Even though President Barack Obama's administration says there won't be time to deal with immigration laws this year, the nation already has a stirring debate ongoing because of the new law in Arizona that is feared to promote racial profiling.

While we don't want to get into the pros and cons of the Arizona law, we do want to look at how the immigration issue will affect Texas in the long run. We certainly can't escape the issue since we are a border state that has a lot of illegal immigrants living here and coming here by the thousands. Most of Texas' illegal population is from Mexico although some are from the northern reaches of South America as well.

The flow of Hispanics into Texas is at such a rapid rate that Hispanics are expected to surpass the Anglo population between 2015 and 2020, according to the Texas State Data Center. Of course, the rate of Hispanic growth can depend on a lot of factors, including the road immigration laws take and economic conditions in both the U.S. and Mexico.

This is not a futuristic look at the population map of Texas. This new era is upon us. With it will come an extended set of problems as the state changes its population base. It really has nothing to do with being anti-Hispanic at all. It's all about who we are letting cross our borders and how they will enhance our society.

Texas is simply becoming less educated and in more need of government aid than ever before. This will make the debate rage in Texas and the flap over Arizona might just be tip of the iceberg.

We fear where this debate might lead. That's why it is extremely important to solidify a national stance on border security. If every state takes a different approach to illegal immigrants, mass confusion will ensue. Those states that choose to be tough on immigration may stem the immigration tide somewhat, but they will push the problem beyond their border to that of their neighbor. In turn, the neighbor will become tougher and pass the problem along.

We realize it's a painful process, but we need to face the problem and find a way to collectively stop illegal immigrants from crossing our borders. We need to set firm standards for citizenship and then uphold the law. Being able to uphold the law is one of the big reasons America is an attractive place to live.

Immigration issues are not going to go away until we come up with a pathway of correction for current laws. Until that day comes, this debate will continue and we hope it will remain only a debate instead of open violence.