Stop all legal immigration, too, but if they came here legally, good luck getting rid of them. For them, you have to hope to reach some of their third generation. If we don’t get rid of illegals NOW, there won’t be any opportunity to win over those who are here LEGALLY and who aren’t going anywhere, because we will never win any elections. You seem to be hung up on illegal immigration as the main source of our demographic change. The facts just don't bear you out.
I am a member of a grassroots immigration group that lobbies on the Hill and in Richmond. I have had one on ones with Cantor and George Allen on immigration and its impact economically and electorally. I am so fed up with the GOP on this issue. All they want to deal with is illegal immigration and securing the borders. They are in the pocket of the Chamber of Commerce. They are fools and I cannot understand why they want to commit political suicide by not addressing legal immigration. It is the defining issue of our time.
Republicans are deluded if they think that we can convert these people even the third generation. In fact, studies on the Cubans have found that their children and grandchildren are becoming more and more Democrat.
Immigrants and minorities vote Democrat. That is not going to change. Immigration, Political Realignment, and the Demise of Republican Political Prospects
Perhaps you haven't seen the schools, hospitals, street corners, buses, restaurants, and neighborhoods outside of your area in northern Virginia. There, illegal aliens are a neighborhood, like Little Italy was 80 years ago. Cute, go there and see some Mexicans and buy a burrito. Here, it is a full-blown reconquest. And they are not legal, they got here 5, 10 or 15 years ago, but have not assimilated in any way. That is what the article I posted refers to, although it doesn't talk about illegals. However, there have not been huge numbers of LEGAL Mexicans getting residency here in San Diego in recent years. The ones we get that are legal are mostly on visas, and they are here only to escape violence or to stay for a while and then go back.
The scary thing is the illegals are not voting in great numbers yet. They are just starting to. But with a narrow split between the parties, a few percentage points is enough to swing the balance. In a few years, as more illegals vote, and as more of their children become 18, or as more of them get amnesty if Obama gets his way, then it will be a massacre here for Republicans. And not because of illegals.
You are looking at national statistics regarding legal aliens. I am looking at California and telling you that illegals have made a big difference, and what they have done here will spread nationally. For some reason, you want to argue against something I have not even brought up--the issue of whether legal immigration is more of a problem NATIONALLY than illegal immigration.
What we both agree on is that we don't want either legal or illegal immigration. We need to close the border, send the illegals packing (through enforcement of employment verification, eliminating benefits and raids on chicken plants, farms and construction sites) AND call a timeout on all LEGAL immigration. No new citizens, no new permanent residents, and those who can be sent back home should be. We also need to return to an assimilation policy. But, again, I am spitting in the wind, as I am for a rational approach and I am in a tiny minority of Americans. All I can do is sit back and watch what it was go away.