...The Republican Party must embrace more legal immigration.[Posted on 03/19/2013 7:04:07 AM PDT by Perdogg]
Unfortunately, like many of the major debates in Washington, immigration has become a stalemate-where both sides are imprisoned by their own rhetoric or attachment to sacred cows that prevent the possibility of a balanced solution.
Immigration Reform will not occur until Conservative Republicans, like myself, become part of the solution. I am here today to begin that conversation.
Let's start that conversation by acknowledging we aren't going to deport 12 million illegal immigrants.
If you wish to work, if you wish to live and work in America, then we will find a place for you...
This is where prudence, compassion and thrift all point us toward the same goal: bringing these workers out of the shadows and into being taxpaying members of society.
Imagine 12 million people who are already here coming out of the shadows to become new taxpayers.12 million more people assimilating into society. 12 million more people being productive contributors.
Latinos, should be a natural constituency for the party, Paul argued, but "Republicans have pushed them away with harsh rhetoric over immigration." ...he would create a bipartisan panel to determine how many visas should be granted for workers already in the United States and those who might follow... [and the buried lead] "Imagine 12 million people who are already here coming out of the shadows to become new taxpayers...[Posted on 04/21/2013 1:52:42 PM PDT by SoConPubbie]
He condemned anchor babies as a threat to the country and proposed legislation to change that.
He is being realistic too. No way to blanketly deport that many people. Both parties and a corrupt INS have fed this problem and it will never change unless someone does something.
Heck, I support amnesty on “my” terms. Biometrically validated work permits will be given out freely for 1 month to anyone who does not have a criminal record or pose a threat. After that anyone without a work permit shall be deported “no questions asked”. No entitlements or services will be dispensed without showing work permit or citizenship papers. If they run up a hospital bill, they pay it just like the rest of us. If they live in section8 housing, they have to pay it back. Employers would be required to check permits, transmit them to INS and maintain a copy of such records on file. No exceptions. Work permits would be renewed yearly. Anyone who ran up huge debts or could not show an adequate work history would not be renewed. The program would end in 5 years 3 months. During that time, anyone that can show 5 years of tax returns, an adequate job history, no criminal activity and no debts to society (or paid back) would be granted a pardon for past illegal immigration and full citizenship.
Anyone marginal would be granted a 2 year non-renewable extension to pay debts or correct anything that made them marginal.
It solves illegality, border issues, agencies squandering money, the cost to society and would give them a respectable path to citizenship without burdening us with all of costs of continued illegal immigration. In the end, you would have a law-abiding, hardworking, tax-paying, predominantly Roman Catholic constituency who would be grateful that someone took a chance on them and let them earn their citizenship fairly by the work of their own hands. Who do you think they would vote for?