I think if the Republicans were smart they would revise the
immigration work permits policy and immigration after the 2010 elections to be a lot more reasonable. If they did this and sat on making the existing illegals legal these people would flow into the legal channels and defuse the illegal amnesty issue. Many of these people go home every year or they just come here to work. When they return to the U.S. they would choose to use a legal route if it made any sense and they might actually give the Republicans credit it.
“. Many of these people go home every year or they just come here to work.”
No, they come here, and STAY here for the 20,000+ per year(family of 4) welfare benefits. This is one of the reasons California is bankrupt. They not only stay, they bring their relatives over here, once they are settled in.
For years we told Bush "Secure the borders first" but he refused to do so, preferring to ram amnesty down our throats. But the people remembered the 1986 legislation of amnesty now, secure borders someday, maybe, never, and were adamant that that never happen again.
If Bush had been serious and secured our borders, I believe he could have gotten a workers plan and perhaps a bit of amnesty, but he couldn't be bothered to work with his fellow Republicans and base voters.