Top GOP donors tell party to legalize illegal immigrants

The Washington Times ^ | 7-30-2013

[markomalley]

Nearly a hundred top Republican officials sent a letter to the House GOP on Tuesday urging lawmakers to pass a bill that legalizes illegal immigrants, arguing that the current system is already allowing them to stay and so it makes sense to register them and bring them into the system.

The donors, led by former Bush administration Cabinet officials Carlos Gutierrez and Spencer Abraham, also said that immigrants are potential Republican voters who can be won over — if the party can be seen as welcoming to immigrants.

“Doing nothing is de facto amnesty. We need to take control of whom we let in our country and we need to make sure everybody plays by the same rules,” the donors said in their letter.

They aimed their pitch at House Republicans, who are trying to figure out a way forward and find themselves trapped between angry rank-and-file voters who say legalizing illegal immigrants amounts to amnesty, and party elites and donors who say the GOP cannot survive nationally without embracing legalization as part of a strategy to win over Hispanic voters.

[Bigg Red]

When they call here, I tell them to put me on their “don’t call” list. The poor phone bank caller has probably not been given a vehicle by her employer for conveying your feedback.

[Fledermaus]

I’m done with the GOP. Let the party die. Fight locally.

I don’t think I’ll even bother to vote in the future. If living in the most conservative county in TN and the most conservative district represented by Marsha Blackburn (who sold out to the GOPe and Boehner/Cantor) gets me treated like this, why bother?

[central_va]

When states lost their rights, the people lost them too.

[Fledermaus]

How can they (members of both parties) sell cheap labor and, at the same time, want to raise the minimum wage? Republicans always cave to the Dems on it.

Wake up America! You can’t have both cheap, illegal labor and keep raising the minimum wage and put unskilled (public educated kids) out of work anywhere.

What a scam. Belize? Belirus? Costa Rica? Panama? John Galt’s place? I’m looking!!

[Bigg Red]

If I were looking for new family members to adopt, I don’t think those who broke into my house would be at the top of the list.

&&&
Post of the day — maybe even the whole month.

[Bigg Red]

Thanks for the list. I never heard of 99% of the companies that appear there. But Overstock? I love Overstock. Oh, well, nice knowing you, Overstock....

[Bigg Red]

The list is in post 40.

[Slambat]

Get that list of donors and hand it over to ICE.

[AlmaKing]

I would consider anyone who got amnesty to be not a citizen or American. I would ask questions of anyone who I thought got amnesty and not do business with them or socialize with them. Make them outcasts.

[bmwcyle]

Get rid of the GOP.

[Popman]

The last call I got from a Tea Party group, the person who called spoke of the wonderful Senators they supported from FL and AZ. Huh????...

I would bet dollars to donuts that is really a front group for the GOPe soliciting funds in the name of the Tea Party...

I have never once gotten a solicitation call from a Tea party organization...

[DBeers]

These idiots. There is no such thing as an illegal immigrant. There are immigrants and then there are illegal aliens. Immigrants comply with immigration laws -the LAWS don't comply with them.

Is the US "rule of law" or rule of lawbreaker?

[meadsjn]

Top GOP donors tell party to legalize illegal immigrants

Legalize?

Have the illegal aliens register for a work visa, with no pathway to citizenship, no illegal voting, and no access to entitlements or government benefits. We've had lots of people come here to work who didn't intend to screw up our politics.

Immigration & Tax Law Definitions

How to Determine Residency for Tax Purposes

The "Green Card" Test

The Substantial Presence Test

Immigration and Tax Law Definitions

The information in this section is provided as a general guide on residence status for U.S. tax purposes. Please note that there are significant differences between the definitions of residence status for immigration law purposes and for tax law purposes.

Immigration Law

A non-resident alien for immigration purposes is a person who is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S. and who has been admitted to the U.S. for a temporary stay that will end when the purpose of that stay has been met. Individuals in non-immigrant visa status have visas which begin with letters: B, F, J, TN, H, L, O, etc.

A resident alien for immigration purposes is the same as an immigrant, a lawful permanent resident (a "green card" holder) who is not a U.S. citizen but has been authorized to live and work in the U.S. indefinitely.

