Immigration Reform on Bush Agenda

Washington Post ^ | December 24, 2003 | Mike Allen

[sarcasm]

< SNIP >

Lobbyists working with the White House said Bush is developing a plan that would allow immigrants to cross the border legally if jobs are waiting for them. The sources said the administration also wants to provide a way for some undocumented workers in the United States to move toward legal status.

Bush will try to make the plan more palatable to conservatives by including stricter entry controls, including increased use of technology at the border and steps toward better enforcement of current visa restrictions and reporting requirements, sources said.

< SNIP >

The White House plan is being designed by Bush's senior adviser, Karl Rove, in consultation with the domestic policy staff. Sources said the White House's biggest concern is that the new mechanism not penalize people who had followed the law and reward those who had not. McCain's plan, which was introduced in the House by Reps. Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), tries to mitigate that problem by creating a new type of visa for previously undocumented workers who would be allowed to live in the United States legally for three years. Then the workers could apply for the temporary worker visa, which would be the path to a green card, or legal permanent residency. That would amount to a three-year advantage for those who entered legally.

[txdoda]

I have a friend who's illegal but has been working here for 17 years. I hope Bush makes it easier for people like him to stay here legally. >>>>>>>

We *gave* the illegals a 'blanket amnesty' in 1986 (17 yrs. ago).........since 1994 (?) there have been SEVEN *new deadlines* on the 245(i) 'mini amnesties'. This allowed any illegals to prove residence, employment, pay a fine, and then gain 'legal residency'.

Doens't sound like your friend is too interested in becoming 'legal'.

Seems to me the US gov't has ALREADY made it plenty 'easy' for all illegals to 'line-jump' our immigration laws.

[deport]

I agree with you that we also need to maintain the congress and increase the numbers of conservatives where possible.... It will be a slow process at best to reclaim or reverse the trend of today and limit government control/rule over the people and their lives.

Thanks for the interchange. I'm out for the night.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays your way......

[B Knotts]

I have heard the RICO idea before. It seems to me that this would be a good place to use such laws, if they are to exist.

Couldn't a private group or individual file such a lawsuit?

[Sabertooth]

I am opposed to illegal immigrants. I'm in favor of doing something about it. What's missing is a realistic, effective, politically acceptable solution.

That alibi won't fly for President Bush. He's been on the wrong side of the Illegal Alien issue throughout his political career.

The solutions on Illegals aren't "workable" for only one reason:

President Bush doesn't want to do his job where Illegal Aliens are concerned.

[Torie]

Why are you fixated with hitting with RICO etc. those that have no assets to speak of, and not hitting those, to wit, the employers, that do? Very odd.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

I like your ideas. But the reality is that McCain's plan will be law within a few years, and there is not a damned thing we can do about it.

Bush, Ridge, and Rove would never pull this shit if they were not CONVINCED it was do-able.

It's too late. Too many years of lawlessness have gone by. The argument will be that we have no choice. Amnesty is the only answer. And their compassionate conservative plan is better than blanket amnesty. Illegals are entrenched, and here to stay. We are screwed. Period.

Sometimes I wonder if Bush's religious beliefs play a factor here.

[Jodi]

do you have any clue that what you just said is ridiculous? Someone who comes into this country, who thinks differently from you, is against the law? Yep, Jesus should've never spoken to the woman at the well because she was against Jewish law. And Matthew should've never been allowed to write one of the most beloved gosples because he was a tax collector.

tsk, tsk to all you "holier-than-thou" conservatives!,/i>

[King Prout]

Bear in mind my familiarity with the history of the Late Roman Empire, and the ruin wrought upon that culture by the adoption of defense in depth and laeti policies.
again, convince me this situation has a solution other than draconic.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays your way......

Yup same to you.

[Jorge]

Liars, thieves and frauds don't make good citizens

Exactly my point. There are many people who came here with good intentions, have worked hard and broken no laws other than overstaying their Visas.
Are they any less deserving of citizenship than the American born criminals who make life miserable for the rest of us?

[King Prout]

do I need to point out to you that 12 million illegals is not "someone who thinks differently" but is instead a host of invading foreign tribes?

