If I were living in Mexico I would do everything in my power to get myself and my wife across the border to America, and that would include breaking immigration laws. There’s no way I could live with myself if I didn’t do everything a husband should to get his wife out of the poverty, corruption and hopelessness that represents too much of Latin America. Knowing this about myself makes it hard for me to condemn others who actually are in that situation and have decided to do the same.

Though he’s taken it back enough times for me to believe him, Governor Rick Perry was wrong to question the “hearts” of those who disagreed with his decision to offer in-state tuition to the children of illegal immigrants, and he was even more wrong to create a magnet that uses taxpayer dollars to incentivize even more illegal to cross the border and burden our system.

But Newt Gingrich is absolutely right that of the 11 or 12 million illegals currently living in this country, many have lived here for years and are a part of a community and a part of a family that deportation would tear apart.

Are we really prepared to do that?

Talk radio host Dennis Prager once made a point about this issue that’s worth repeating: Every day throughout Southern California thousands of illegals gather outside Home Depots everywhere (this is a fact) looking for someone to pick them up and give them day labor. Every day, who knows how many housewives pick up these illegals and take them home alone to do that day labor. And yet you never hear about a rape or robbery or murder in these circumstances. Never.

For almost eight years I lived in East Los Angeles where illegals are as interwoven into that culture as rich, white, elitist America-haters in Santa Monica. On the hottest days of the year, I’m talking 110 degrees, while the rest of the city hibernates in air conditioned cars and offices, you simply know it’s the illegals still out there building our homes, washing our cars, and cutting our grass. Work Americans won’t do? I’ve never bought that argument. But a willingness to show up for that kind of work in that kind of heat is a sign of character.

Simply put, because I love my country and want what’s best for it, if I were King I’d deport all of Santa Monica to Mexico before a single Mexican illegal.

I’m well aware that not every illegal comes here with the good faith I would in their situation, with the intention of becoming an American in the best sense of the word, even if you can’t become one legally. And the crimes some illegals commit are awful and so are the parasites (American and illegal) who contribute nothing to our society other than adding their name to the welfare rolls. But not all illegals are equal and they shouldn’t be treated as such.

I get that it’s illegal to be an illegal and I’m as opposed to amnesty as anyone and as someone married to a woman born in Mexico who waited in line for two decades to gain her American citizenship, I’m opposed to letting people jump that line. But if someone’s been here illegally for years without being a drain on our welfare state and without getting into trouble with the law, the thought of tearing a family apart or deporting a person of good character who contributes to our society is unthinkable and unwise.

The first thing we need to do is secure the border once and for all. Magnets such as sanctuary cities and college tuition also have to go. Don’t even talk to me about a step two before that’s a fact. From there, though, we deal with the 11 million or so illegals who are already here on a case by case basis and based on what’s in the best interest of our country.

Gingrich’s idea of a community review board is a good one. You start by going out into the community to make sure every illegal knows he or she has 3 or 6 or 12 months to report to this board to go through the process. Anyone found with a criminal record gets deported. Anyone on social services gets deported. Anyone who doesn’t report to this board gets deported.

But those who have a job and a family and are prepared to learn English and pay any back taxes, they get green cards and are put at the BACK of the line for citizenship.

This isn’t just a humane way to handle this, this is what’s best for our country. We want to embrace those who instinctually understand that America is the place where if you work hard and follow the rules a good life can be had. Our country is and will continue to be stronger for having them.

I know they broke the law and I agree there should be a penalty for that. But from my personal experience, I’d be willing to bet that 90% of illegals are more “American” than over half of Santa Monica and all of Occupy Wall Street.