Posted on 12/15/2004 7:26:47 PM PST by nanak
If President Bush is going to keep his promise to spend political capital on a bold second-term agenda, he should include comprehensive immigration reform that offers deserving illegal immigrants a path to citizenship.
To do so, he'd have to face down a noisy, but not large, anti-immigrant claque in the Republican Party that's determined to use the threat of terrorism as an excuse to, in effect, erect "Stay Out!" signs at the U.S. border, even to restrict legal immigration.
In reality, creating a process to legalize illegals would help homeland security by allowing law enforcement agencies to concentrate on border security and tracking down criminals and potential terrorists — rather than chasing after millions of ordinary undocumented aliens, especially Hispanics.
This logic seems to have impressed border-state Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who has told immigrant-rights groups that comprehensive immigration reform is his top priority for the next Congress.
McCain has begun working on reform with Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who favors granting legal status — and, eventually, citizenship — to illegals who have been in the country for several years, have jobs, pay taxes, maintain clean records, learn English and pay a fine.
Bush has a record of favoring immigration reform, but it remains unclear how far he's willing to go with it. In 2001, he seemed to favor a process that would allow illegals to earn their way to citizenship. This year, he's advocated a worker-permit program that may or may not lead to permanent legal status.
It's a good sign that the administration worked to exclude language sought by House Judiciary Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., from the intelligence reform legislation that recently passed Congress.
Bush will face a new test when Sensenbrenner's measure — which would bar states from giving drivers' licenses to illegal aliens — comes back for consideration next year. He and other restrictionists argued that, because some of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists gained access to aircraft using drivers' licenses as identification, all illegal aliens should be denied them.
But this is simply a device to make life more difficult for illegal aliens. The 9/11 terrorists, or any terrorists, just as easily could have used their passports — or could use phony passports, or drivers' licenses — to board aircraft.
The commission that investigated the 9/11 disaster specifically declared that its report called for "strong federal standards for the issuance of birth certificates and other sources of identification, such as drivers' licenses, to avoid the identity fraud that terrorists can exploit. We did not make any recommendations about licenses for undocumented aliens. That issue did not arise in our investigation, as all hijackers entered the United States with documentation ... (and) were therefore 'legal immigrants' at the time when they received their drivers' licenses."
To foster humane and effective immigration reform, Bush will need to re-educate the public, which tends to hold (according to polls) that America would be better off with fewer immigrants, both legal and illegal.
In fact, most serious studies show that immigrants are a net asset to the country. Illegal immigrants tend to take menial jobs that Americans won't. They pay taxes. But because they live in the legal shadows, they often get exploited by unscrupulous employers.
On Sept. 6, 2001, with Mexican President Vicente Fox at his side, Bush said, "There are many in our country who are undocumented, and we want to make sure their work is legal."
Soon after, in a White House briefing, officials told immigrant-rights groups that the administration leaned toward allowing illegals to earn their way toward citizenship.
But all work on immigration reform stopped after Sept. 11. It resurfaced this year as Bush worked to expand his support among Hispanic voters. At one point, he called for a work-permit system for illegals and told the League of United Latin American Citizens, "We will keep working to make this nation a welcoming place for Hispanic people, a land of opportunity para todos (for all) who live here in America."
On the other hand, apparently in a bid to appease restrictionists in the GOP, administration officials also indicated that workers would have to return to their home countries when their work permits expired. This provision almost surely would discourage illegals from signing up.
Though analysts differ on the quality of exit-poll data on Hispanics, the Election Day numbers do indicate that Bush gained anywhere from five to nine points among Hispanics. Future growth for the GOP in this demographic depends upon who calls the shots on policy — Bush and McCain, or restrictionists such as Reps. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., Elton Gallegly, D-Calif., and Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif.
Even though Tancredo and company get wide publicity — and have been aided recently by anti-immigration television and radio hosts, such as CNN's Lou Dobbs — their legislative power in Congress has actually been waning.
In 1995, by a vote of 257-173, the House passed an amendment offered by Gallegly that would have required public schools to expel the children of illegal immigrants.
By contrast, this May, the House defeated, by a vote of 331-88, a Rohrabacher proposed amendment that would have prevented hospitals from being reimbursed for medical care provided to undocumented immigrants unless they reported them to the Homeland Security Department.
On the other hand, this November, Arizona voters approved ballot Proposition 200, a measure designed to squeeze illegal immigration, by almost 60 percent. (Its implementation is being held up in court.)
McCain cited Prop. 200 — plus vigilante action by Arizonans against illegals and the deaths of illegal border-crossers in the Arizona deserts — as his motivation for making immigration reform his top priority.
In the 108th Congress, McCain sponsored, along with Reps. Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., and Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., legislation similar to Kennedy's that would have granted a path to citizenship to qualified illegals.
Kennedy's legislation, however, also would have expedited citizenship for the spouses and children of legal immigrants, clearing backlogs of five to seven years, depending on the country of origin.
It's not clear whether Bush will propose his own legislation next year or wait for Congress to act and get involved, as he often does, when House and Senate conferees are hammering out final legislation.
On this issue, though, having Bush's leadership early on would be welcome. He could also order the Homeland Security Department to use judgment before it summarily expels illegals who are parents of small children or locks up asylum-seekers whether they present a terrorist threat or not.