[txdoda]

You should be locked up if you ever exceeded the speed limit. Hypocrite.>>>>>>>

BIG difference between 'breaking' a speed law, and illegals BREAKING into our country.

[america-rules]

Republicans are also for non-unionized business and this is who hires the illegals.
Illegals keep the cost of goods produced in the USA low
Illegals keep the cost of hotel stays lower
ETC !

The fix is this:

Make employers 100% responsible for any "Guest Worker" they want to hire. Make them pay their taxes, health care and welfare etc.. Make background checks required and give them an official ID.

Then crack down on the borders with the military. Have them conduct rat patrols and put a GPS chip in all the illegals they catch. Move the military troops from europe to provide the manpower for this. The GI's catch them then turn them over to the border patrol.

Think about it - this is exactly what we're doing in Iraq right now so it could be good training.

The hardest part will be stopping the cheaters and the companies that cheat. Make 20 years to life the punishment for the CEO's if that's what it takes !

[longtermmemmory]

Reform might be acceptable IF it is equally followed by harsh enforcement and stricter requirements.

There must be yin and yang. If there is to be a workers program then use the military to secure our borders.

If the will legalize the illegals then incorporate the overstay illegals in the NCIC system and actually check every arrestee for immigration warrants.

Eliminate the 10 year hide and seek amnesty or up it to 25 years.

Increase marriage provisional green cards from a two year duration to a five year duration before permanent status. No citizen application may be filed until they are here for a total of seven years.

[BOBTHENAILER]

My friend, ya gotta take me off this ping list. I agree with most everything the participants here agree with, I have relatives in Bisbee, AZ, San Diego, Poway and New Mexico, and sympathize with the problema, but with all the IDIOTIC statements of "I Ain't gonna vote for Bush, or Republicans anymore" because of this 'perception' of amnesty, I gotta wonder:

Who the f-ck you gonna vote for?

Who the f-ck you gonna back?

You really want to see a RAT vctory anywhere cause you abstain from voting?

You gonna let the blood and sacrifice going on in Iraq, Afghanistan and all parts in between cloud your judgement on the ONE TRUE FREEDOM we have, VOTING, just because you have a friggin' CAUSE.

Illegal Aliens

Amnesty

ILLLEGAL ALIENS

AMNESTY

I've tried to be patient when I've been on these threads, but I gotta tell ya, important it is, but it is about a fly on an elephants ass right now, compared to other matters.

Flame away all on this thread and tell me how Howard Dean would solve your problema. Tell me how these endless circle jerk threads are gonna make a difference, unless you all play russian roulette and shoot your brains out for a protest non-vote just to show your illegal creds.

Gimme a friggin' break. Judicial nominees make this bullshit look like peanuts in an elephant cage.

Notwithstanding the wars we have going on, the RAT attempts at undermining everything we do in this country, the assault at developing our own natural resources, the destruction of Christian values, the leftist takeover of public schools, the eradication of the 1st, 2nd and other Amendments of our sacred constitution, we gotta have a whole friggin' thread on this SHIT?.

I realize it's importance, and I'll say it again, I agree with most everything here BUT, MORE IMPORTANT STUFF is depending on VOTERS. Not those who throw a vote away...end of rant.

[inchworm]

I have the feeling that Bush's policy push in favor of illegal aliens will do to him what his fathers tax increase did to his father. Many conservative voters will be alienated.
I for one am certainly loosing my faith in Bush.
This is not right. Hell, it's not even populous.
To make things even worse, a good litmus test will be to see how many Republican politicians jump on board. If Bush gets the votes he needs from his own party then I would have to say that Republicans would no longer be considered conservative and will lose my vote for good.

[longtermmemmory]

how about making it a felony for an employer to calculate public welfare in the pay equation.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"Tax Cuts?" Puhlease. Illegals DO NOT pay income taxes, PERIOD. Out of the hundreds I have come across, NONE paid taxes. And in the cities, there are often 6-8 in a 2 BR apt, and maybe one works. I see it every day.

I live among illegals. I know all the games. We, as citizens, are totally getting screwed. And screwed. And screwed.

To say that they are an ASSET to our citizens, is total bullshit.

[Jodi]

i think my point was that this country benefits from immigration. was it hard to understand?

[Howlin]

Bump!