At the time that Bush (W) put forth his resolution to solve the illegals who came over the border, it sounded good to me. The plan called for the illegals to have to be in the country for at least six years, and even then get behind those who had applied legally for admission which would take seven years.
That meant that it would take 13 years for anyone illegally crossing the border before they could become citizens.
The simple truth of Bush’s plan was that the only other option was to put all the illegals who had crossed our border on busses and send them back to Mexico. Could you imagine what the left media would have done with columns and pictures if he deported the illegals? Pictures of due-to-deliver moms to be, of elderly and infirm, of small children looking scared stupid, and every other tragic person or peoples being crammed into overflowing busses.
There are also not enough busses to do the above.
In addition, Bush said that the law would call for anyone committing a serious crime not to be allowed to stay, but would be deported immediately.
This is nonsense on stilts. That's like solving the theft problem by making theft legal. The status quo is fine. All that needs to be done is a slow ratcheting up of enforcement, including raids on companies and the deputization of local law enforcement for placing illegals in custody, with a cash bounty for every illegal transferred to the Border Patrol.
That was the only other option? I don't think so. Why tell that story?
1. Have employers to use E-verify or other data base (soc. sec.) to determine whether employees are legal.
2. Levy huge fines on businesses that either refuse to determine legal status or who knowingly hire illegals.
3. Deny benefits to illegals. No Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), no welfare, no food stamps, no WIC, no unemployment benefits, no social security.
4. Interpret the 14th Amendment as written. i.e. - no anchor babies.
5. Once caught here illegally, you can never return to the US legally.
No jobs, no freebies, and no chance use their children. They will leave on their own. That is what George Bush could have done. Oh and by the way, it was done once before by Eisenhower and it worked then.
Straw man arguments don't do well on FR. They will self deport if we stop letting them have more rights than a citizen.
A objective and perceptive analysis.