Migrants could earn legal stay with new plan

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | September 8, 2001 | Edward Epstein

[sarcasm]

Washington -- Congressional leaders floated a proposal yesterday for millions of undocumented immigrants to earn by their actions the right to stay in the United States.

The idea of a "phased legalization" would allow the estimated 6 million to 8 million undocumented immigrants to qualify for legal residency by, for example, working at a steady job and paying taxes, taking English language classes and improving their education.

[sarcasm]

But another Republican, Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, said, "I think it's inappropriate to think of people who came to this country to work illegally as criminals."

Scottish law?

[doc30]

What's the point of even playing by the rules! I've been in the US from Canada for 7 years and working, legally, under a TN visa while trudging through the beaurocracy required for permanent residence. Now I do feel like a fool - I should have snuck in and I wouldn't have had to jumo through all these hoops!

[FITZ]

Isn't there already a way for people to immigrate legally to the US? Just because a certain group didn't choose to follow the rules doesn't mean a special set of rules should be made up for them. I think they should stay illegal until they decide to do what all the legal immigrants have already done.

[FITZ]

I should have snuck in and I wouldn't have had to jumo through all these hoops!

You might not be the right race. I think the amnesty plans are only meant for people from Mexico.

[sarcasm]

I'm sure that we can all get behind a plan supported by Senator Kennedy - he wouldn't be interested in getting any additional Democrat votes would he?

[KirklandJunction]

I'd support a "earned legalization" scheme if it applied to people like you.
Something like "ok, you've gone through 75% of the b.s. to do it per the old rules, so the new rules say bam you're legal now".
I understand the frustration of having gone through all that crap and now you'd feel like you've been dragged through the swamp, but at least you don't have to go through another coupla' years to finish the remaining 25% of the b.s.
And, sadly, you've experienced what most of us 'muricans have learned: the feds can be..............uh, less than lightning efficient. That's a kind way of saying it.
Maybe you'd consider voting for less government? :)
Welcome!

[angkor]

Scottish law?

Must be. For a former state attorney general and U.S. Senator, Spectre demonstrates a near-hallucinogenic ignorance of United States law. The U.S. Code makes it eminently clear that illegal aliens are officially and indisputably criminals by any sane definition of ther term.

United States Code
TITLE 8 - ALIENS AND NATIONALITY
CHAPTER 12 - IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY
SUBCHAPTER II - IMMIGRATION
Part VIII - General Penalty Provisions

"Any alien who (1) enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers, or (2) eludes examination or inspection by immigration officers, or (3) attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact, shall, for the first commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both, and, for a subsequent commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18, or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both."

[angkor]

My wife has been waiting 15 months to receive a simple response from INS on a relatively routine matter. There has been no response whatsoever to the naturalization application we filed 4 months ago (not unusual, a friend has not seen anything at all - that is, no response - in 5 months now).

Do you think it's even remotely fair to throw six million criminal illegal aliens in line with my wife, my law-abiding immigrant friends, and the millions of other respectful applicants who have patiently been wating for INS to process applications?

Personally, I think it despicable and immoral.

I assure you that George Bush will never get my vote again if this goes through. In fact, I'll actively campaign for Rats, given the tawdry and dishonest manner by which he intends to treat millions of law-abiding immigrants. This is utterly despicable and completely thoughtless. George Bush is quickly demonstrating himself to be an unethical and immoral individual in my view.

[Marine Inspector]

BUSH'S POSITION NOT KNOWN

Bush's position is know. I work for INS, and Amnesty was Bush's plan, and still is. It will be called something else, but it will amount to Amnesty.

[KC_for_Freedom]

Phased legalization, which supporters insist wouldn't be a blanket amnesty for people who entered the country illegally to work, would reward migrants points for their actions, such as working and paying taxes. Once they earn enough points, they could apply for legal status, which in turn could put them on the road to citizenship.

But points must be subtracted for voting, criminal activity (and this should count the border dash), using welfare (and this counts having babies). And the people who have been waiting in line would appreciate their applications taking priority. In other words, the "wait" should be as long as current legal applicants have to wait.

But there is more, to be entirely fair, you have to let all current applicants into the country now so that they can begin to work in this workers paradise.

Finally, these folk are off limits to organized labor or registration in political action groups or parties, they are not members of the electorate until naturalization.

[Marine Inspector]

Don't drop to there level. You did it the right way. Keep your chin and your values.

[Marine Inspector]

Send me a private post of your situation. I work for INS and will see if I can find anything out for you.

[KirklandJunction]

angkor:
I don't know if fairness is possible. I think the first thing, before we smooth over existing illegals, is to take your wife's case (and thousands like it), knock of the crap and give her citizenship NOW.
Our INS processing is kinda' like diarhea: stopping it now doesn't mean there is any way to cancel the mess that's already happened.
Heck, I'm darn proud we can attract people like your wife (and as a born here citizen, I apologize to her for my government), but I really think we've got clean up the pending legals. first. Then make it easier for the future.
No wonder all those asian science majors go back after they get their degrees here: most mortals can't survive the b.s. to stay here.

[KirklandJunction]

You've done some brain work, but with all due respect, I'm allergic to anything, anything, that expands the size and the power of our federal government.
With additional polite respect to MarineInspector, look what's happened here. How does angkor's wife have a chance to be a legal citizen: via favors from an INS employee.
So if Doc30 doesn't know how to shmooze an INS employee, Doc30 stays at the end of the line?
As the saying goes: that sucks!
IMHO

[55andlovingit]

Thanks for the post. See reply #14. I see the fly in his ointment. (PROPERLY EXECUTED)By the federal government. Sure, right, they can do it.

[TedTC]

Hey 7 years, wasn't your TN visa for a NON immigrant? And thanks for taking that good paying job away from a potential U.S. citizen who could have used it. Great attitude also, I mean about saying you should have snuck in so you don't have to jumo through the hoops...what a fool?

I know how you feel, I just had to buy school clothes for my kids...I guess I should have just stole them...what a fool!

Your just another "pollo" in my eyes.

[madrussian]

Now I do feel like a fool - I should have snuck in and I wouldn't have had to jumo through all these hoops!

Same here. Apparently a third-world behavior -- take what you think should belong to you -- is encouraged in the US that is gradually becoming a third-world country where mafias, ethnic blocks and dynasties rule.

[madrussian]

The idea of a "phased legalization" would allow the estimated 6 million to 8 million undocumented immigrants to qualify for legal residency by, for example, working at a steady job and paying taxes, taking English language classes and improving their education.

The act of illegal immigration alone should disqualify one from becoming a permanent resident. According to the current INS rules, a person who stayed in the US illegally for longer than 6 months is barred from re-entering for 10 (?) years.