[Southack]

"Please register, and we'll reward you with a three year work permit and social security eligibility. Instead of a carrot or a stick methodology, this is a carrot or a carrot approach, there is no stick to back it up."

Indeed. If having the threat of being deported by a surprise INS raid hanging over your head like a sword of Damocles isn't a stick, or if being unable to get a credit card or a home loan without Registering isn't a stick, then this is indeed a carrot or not approach. Ditto if being blackmailed re: turning you in for deportation if you don't accept lower wages or pay a bribe.

Goodness! Why would any illegal alien want to dispel such innocuous concerns?! They should clearly choose to not Register for Bush's plea bargain.

< /SARCASM >

[Capitalist Eric]

If having the threat of being deported by a surprise INS raid hanging over your head like a sword of Damocles isn't a stick, or if being unable to get a credit card or a home loan ...

Ahh... I get it, now... So it wasn't a stick before, but somehow- magically- it will be NOW???

You can't be that naive....

[skip2myloo]

The threat of INS raids hardly hangs over the heads of illegal aliens like the sword of Damocles.

Alas, I wish it did.

The truth is, they are as rare as proverbial hens' teeth.

Frequent FR threads highlight INS lack of interest in pursuing illegal aliens. One recent thread discussed masses of illegal aliens rushing to North Carolina last week to get drivers licenses before tougher documentation for legal status was implemented. One jurisdiction had 14 illegal aliens in jail, INS would not come get them.

Not much of a threat at all -- the norm is inaction.