Of course not, but I am dead set against an amnesty of any kind. Why the urgency to legalize the status of 12 to 20 million illegals who are already here? The costs are enormous and by rewarding something you get more of it. If anything, the 1986 amnesty should have taught us that.
Here is my plan to deal with the immigration issue--legal and illegal:
Advocate a pro-immigrant policy of low immigration. Republicans need to provide the American people with their own comprehensive immigration reform plan, i.e., give people a reason to vote FOR something rather than just attack the other sides proposals. Such a plan should contain the following elements:
Formulate a merit based immigration system that brings in the skills and talents to keep us competitive in the global economy;
Reduce immigration levels based on need more closely approximating 300,000 a year;
Eliminate extended chain migration, i.e., family reunification, limiting it to the nuclear family,
Secure the border;
Enforce existing immigration laws to reduce the current illegal alien population and limit future illegal immigration, i.e., attrition thru enforcement. Enforcement would include: (1) ending the job magnet; (2) increasing coordination at the federal level by eliminating barriers to information sharing among agencies; (3) leveraging state and local enforcement resources; (4) fully implementing the US-VISIT Program to track and deport visa overstays; and (5) make mandatory and improve such programs as E-Verify and 287 [g] authority to assist employers and law enforcement in identifying illegal aliens;
Eliminate birthright citizenship and the visa lottery program;
Ensure that anyone who enters this nation illegally is not rewarded by being permitted to stay and work here; i.e., no amnesty;
Streamline the processing and adjudication of immigration cases;
Promote pro-immigrant measures that help newcomers assimilate and embrace the values and principles of our Founders and the Constitution.
Rubio is just acting as the salesman for the McCain-Kennedy 2007 amnesty bill. All of the elements he has mentioned are in that 2007 900 page bill, which I have read cover to cover along with the 2006 Hagel-Martinez amnesty bill that passed the Rep-controlled Senate (the Reps voted against it 32-23), and the 1986 Simpson-Mazzoli bill.
Rubio and the Gang of Eight's plan is just old wine in new bottles. The idea that we must now swoon because an Hispanic Rep is the point man is nonsense. It must be stopped. Legislators should adopt the doctor's rule, "First, do no harm." An amnesty will destroy this country with the stroke of a pen. Everything else that follows is just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Kabar, I agree with your plan. I know, however, that it will not get passed. Ever. The power brokers committed to maintaining the status quo will see to that.
Then we’re stuck with the status quo.
My hopes are simply stated right now. I want controlled entry of border, visa, etc. I want green card acceptance of current illegals instead of citizenship.
But, the forces wanting to maintain the status quo are extremely powerful. They will undermine ANY EFFORT to improve anything. That’s why Rubio’s plan that includes control of entry is as good as it gets.
The bottom line is this: anyone who wants too much is actually going to end up with the status quo....which they hate.
It’s the classic catch 22.