Immigration issues are hitting home in southern Beaufort County like never before.

Quietly over the past five years, immigrants have poured onto Hilton Head Island. Enrollment in some schools is up to 25 percent immigrants. The total immigrant population in the area is estimated at more than 10,000.

It is an emotional issue for many, with passions running high. But those passions cannot be allowed to rule the day. The debate on what should or can be done about the steady influx of immigrants must be grounded in facts and reality.

That means two things.

First, it must be acknowledged that America's greatest strength is that it is a land of laws. No one can be above the law, not even the president. It is the rule of law that keeps the peace. We recently experienced a peaceful, though hotly contested and highly emotional, change in national leadership based on a court ruling. That respect for the law provides great strength for our nation. Immigration law can be no different. It must be administered, monitored and obeyed. That is not happening here or in many other communities, and it weakens our nation.

Second, the laws in question are federal laws. Anyone who wants to point fingers about immigration laws being flouted must point them squarely at the federal government.

In this community, it is U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., and U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Jim DeMint, R-S.C., who must be held accountable for the enforcement -- or lack of enforcement -- of immigration law.

Perhaps the answer is to change federal law. Perhaps state law should be rewritten to somehow deputize the state to enforce federal law. Perhaps the answer is to sharply increase the number of federal agents checking on employers or whoever else could help pinpoint illegal immigration.

But the focus needs to be on federal leaders.

It would be a mistake for local citizens to take the law into their own hands.

And it would be a mistake for the law of the land to continue to be ignored by those entrusted to enforce it. To ignore the law is unfair to legal immigrants and American citizens. Even worse, it puts at risk this nation's respect for the rule of law.

We implore Joe Wilson, Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint to take a stand. They must specify what they are going to do to bring change. They cannot be allowed to ignore this national issue that has hit home here.