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Trump Moves to the Center: I Support Amnesty
Director Blue ^ | 1/13/2016 | Marc Thiessen

Posted on 02/12/2016 2:12:41 PM PST by conservativejoy

Trump's supporters loved his promise this week to create a "deportation force” to remove all 11 million illegal immigrants living in America, and his repeated declaration that everyone here illegally will “have to go."

But his supporters tend to overlook is his other promise - repeated in a recent debate - that under his immigration plan "they will come back."

That's right. Under Trump's immigration plan almost all of 11 million illegal aliens (save for a small minority with criminal records) will get to return and get permanent legal status to stay here in America.

Trump supports amnesty.

On the Kelly File Thursday, Trump's son Eric expressed frustration that the media overlooks this:

The point isn't just deporting them, it's deporting them and letting them back in legally. He's been so clear about that and I know the liberal media wants to misconstrue it, but its deporting them and letting them back legally.

Eric Trump is right. His father has been crystal clear that he wants all the illegals to return and live in America.

Listen closely to what Trump is actually proposing. In an interview with CNN's Dana Bash earlier this year, Trump explained his plan this way:

I would get people out and then have an expedited way of getting them back into the country so they can be legal. A lot of these people are helping us ... and sometimes it's jobs a citizen of the United States doesn't want to do. I want to move 'em out, and we're going to move 'em back in and let them be legal.

This is a policy called "touchback" and it was first proposed in 2007 by moderate Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX). She offered a "touchback" amendment on the Senate floor that would have required illegal immigrants to return to their home countries to apply for a special "Z visa" that would allow them to reenter the United States in an expedited fashion and work here indefinitely.

Her amendment lost by a relatively close margin, 53-45. It was supported by most Republicans and even got five Democratic votes - Sens. Claire McCaskill, Max Baucus, Jon Tester, Byron Dorgan and John Rockefeller all voted for it.

The idea was considered so reasonable that in an April 22, 2007 editorial entitled "Progress on Immigration," the New York Times declared:

It's not ideal, but if a touchback provision is manageable and reassures people that illegal immigrants are indeed going to the back of the line, then it will be defensible.

So what Trump is proposing today - sending illegal immigrants back to their home countries and then allowing the "good ones" to return in an "expedited" fashion - was endorsed by the liberal New York Times!

In fact, the idea even got the support of - wait for it - illegal immigrants.

In 2007, the Los Angeles Times did the first telephone poll of illegal immigrants and asked whether they would go home under a "touchback" law that allowed them to return with legal status. Sixty-three percent said yes, 27% said no and 10% were undecided. If they were promised a path to citizenship when they returned, the number who said they would leave and return legally grew to 85%.

Donald Trump's detractors were aghast at his invocation during the Fox Business debate of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's "Operation Wetback" which forcibly removed 1.5 million illegal immigrants, and his promise the following day to establish a "deportation force" to remove the 11 million illegal immigrants living in America today.

Never mind the fact that we already have a "deportation force" - it's called US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The fact is, Trump won't need a "deportation force" or an "Operation Wetback" to get illegal immigrants to go home - because he has promised that they can return quickly with legal status.

The vast majority of illegal immigrants say they would voluntarily cooperate with Trump's plan.

If anything, the "touchback" plan Trump endorses was attacked by conservatives back in 2007. In an editorial, National Review called touchback a "fraud" that gives illegal aliens “their own privileged pathway” ahead of "applicants who have complied with US immigration laws."

That is precisely what Trump is proposing. Under his plan, illegal aliens don't have to go to the end of the line behind those who have complied with our immigration laws. They get an "expedited way of getting them back into the country so they can be legal." They get to cut the line and then stay in America.

So if you get past Trump's bluster, the plan he is proposing is so liberal that it earned the support of the New York Times and the opposition of National Review.

The reason is simple: Trump's plan is in fact a form of amnesty - you just have to leave the country briefly to get it.

So when Trump says of illegal immigrants "they all have to go," don't overlook the fact that under his plan almost all would be able to immediately return – and stay.

This means there is very little difference between his plan and what John Kasich and Jeb Bush are supporting.

And most of his supporters don't even realize it.


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: 1stcanadiansentor; amnesty; bs; cjtds; gangof14post; propagandadujour; tedspacificpartners; theycomeoutatnight; trump; usualsuspect
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To: A CA Guy
They have to show they can support themselves and have records showing the taxes they were paying. That will exclude 97% or more of them.

Where/when did Trump say this?
81 posted on 02/12/2016 2:56:17 PM PST by posterchild
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To: conservativejoy

I love how this nonsense gets repeated over and over. The truth is, so what? They get deported, they do it right, and come back legally. I see no problem with this. That is how it should work. Not one of the other candidates are going to do it better. In fact, most others will do it worse - legalizing them BEFORE securing the border. Trump’s immigration plan is just fine.


82 posted on 02/12/2016 2:59:32 PM PST by dware (Everybody wants to be a patriot, until it's time to do patriot stuff.)
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To: conservativejoy

NTSA


83 posted on 02/12/2016 3:01:04 PM PST by PhiloBedo (You gotta roll with the punches and get with what's real.)
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To: papertyger

I really don’t think that poll means much. I’m a Cruz supporter and I’ve quit voting daily, but it’s not because I support Trump.


84 posted on 02/12/2016 3:01:56 PM PST by Elyse (I refuse to feed the crocodile.)
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To: Jane Long

When you support an expedited process to bring illegals back, that is Touch Back amnesty.