Tax Law

A non-resident alien for tax purposes is a non-U.S. citizen or permanent resident who, during his or her stay in the U.S., either pays U.S. tax only on income from sources inside the U.S., or is exempted from paying U.S. income tax because of a treaty between the U.S. and the government of his/her country of residence. With a few exceptions most non-resident aliens are not eligible to take tax exemptions for dependents. A non-resident alien for tax purposes must file an income tax return on IRS FORM 1040NR or 1040NR EZ, U.S. Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return.

A resident alien for tax purposes must pay tax to the U.S. government on income from all sources worldwide and may, in certain limited circumstances, enjoy benefits of tax treaty exemptions. Individuals who are resident aliens for tax purposes can claim exemptions for dependents. A resident alien for tax purposes files a return on IRS FORM 1040, 1040A, OR 1040EZ.

Categories established for immigration purposes do not necessarily coincide with those set up for tax purposes. Under certain circumstances, a non-resident alien for immigration purposes may be classified as a resident for tax purposes. Thus, students and scholars who are not citizens of the United States must take care to determine whether they are resident or non-resident aliens for tax purposes. Only then will they know how their income will be taxed and which income tax return form to file. For current information on tax laws regarding resident and non-resident aliens, consult IRS publications 513, 515, 519 and 901.

Top

How to Determine Residency for Tax Purposes

A resident for tax purposes is a person who is a U.S. citizen or a foreign national who meets either the "green card" or "substantial presence" test as described in IRS Publication 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens.

In general:

• F and J student visa holders are considered residents after five calendar years in the U.S.
• J researchers and professors are generally considered residents after two calendar years in the U.S.
• H-1, TN, and O-1 visa holders are considered residents once they meet the "substantial presence" test.

A non-resident for tax purposes is a person who is not a U.S. citizen and who does not meet either the "green card" or the "substantial presence" test as described in IRS Publication 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens.

In general:

• F and J student visa holders are generally considered non-residents during their first five calendar years in the U.S.
• J professors and researchers, are generally considered non-residents during their first two calendar years in the U.S.
• H-1, TN and O-1 visa holders are considered non-residents until they meet the "substantial presence" test.

Top

The "Green Card Test"

Lawful permanent residents of the U.S. are considered to be residents for tax purposes. A person has this status if he/she has been granted resident status by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and/or has been issued an alien registration card, also known as a "green card".

Top

The "Substantial Presence Test"

A foreign national in non-immigrant visa status may be considered a resident for tax purposes as soon as he/she meets the "substantial presence" test for a calendar year (January 1 to December 31). To meet this test, the person must be physically present in the U.S. on at least:

• 31 days during the current calendar year and
• 183 days during the three-year period that includes the current calendar year and the two years immediately preceding. The individual should count: all the days he/she was present in the U.S. in the current year, 1/3 of the days present in the U.S. the preceding year, and 1/6 of the days present the year before that.

Days That Are Not Counted:

• A J-1 professor or researcher who is complying with the requirements of the visa, does not count days for the first two calendar years.
• An F-1 or J-1 student, who is complying with the requirements of their visa, does not count days for the first five calendar years.

A foreign national will not meet the "substantial presence" test if:

• he/she is present in the U.S. on fewer than 183 days during the calendar year; and,
• it is established for the current year that the person has a tax home in a foreign country, and that he has a closer connection to that country than to the U.S.

IRS Publication 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens, provides details on what is required to establish a closer connection to a foreign country, including such things as the location of a person's permanent home, family, personal belongings, etc.

[Whenifhow]

Ohio PIng
They are faced with a choice between conservatives and illegals. They’re making their choice...time for a conservative party, as the GOP ain’t it.

[1010RD]

Cui bono?

[Finalapproach29er]

it makes sense to register them and bring them into the system
**********
No, it doesn’t! Not if they’ll vote against your beliefs for the next 30-40 years.

These are the “leaders” you get when you elect Bushes.

This party is really screwed.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Chamber of Commerce

Rich Republicans, who like cheap labor

Home builders

Democrats take over political offices permanently.

[crusty old prospector]

Dan Quayle and Karl Rove are on the list.

[MplsSteve]

“The big donors don’t control a lot of votes.”

True.

However, legislators, members of Congress, county commissioners, etc. tend to have better hearing when the person speaking to them is speaking in $$$ and not as to what the best policy actually is.

[freedomfiter2]

Where can we get a list of these donors? They could be made to regret this.