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AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS? (a question for Freepers)
August 22nd, 2002 | Sabertooth

Posted on 08/22/2002 7:04:53 AM PDT by Sabertooth

This is a vanity post, let's get that straight from the start.

Perhaps the most vain aspect of it is the conceit that it might stay on topic, but I'm going to give it a whirl.

One of the more contentious species of threads encountered on Free Republic are those dealing with the subject of America's immigration policy, particularly with regard to the Illegal Aliens currently in our country. According a range of reasonable sources, the estimates of their numbers here currently here range from six to thirteen million. Whatever the actual count, there are quite a few people now in violation of American immigration law.

One subtopic that inevitably arises is the question of Amnesty:

Should all or some portion of the Illegal Aliens be granted an Amnesty and be thereby allowed to change their status and acquire legal residence in the United States?

That's the question I'd like to put forward to the members of Free Republic.

Almost as inevitably on threads dealing with this subject, flame wars erupt. It's not my purpose to instigate another round of that, they're rather predictable. So I'd like to ask that your comments, if you're inclined to share them, focus on the big picture of American immigration policy, with particular attention to the subject of Amnesty. I'm not interested in the stock and gratuitous divisiveness of race-baiting or referring to the President as "Jorge," or anything of that nature from any quarter. It achieves nothing, it's sulphurous methane heat with no light shed.

I'd also like to avoid ad hominem ambushes. I'm genuinely interested in learning the collective feelings of Free Republic members on this subject. If you're gonna post, I'd like to ask that you ante up with your opinion on the question at hand before engaging the discussion with others. No taking potshots from the obscurity of the sidelines. I'll post my opinion below at #1.

Fair enough?

So, once again, here's the question:

Should all or some portion of the Illegal Aliens be granted an Amnesty and be thereby allowed to change their status and acquire legal residence in the United States?



TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
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To: madfly
This applies to legal permanent aliens only.
921 posted on 08/29/2002 9:15:24 AM PDT by Marine Inspector
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To: dennisw; madfly
My guess is 95% of these 15,000 were legal green card holders who were in the military. The others had green cards (or visas) when they joined but green card is no longer valid (for whatever reason).

True, even if their resident card had expired, they are still legal residents.

Someone from Mexico is not just going to wade cross the river and get into our Army and become a citizen.

He could not anyway, you must be a legal resident to join the military.

HOWEVER someone could come on a tourist visa/ student visa/work visa/ etc. and join the Army and become a citizen. I think this could be done...

Only if they presented a counterfeit resident card and the recruiter did not do his job in check it out.

922 posted on 08/29/2002 9:21:05 AM PDT by Marine Inspector
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To: Marine Inspector
THANKS!

Of course resident card means green card??
923 posted on 08/29/2002 9:23:48 AM PDT by dennisw
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To: Sabertooth
Amnesty for lawbreakers?! For those who believe so, then, by that line of reasoning we should give amnesty to everyone who commits a crime. And, that's just for starters. What about the debilitating effects illegal invaders and their offspring have on American society, American institutions, American culture, and the American taxpayer?! Ronald Reagan gave amnesty to illegal invaders in the 1980's and look at the results. By that measure alone it only encouraged more invaders to flock here.

No. Enough of transforming America into a basketcase. The liberals have done enough all by themselves.

Amnesty? - HELL NO!
924 posted on 08/29/2002 9:27:58 AM PDT by tired_of_lucianne.com_idiocy
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To: Marine Inspector
True, even if their resident card had expired, they are still legal residents.

How can they be legal if the card expires? Is the INS too backed up to reliably process applications for renewal of green cards?

Illegal aliens cannot serve. But under Clinton one of the Army biggies (who happened to be Hispanic American) floated a trial balloon in 1999. His idea was serve in the Army and you can become a US citizen...

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=illegal+aliens+serve+military&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&selm=81m6d5%24dnr%241%40nnrp1.deja.com&rnum=2

925 posted on 08/29/2002 9:27:59 AM PDT by dennisw
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To: dennisw
Yes its does.
926 posted on 08/29/2002 9:42:32 AM PDT by Marine Inspector
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To: dennisw
How can they be legal if the card expires?

Think of it this way, when your credit card expires, does your account close? No. When the alien's resident card expires, he is still a resident, but he can no longer travel outside the US and if he is found by the INS, he will be fined.

Is the INS too backed up to reliably process applications for renewal of green cards?

No, usually the alien just forgets he needs to renew it.

Illegal aliens cannot serve. But under Clinton one of the Army biggies (who happened to be Hispanic American) floated a trial balloon in 1999. His idea was serve in the Army and you can become a US citizen.

Yes he did, but luckily it did not pass.

927 posted on 08/29/2002 9:51:30 AM PDT by Marine Inspector
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To: Marine Inspector; dennisw; Tancredo Fan; Sabertooth
This applies to legal permanent aliens only.

MI, I know you feel strongly on this subject, but are you maybe not reading these words the same way I am. Also, I belive the reason no Military applications were denied. Military are loyal to each other (a good think, mostly). I cannot see a Superior Officer critqueing a soldier's Language Skills, knowledge of the Constitution and of our laws. It would just come down to, Son, ya fought good, I'm approving your application. NOT ONCE WAS AN APPLICATION DENIED BY THE MILITARY. This is not comforting. I disagree with the process not the basic idea.

from post #905
While non-citizens are eligible to enlist in the military . . .

Importantly, it is not necessary that the applicant still be in the military, or that he/she be a permanent resident of the United States. It is even possible to naturalize if the person is ILLEGALLY present in the U.S.


928 posted on 08/29/2002 10:55:47 AM PDT by madfly
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To: madfly
I understand what the EO is saying, but, by law the Military can not enlist any non-citizen, unless that non-citizen is a resident alien.

Now, can a non-citizen get into the Military, yes. When the recruiter either looks the other way and lies on his enlistment paperwork or the non-citizen presents a counterfeit I-551 (resident alien card), and the recruiter does not do his job and check for the validity of the document.

929 posted on 08/29/2002 11:32:41 AM PDT by Marine Inspector
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To: Marine Inspector
Thanks for your explanation. I'd like to find stats on this process.
930 posted on 08/29/2002 12:12:15 PM PDT by madfly
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To: Sabertooth
No anmesty for illegals.
931 posted on 08/29/2002 7:18:21 PM PDT by SCalGal
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To: Sabertooth
Placemarker



932 posted on 10/04/2002 9:50:06 AM PDT by Sabertooth
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