegal aliens” the imagery that is often associated with it are big groups of mostly Mexican nationals sneaking across the vast porous border that Mexico shares with the southwestern United States. And because of our dysfunctional immigration system, illegal immigrants have easily found employment and they also have absolutely no intention in applying for legal residency or citizenship. They don’t mind if it is given to them in the form of amnesty but they are not going to file any paperwork or adhere to immigration laws.

But there is a different kind of “illegal alien” that doesn’t get all that much media attention.

They are American citizens who illegally live in Europe.

Nobody is sure of just how many Americans are illegal immigrants in Europe because like in this country, it is difficult to keep an accurate tally of the people who are breaking the immigration and residency laws.

These American expatriates enjoy the tremendously lower cost of living in Eastern Europe. And unlike the overregulated and overtaxed western half of Europe, the former Eastern Bloc countries has free market economies, far lower taxes, and a light touch on governmental regulations. And they also love the ability to easily visit all the tourist hot spots of Western Europe without actually having to deal with the expensive burden of living there.

Although many Americans were attracted by the English teaching jobs, a lot of them wanted a fresh start in a different part of the world and the opportunities for a new life. Some have even opened up small businesses and have sunk deep roots into their new host countries.

But they are still living there illegally.

And just like in the United States, these American expats have absolutely no intention in applying for legal residency or for citizenship in their homelands. They also wouldn’t mind if it is given to them in the form of amnesty but they are not going to file any paperwork or adhere to immigration laws.

So how do so people manage to live in Eastern Europe indefinitely for years on end with only a 90 day tourist pass?

Some cross a border with a different Eastern European country that resets the clock with another new passport stamp. This allows “tourist visa riders” the opportunity to stay in their host countries indefinitely. However, it didn’t take long for tens of thousands of expats to realize that nobody cared about their immigration status so many of them stopped bothering with trying to make their paperwork look official.

And once word got out that anyone could easily live in Europe with or without a legal loophole, more Americans sought to exploit it. Prague of the Czech Republic soon became a Mecca for American expatriates.

But then something dramatic happened.

As former Eastern Bloc countries began joining the European Union, things changed. The new member nations now had to establish border security and enforce existing and newer immigration laws. They also had to crack down on illegal aliens, especially the visa tourist riders, and deport them.

In fact, thousands of Americans have already been deported.

All of a sudden, countries did start caring about immigration status.

The first step was to secure the border. Member nations sharing borders with non-EU countries had to shut down unmanned access points like footbridges and trails. Real checkpoints also had to be established at official border crossings. The next step was to require visas to visit neighboring non-EU countries even for day trips so this unfettered border crossings quickly came to an abrupt end. But perhaps the biggest development is the requirement for resident aliens to apply for long term visas or for citizenship.

Of course tens of thousands of American expats were outraged.

Many of them sincerely believed that they were entitled to break the immigration laws of any nation without consequences. And they were furious at the requirement to obey the law of the lands they were living in. For them, everything was going just fine for years but now it is all ruined.

American illegal aliens are now faced with a daunting choice. Try to be invisible to avoid detection or self-deport.

But there actually happens to be another option that they have yet to consider. What about obeying the law, following the rules, and turning in applications for long term visas or citizenship?

Why hasn’t it occurred to these illegal immigrants that there is a process that they are expected to follow instead of making up your own rules? Why is it so inconceivable to respect the law?

The attitude problem that illegal aliens have certainly isn’t limited to people who are living in the United States illegally but it is rather commonplace throughout the world. It is time for people to accept the harsh reality that when you go to a foreign land, you are expected to follow their rules.

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