National Identity Card v. Crackdown on Illegal Aliens (Serious Vanity)

Dilemma | May 30, 2003 | BohDaThone

[BohDaThone]

Many (probably most) people on this site oppose any type of National identity card. Many (probably most) people on this site support vigorous efforts to identify, detain and deport illegal aliens in the United States. How can these be reconciled efficiently?

This is a serious request for insight. Obviously, there are ways to do a better job than we do now of apprehending illegal aliens, but as a general rule, there is no way to identify someone as such, exactly because there is no uniform way to identify oneself as a citizen or legal alien, and no requirement to be able to do so.

Passing for a moment the question of the constitutionality of any particular method, what do people suggest as a way to cope with this dilemma?

1. We could stay solid for no identity cards, and realize that it makes itmuch more difficult for officials to identify an illegal alien; or

2. We could say that the need to control aliens should mean that we don't worry if we all have to have some kind of card we could produce (at government services, traffic stops, etc) to show legality, which would make it much easier to at least investigate anyone that couldn't come up with the card. After all, many of us have a passport, and almost all of us have driver's licenses.; or

3. Are there other methods that would allow the negative use of some method to target illegals, without the dread cry of "papiern, bitte."

Thank you for your consideration of this question.

[dark_lord]

And then there would be an immediate black market for counterfeit ID cards. Like 24 hours after the 1st genuine ones hit the streets, the counterfeit ones would be being sold to illegals.

[Malesherbes]

In its various files the U.S. Government already knows just about everything there is to know about me: income tax returns, military service, social security records, and also available are property tax records, drivers license records, medical records, school records, credit bureau records, marriage license, and on and on. Why should I fear a national ID card?

As for counterfeiting, technology (e.g. retina scans, etc.) will soon make that prohibitively difficult.

[bboop]

You know, I was really upset when I heard they were giving illegals identity cards. Thanks for bringing up that they can be used for law enforcement purposes and will make law enforcement that much easier. I'm convinced ...

[kellynla]

Until and maybe never, the Dimwits and the GOP realize that like Reagan said a country that does not control its borders is no country. And there will continue to be an illegal alien problem as long as uncontrolled borders exist. Truth be known, everything that the federal government wants to know about anyone is as close as a computer database. So wether or not we all start carrying a national ID is inconsequential. If the US can put a missle in the room that Saddam Hussein is having dinner in don't you think that the federal government could locate any law abiding US citizen they wanted when they wanted. Every time a person uses a cell phone they are advertising their location. And a person's financial, medical and personal life history is as close as a computer.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

We need to stay solid, as the officials release them anyway. At least let the &^*&)*(s know we're aware and angry.

We need to stop them before they even get across the border. Then we need to deport everyone we find.

We need to insist on legislation and enforcement of a mandatory jail term for anyone hiring illegals. A huge fine and hard time, or the problem will never go away.

[John Jorsett]

California is on its way to issuing illegals driver's licenses, "for public safety reasons." What makes you think a national ID won't suffer the same fate? Very few have the guts to stand up against illegal immigration now.

[chudogg]

Reagan said a country that does not control its borders is no country

Yeah he did say this, then he said "Give me your tired, your hungry, your poor.." and then he signed a big fat amnesty!

[Jhoffa_]

Government has so much information on citizens already, I refuse to believe they cannot identify an illegal with current technology.

"So, you have the same social security number as 48 other people, now why is that?"

[harpseal]

Well maybe after we actually try deporting the illegal aliens we already know about we might consider such a card. Right now you have a large number of states and municipalities seeking to assist illegal aliens in remaining in this nation. We could at the minimum deport the families of the illegal aliens in our school systems yet there are legislators talking about lower college tuition rates for such aliens. Finding illegal aliens is not really the problem the problem is we have not yet made a decision to enforce our existing laws.

[THEUPMAN]

here's a start .....
If they can't speak a word of English, and they cant read anything at all , and there 20 years old ... send them back to Mexico.

worry about the rest later.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

A national ID card is reason for civil war.

To avoid that, hang any smugglers on the spot, shoot illegals wherever they are found and bomb Mexico every single time an illegal is captured.

If they don't stop, exterminate them all.

[FITZ]

There would be counterfeit cards and Fox would demand Mexicans be given our national identity cards. They could easily clean up the Social Security number database and start treating document fraud and theft as the felony crime that it is. Deport and permanently ban from legal immigration those criminals who obtaining SS numbers illegally. All welfare and government handouts to non-citizens should be stopped immediately, end the practice of anchor babies getting instant citizenship and legal residency for the entire extended family.

[FITZ]

They also need to stop accepting California licenses at the international border. All it takes to come back and forth the border legally is a US drivers license. There is no reason to believe someone carrying a California or New Mexico drivers license is a legal resident of the US ---they can stop them from re-entry.