Amnesty by Any Other Name...(Edwin Meese)

New York Times ^ | 5/24/06 | Edwin Meese III

[blitzgig]

IN the debate over immigration, "amnesty" has become something of a dirty word. Some opponents of the immigration bill being debated in the Senate assert that it would grant amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants. Supporters claim it would do no such thing. Instead, they say, it lays out a road map by which illegal aliens can earn citizenship.

Perhaps I can shed some light. Two decades ago, while serving as attorney general under President Ronald Reagan, I was in the thick of things as Congress debated the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. The situation today bears uncanny similarities to what we went through then.

In the mid-80's, many members of Congress — pushed by the Democratic majority in the House and the Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy — advocated amnesty for long-settled illegal immigrants. President Reagan considered it reasonable to adjust the status of what was then a relatively small population, and I supported his decision.

[Dialup Llama]

To do that, we need to kill the incentive for the migrants to come here.

No matter the twists and turns of the various proposals we come to the same roadblock. We need to enforce the laws, either the old ones or the new ones. The gov't has signalled a complete unwillingness to enforance ANY of our border or employer sanction laws. They will not enforce the new laws. However, you can be sure they will rush through the amnesties in quick order.

[Dialup Llama]

they are counting on the "but it would be worse if the Dems are in charge" voters that always tuck tail playing the lesser of two evils game.

Alot of people are over that. They recognize the "lesser of two evils" scam for what it is. When you vote for the lesser of two evils, you get evil.

PS. Look for "defense of marriage" proposals and anti-flag burning amendments to be floated, the closer we get to the election. We aren't going to be tricked by those either.

[Fledermaus]

Yeah, those are perennial "issues".

[buffyt]

And they won't be happy until Southern California looks like a seedy part of Tijuana!

[NathanR]

Looks like it.

They want Californians to live like Mexicans; a white 'padron' class and us peons.