85 posted on 02/12/2016 3:02:39 PM PST by conservativejoy (Pray Hard, Work Hard, Trust God ...We Can Elect Ted Cruz)
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To: conservativejoy

There is no move to the center here. Touchback amnesty has always been a part of the plan. He wasn’t keeping it a secret or anything. It is one of his more consistent stances.


86 posted on 02/12/2016 3:02:56 PM PST by Reaper19
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To: Hostage; conservativejoy
"Where does he 'specify' an 'expedited process'?"

He has mentioned an expedited process, not just for those allowed to return, but in general. No question there's plenty of room for improvement in the immigration process.

However, what doughboy Thiessen and other establishment hacks refuse to acknowledge is Trump has been crystal sparkling clear that immigration will be reduced to an as needed basis. NumberUSA has reviewed Trumps version of "touchback and found that it could take years for any to be allowed to return. Marc knows that sort of truth could cost him his recurring visits on Megyn Kellys nightly Trump Vivisection Hour.

87 posted on 02/12/2016 3:04:28 PM PST by moehoward
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To: papertyger

Citizenship is irrelevant when it comes to jobs, crime, healthcare, and wages. Hell its pretty irrelevant in some liberal states and counties when it comes to voting too.

Regardless, having them here permanently and legally only sets them up to get automatic citizenship under a liberal congress or president.


88 posted on 02/12/2016 3:06:06 PM PST by Reaper19
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To: Ouderkirk

BINGO
Than YOU decide the criteria


89 posted on 02/12/2016 3:06:21 PM PST by magna carta
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To: conservativejoy
His father has been crystal clear that he wants all the illegals to return and live in America.

As long as they get in line, no welfare and no citizenship.

90 posted on 02/12/2016 3:06:54 PM PST by Mike Darancette (Obama Rules of Engagement: Hands up Don't Shoot)
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To: conservativejoy

No, it’s not. It means you’ll still have to qualify to come in...under EXISTING laws.

When you support bringing illegals out of the shadows and giving them TEDdy bears at the border with cuckoo Beck, that is amnesty.


91 posted on 02/12/2016 3:07:33 PM PST by Jane Long (Go Trump, go! Make America Safe Again :)
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To: Tennessee Nana

Expedited does not mean 10 years. It means much quicker. Interestingly the only time he talks about expediting is for illegals, not those already in line.

As for the children of illegals, he’s said specifically he’ll do something different to help DREAMers.


92 posted on 02/12/2016 3:07:48 PM PST by Reaper19
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To: conservativejoy

But will they have to pass an intelligence test?

As a former Trump supporter I am flabbergasted as to why he would decide to lose this race.


93 posted on 02/12/2016 3:09:09 PM PST by HomerBohn (Liberals and slinkies: they're good for nothing, but you smile as you shove them down the stairs.)
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To: nickcarraway
He never didn't support amnesty.

True.

Until the end of July 2015 he supported deportations only for the criminals. Everybody else he was for a legalization amnesty without deportation based on merit.

Then at the end of July 2015, he switch to a touchback legalization amnesty where everybody would be deported, but the good ones would be expedited back for a legalization amnesty.

Beyond a legalization amnesty, his last stated position on a citizenship amnesty was that he would not be for it now but he would consider it later.

94 posted on 02/12/2016 3:10:19 PM PST by FreeReign
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To: moehoward

Yes, it’s been made crystal clear that Trump aims to restore the middle class and put Americans first.

You’ll notice the scumbag media is out in force against Trump now that SC is coming up. They are rehashing the same crap they tried before which means they are getting paid or instructed to do it.


95 posted on 02/12/2016 3:10:53 PM PST by Hostage (ARTICLE V)
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To: Mike Darancette

Getting in line is absolutely not his plan. The line takes a long time. He repeatedly says he’ll expedite their return. SO either they’re coming back quicker than those waiting in line or he plans on bringing both former illegals and those waiting in line in quicker than already possible. Neither is a preferable option to me


96 posted on 02/12/2016 3:10:56 PM PST by Reaper19
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To: conservativejoy

Who qualifies for an illegal alien touchback amnesty? How will ICE verify the ‘undocumented’ as having been in the country illegally? Do visa overstayers qualify? Do people who come here on tourist visas, work ‘under the table’ or with fake IDs and go home every 6 months in accordance with their visa duration qualify?

‘No person is illegal’ will soon morph into ‘Everybody is illegal.’


97 posted on 02/12/2016 3:12:16 PM PST by posterchild
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To: Mike Darancette

The problem is, they aren’t getting in line. Trump says they will come back using an “expedited” process. They should not ever be allowed back if we have to deport them.


98 posted on 02/12/2016 3:12:39 PM PST by conservativejoy (Pray Hard, Work Hard, Trust God ...We Can Elect Ted Cruz)
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To: Hostage

Roger that. If SC ends up anywhere near what the latest polls are, they know it’s game over.


99 posted on 02/12/2016 3:15:09 PM PST by moehoward
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To: conservativejoy

Marc Thiessen, one of MeGYN Kelly’s lapdogs.

Between Thiessen, Glenn Beck and Chris Stirewalt saying anything to get on MeGYN’s show, all credibility has been lost. In my opinion.


100 posted on 02/12/2016 3:15:36 PM PST by slipper (Adapt and overcome. God, Family, Country)
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