I sympathize. But Rudy had nothing much to do with it. Actually it was Ronald Reagan who was persuaded to give amnesty to illegal aliens, and then every president since. Plus the decision of congress way back when to change the immigration laws so as to let in revised quotas.
In 1996, it was clinton, and I think Gray Davis. California has a bad immigration problem, but you have to lay it primarily on the Feds and the California State government.
I agree that if Rudy refuses to change his position, it will be a negative. But he couldn't possibly be worse than clinton and Bush. And I'm not sure if any other major candidate will be a lot better. It's still early, and I suspect the candidates will mostly avoid talking about this hot button issue, for fear that their political enemies and the media will use it to bash them as bigots.
Duncan Hunter and Tom tancredo certainly wont duck the issue. so you are say rudy wont back off his posistion be cause he would look like a flip flopper to you rudybots?
The Federal govt. must finish that fence...
Many would like to think Reagan was an amnesty guy.
That is a wish in some people's mind
As a native resident of San Diego of many decades and as one who worked at Reagan's headquarters here when he first ran for gov. the facts speak for themselves.
1. The Reagan Amnesty granted a blanket Amnesty to Illegal Aliens.
FALSE
The Reagan Amnesty wasn’t for all Illegal Aliens, there were many requirements that had to be met for Illegals to be eligible. Among them were certain residency requirements, no felony convictions, less than three misdemeanor convictions, medical examinations, etc. They can be found in the following subsection:
"Sec. 245A. (a) Temporary Resident Status.--The Attorney General shall adjust the status of an alien to that of an alien lawfully admitted for temporary residence if the alien meets the following requirements:
2. The Reagan Amnesty granted automatic citizenship to Illegal Aliens.
FALSE
As seen above in Section 245A., the adjustment of status for Illegal Aliens was to admission for “temporary residence.”
3. The Reagan Amnesty granted citizenship to some Illegal Aliens.
FALSE
Again, as seen above in Section 245A., the adjustment of status for Illegal Aliens was to admission for “temporary residence.”
4. The Reagan Amnesty granted automatic permanent residence (green cards) to Illegal Aliens.
FALSE
Once again, as seen above in Section 245A., the adjustment of status for Illegal Aliens was to admission for “temporary residence.”
For permanent residence requirements, one must go to Section 245(b):
"(b) Subsequent Adjustment to Permanent Residence and Nature of Temporary Resident Status.--
The adjustment to permanent residence for legalized Illegals wasn’t “automatic,” they had to be legalized as temporary workers first, and subsequently adjusted to permanent status. For adjustment to permanent status, the legalized-Illegal had to apply between eighteen and thirty months after being granted his temporary residence, under Section 245(b).1.A.
5. The Reagan Amnesty granted immediate permanent residence (green cards) to some Illegal Aliens.
FALSE
And yet again, as seen above in Section 245A., the adjustment of status for Illegal Aliens was to admission for “temporary residence.”
Same 245(b)(1)(A) applies: requirements for all Illegals adjusted to temporary residence, as seen above at Question #4, before being granted permanent residence.
6. The Reagan Amnesty was granted to Illegal Aliens, free of charge.
FALSE
Illegal Aliens had to pay a fee to be legalized as temporary residents, under Section 245(c)(7)(A) :
"(7) Application fees.--
"(A) Fee schedule.--The Attorney General shall provide for a schedule of fees to be charged for the filing of applications for adjustment under subsection (a) or (b)(1).
Bonus Question:
The Reagan Amnesty mentions the word “Amnesty.”
FALSE
Do the word search on Title II, Section 201 yourself.
Or scroll below, where I’ve posted the entire Section of the legislation that is devoted to Legalization of Status for Illegal Aliens.
Double Secret Bonus Question:
The word “Amnesty” is mentioned in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
FALSE
Go ahead; search every Title and Section of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
The Reagan Amnesty didn’t call itself an Amnesty, anywhere in the legislation.