This is just cynicism. “ so there is absolutely no reason to think that any future law would be any more effective in keeping the illegals from working than the current law has been.” If you believe that workplace enforcement is impossible, even when significantly strengthened, then what do you propose?
“If you believe that workplace enforcement is impossible, even when significantly strengthened, then what do you propose?”
I’m sorry, but the current immigration laws that were revamped in 1986 have “workplace enforcement” provisions. Can’t we just try to enforce the laws we have before we say “pay us a $5,000 bribe and we will waive our current laws.”
Here is what I propose .... remove the incentives that attract illegal aliens (at least the incentives that would encourage me to break the law to live in the U.S.).
First, pass a law (a Constitutional amendment if necessary) that allows schools to confirm citizenship prior to enrolling students in public schools.
Second, pass a law (a Constitutional amendment if necessary) that allows hospitals to deny treatment to known illegal immigrants and to request proof of citizenship.
Third, pass some form of national sales tax with a “prebate”. Every citizen would recieve $1,000 per family per month to offset the sales tax on essentials of living. Illegals would be forced to pay the sales tax and would not receive the prebate. The would therefore be forced to pay a “penalty” for living here illegally, instead of being rewarded.
Of course, it won’t be easy to overcome the prevailing cowardice, but it is worth a shot.
I propose enforcing the law as it stands . Severe punishment for the employer who hires an illegal . Cut off all the free bees and they will return on their own . I guess you figure if you cant enforce a law just make whatever it is legal and thats a solution .
Well, yes it did seem cynical, but that seems to be a reasonable response to what has gone before.
The poster did not say enforcement was impossible - only that it has not been practiced in the past and there is no current reason to believe things will improve in future.
Since most here realize that there are adequate laws on the books today (including funding for twice the fence this bill offers):
A more appropriate question ('what do you propose?') would be 'what can we do to see that existing immigration laws ARE taken seriously by our own government?'.
Since most here would have to agree that the sainted RR wasn't perfect in all things:
A second question might be 'what can be done to stop another amnesty screw up by another Republican president only 20 years after the last one?'
And, of course, the fatal third question is 'how do we do that without handing 2008 over to the other face of Bill?'