Replies

I bow out. I can't refute anything you've said. It seems what I've read about the GWP failed to mention these important facts. My initial comfort with it was based on: 1. we'd be able to identify and track these people; 2. they'd be sent home after the temporary period of time and could then apply for citizenship. I thought this was a good plan b/c we'd be able to identify these people and maintain some control over them, but I didn't realize they'd have the rights you defined.

The only other "objection" I have to the "get 'em all out" side of the spectrum is - how? How the hell could we identify them, round them up, and deport them? What about those reprots re: cost? Finally, wouldn't that piss off a load of people who could then turn on us from the inside and perhaps be more sympathetic to other groups trying to get in and cause us problems?

I agree some of these people are contributing to our problems and thus, they should be removed. But, I also think it's impractical to round up all these people and perhaps counterproductive to do so when some are actually doing good here. Also, I think our focus should be on securing the border first, then we can figure out what to do with those here already. I don't see how we can do both while fighting terror abroad and at home. With what resources, what money?

I'm not suggesting you should bow out. You provide your comments and I provide mine. You don't have to agree. You're one of the few people who approach this issue with honesty. I can't fault that.

When I first started considering the six year guest-worker plan, it was evident from the start that these folks would never be asked to leave. My reasoning was, if they can't be asked to leave today because that would be unfair, how could we expect them to be asked to leave in six years? It just defied reasoned logic.

I have not invisioned the INS/ICE or whatever going to homes and knocking on doors. I have invisioned businesses being told that the gravy train was over. I had envisioned them having an online means of verifying employability. If a person was a citizen and employable, they could hire them. If not, they couldn't. When that system was installed, businesses could be held accountable. When they were, and some executives were placed in jail because of infractions, there would no longer be a draw for illegal immigrants. Unable to support themselves here, they would return to the nation of their origion.

Any private individuals found to be employing illegals would also be fined heavily.

You mentioned that enforcing our laws might drive some folks into the underground, perhaps linking up with other undesirables to our detriment. I think that's a somewhat reasonable suggestion. Not all would adopt this reaction, but some would IMO. Personally that's one of the very reasons why I think we're flirting with disaster by not gaining control of our borders now. Ask yourself, will we be more or less subject to blackmail when we have 40 million recent immigrants who are loyal to another nation in our country?