Restrictionists will charge that "amnesty" simply encourages illegal immigration. Bush can respond that "earned legalization" recognizes the reality that 9 million illegal aliens are not leaving — and that authorities should stop chasing them and focus on terrorists.
Are you kidding me? Our military is the most feared force on this earth. Tell me your kidding.
The anti-Mexican crowd has never known that kind of responsibility. They hate you for your success as much as the liberals. See post 108.
I'm guessing he didn't support shooting border crossers...so that was a plus.
Facing reality is the only way I know how. It's not so bad. You should try it.
You seem awfully angry for someone who thinks their side is winning.
Really angry.
Mexicans are ignorant and spreaders of disease. Pretty much your whole post. Did I stutter?
You are simply wrong. Any business with a substantial workforce is not going to risk the business by not filing a W2 and I-9 for every employee they have. This requires them to pay the employer share of taxes and to withhold the employees share. You simply do not know what you are talking about and you certainly have never owned or operated a business that employs others.
There was an whiny article here in the paper last week about a "poor" illegal teenager that needs a $40,000 surgery (not for a life-threatening problem); his father's "health benefits" at work won't cover it...because he has the job under a false name!
Why would an employer pay into an employee's insurance if they thought the employee would not be covered? That makes no sense at all, unless you think employers are so evil they trick the employee to benefit their rich buddies in the insurance company. Do you even question what you read?
Those who hire them are, quite simply, felons...thieves. I don't particularly blame the illegals...I blame the worthless employers who pawn their business costs onto the rest of us. Furthermore, I blame the unethical, immoral politicians who allow them to get away with it.
I don't blame employers for providing jobs. I thank God some people have the guts to put their savings on the line to start a business that benefits others. I don't blame politicians who do what their constituents demand, and I don't blame voters who return them to office.
No but you might get shot by a drunk redneck in camouflage.
bump
"According to the Gallup poll poster here a few days ago, only 1% responded that illegal immigration was their primary issue."
So! The intimation here seems to be that if illegal immigration is not our number one issue it is irrelevant. Duh!
The war against terrorism is and should be the number one issue with the most of us. But, illegal immigration is a close second. Understandably, many seniors rate their social security benefits number one and many women prioritize the abortion issue.
Most questionaires that I have recieved from politicians feature a pre-selected top five issues poll and ask you to arrange these issues according to your own priority. Incredibly, illegal immigration never makes that list! I take a pen and place it in the number two position. But, I wonder how many perceive this omission and correct it. It is a stealth issue that they do not wish to contend with. We have to keep shoving this issue back in their faces!
Don't be misled, our numbers are legend and we are fed up!
There is a lot of propaganda being put out by anti-American organizations such as La Raza, LULAC, MALDEF, and MEChA, and repeated on FR by people like you.
http://ksghome.harvard.edu/~GBorjas/Papers/Economic_Benefits.pdf
If you doubt their value, try going one week without driving on any roads built in part by illegal immigrants; eating any food picked, plucked, processed, cooked, served or transported by illegal laborers; using any appliances, equipment, or vehicles which have component parts made in jobbers' shops employing illegal immigrants; entering any building or house built in part by illegal laborers, etc...
Americans did these kinds of jobs before. They can do them again. They don't do them now because illegals are willing to accept wages Americans won't. And no, use of illegal alien labor does not significantly affect the price of these things because labor is makes up a tiny portion of the costs, and that was true even before the illegal alien influx.
The vast majority of Americans realize the contributions of illegal immigrants and don't consider them to be a problem.
Right, which is why poll after poll shows upward of 80% of Americans want and end to illegal immigration and a reduction in legal immigration. Your ideology appears to blind you to reality, it appears. You ought to read Flynn's recent book, Intellectual Morons.
I'm sure ol Mort has a nice condo in another country if his ideology backfires. Nice dependable, docile, inexpensive nannies for the Whores of the OBL, and third world pestilence for the rest of us.
Why don't you just move to Mexico? Sounds like they've already got the exact culture you have in mind. An unlimited supply of coolie laborers --- so much they're desperate to rid themselves of many of them. Why be in the USA where you might have to pay these chumps $3 an hour when you could live in Mexico and pay them $0.30 an hour? And they've got the racial stratification you adore already firmly in place.
Bayourod's Big lie of the day!!!!
Many polls showing Americans know the cost of unbridled immigration.
Nice lawyer-like quote. They file the forms but don't care if the worker is legal or not. They never find out if the person is actually who they say they are. They don't check that. Just that the number "exists".
Why would an employer pay into an employee's insurance if they thought the employee would not be covered?
Of course, it doesn't make sense. But, they do it anyway.
I like the post you have on personal profile regarding the immigration issue. I think it is very logical and very well thought. I hope that you post it as a thread.
No, Fatalis says:
Defenders on economic grounds of the peuculiar institution of slavery =
Defenders on economic grounds of the peuculiar institution of illegal aliens.
Whatever jobs might require guest workers ought to go to a guest worker program for those who've obeyed our laws. Illegal aliens should not be rewarded.
Tancredo has proposed a guest worker program to meet those labor needs without legalizing any illegal aliens.
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