That is Bull! He mentioned a path to citizenship numerous times in his 2004 campaign stomps. The word amnesty is being used very conveniently to label this bill as something it is not. Amnesty would be to grant instant citizenship, something that this bill does not do. It gives otherwise law abiding people that have been working here and want a better life a chance to come out of the shadows, pay a fine and taxes and legally be here. It puts them on a path to citizenship if that is what they desire, but does not grant it to them, or even give them an advantage over other applicants.
Amnesty has nothing to do with citizenship. Amnesty is allowing those who break the law to avoid punishment. I’d like to understand how those who have committed Identity Theft, and Tax Evasion are going to be punished? If it’s not the same punishment as American CITIZENS receive for these criminal acts then it is amnesty.
From Merriam-Webster:
amnesty
One entry found for amnesty.
Main Entry: am·nes·ty
Pronunciation: ‘am-n&-stE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ties
Etymology: Greek amnEstia forgetfulness, from amnEstos forgotten, from a- + mnasthai to remember — more at MIND
: the act of an authority (as a government) by which pardon is granted to a large group of individuals
- amnesty transitive verb
From Cambridge Online:
amnesty
[Show phonetics]
noun [C/U]
a decision by a government to forgive people who have committed particular illegal acts or crimes, and not to punish them
Oh, and as for the term ‘otherwise law-abiding’ — who are you kidding? Do you have any idea how many laws illegal immigrants must break on a daily basis just to get by while being in this country illegally? And, what about those who aided and abetted them in committing these crimes (i.e. Businesses who hire them without proper paperwork, and thereby have also committed Social Security Fraud by not paying taxes for them) — no mention of any punishment for them, either...
As for advantage over other applicants — I’m sure the hundreds of thousands of would-be immigrants who have waited decades just for the chance to come here would disagree with you...
I've cited specific sources that state otherwise. You are free to do the same. If you can't find a statement from Bush pre-reelection in which he proposes to put illegals on the Path to Citizenship, then please concede you were wrong, that Bush did lie.
You might try using Google , and using the search terms "path to citizenship" + Bush + 2004. Good luck, and please get back to us.
Yeah, that'll work. Our competent, efficient and thorough Department of Homeland Security and Immigration will have 24 whole HOURS to screen illegals to make sure they're not rapists, drunk drivers, terrorists, or MS-13 members before they get their Zamnesty.
And, of course, no other illegals will ever enter the country, not to mention the entire extended families of those already here. If this bill passes, we're going to have a competent immigration bureaucracy, a secure border, and only law-abiding, hardworking immigrants who can't wait to assimilate!
Trust Ted Kennedy, Mel Martinez, and our Presidente.
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