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Lucky you! I haven't publicly expressed my thoughts on this matter until your post. For what it's worth, I have mixed feelings about Bush's "amnesty" plan. I consider myself a far-right winger, but I've also seen the other side of this issue...our INS system has been so screwed up for so long that I have a hard time condemning anyone for going around the law in this instance.

My husband had an employee who had a false SS card. Came to the US as an 18-year-old with little prospects (duh) in Mexico. Had a lot of brain power and a lot of discipline. He worked his way up from a truck loader to being considered for manager of his own branch (and this is in a multi-billion $ company) . The company didn't discover his false SS number until after he was being considered for this management position. He had to be let go, after many months of paying lawyers to try to grease the wheels.

This man paid taxes on his wages, since he had withholding tax but never filed. He worked hard. He admitted that he made a mistake when he was young and foolish and didn't want to wait the seven or more years it would have taken him to get legal.

As born American citizens, we can get all righteous and claim that we would never break the law to immigrate. I'm not so sure that if it really came down it, as an 18-year-old who had drive and ambition but no hope, I would never consider cutting those corners to get done what I needed to get done.

My wish is that Bush would totally gut the INS and start over from scratch. Allow the illegals that are here and have PROVEN themselves to be 1) hard-working 2) not a social-services burden 3) law-abiding 4) willing to learn the language and assimilate themselves into our society...allow them to apply for citizenship and fast-track them through (since the INS has been gutted and reworked in my fantasy world, it might happen!).

Like I said at the beginning, lucky you!! (I don't expect you to want to reply to my musings!!!)

I agree with you. And I think Bush IS showing leadership.

This is a very difficult situation, and the only thing that is really clear is that our current immigration law is not working. At least Bush is trying to come up with a new approach.

As born American citizens, we can get all righteous and claim that we would never break the law to immigrate.

I am always in awe of the fact that people die trying to come here to America. Americans who were born here should thank God that they were so fortunate.