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.
McCain is such an idiot. Work with Fat Teddy? Yeah, that paid a real nice dividend when Bush worked with Teddy to draft "No Child Left Behind" and Bush had him over for dinner & a movie. Teddy has sure been treating Bush with respect ever since. < /sarcasm >
Let me give you a clue McLame: if Fat Teddy is for it, it's wrong for America!
Can you provide a link to those peer reviewed, scholarly journals.
False. Some do, and often with fraudulent documentation so that they can get in on other goodies. Many others are on the labor black market and pay none of those taxes.
Those jobs shouldn't be going to lawbreakers, they should go to law abiding guest workers.
Most businesses that employ 18 MILLION illegals are legitimate businesses that pay the employer share of State, Federal, unemployment insurance, disability, and Social Security just like most every business.
If they're knowingly employing illegal aliens they aren't legitimate businesses.
President Bush now has a program in all 50 States that enables employers to call an 800 number to verify eligibility for employment. There is now no excuse for a business not to know if it has illegal employees.
Proposition 200 just won a higher percentage of the Latino vote in Arizona than President Bush did.
"WRONG, More-tahn!"
Mort, Mort, Mort, you really must get out more often or decrease the dosage. "Rather than chasing after millions of ordinary undocumented aliens, especially Hispanics" is the most ridiculous statement I've ever heard. Mort, you would be hard pressed to document law enforcement even chasing down one undocumented, much less millions of undocumented aliens.
Thanks
You implying Christ advocated illegal immigration? Thats a keeper.
"Except for Pete Wilson in California in 1994, I can't cite an example of a statewide race where an anti-immigration stance helped win the election."
Anger of licenses for illegals was a very significant factor in Arnold's victory in California.
Also, proposition 200 in Arizona. And Prop 200 got 45-50% of the Latino vote, as well.
"There is the example of Buchanan, and the fact that Dubya won election in 2000 and 2004 with a moderate stance on the issue."
But what was the choice in 2000? Al Gore was softer on illegal immigration than GW Bush.
And a single-issue candidate (Buchanan, Tancredo) has its problems. Most people are voting on more than one issue.
But a major party nominee against illegal immigration is a completely different story. And I think you might be surprised at what happens if the Dems wisen up, and put an anti-amnesty candidate on the ticket in 2008, againt a pro-amnesty Republican like McCain, Giuliani, or Frist.
"Fact is illegals get jobs and pay State, Federal, unemployment insurance, disability, and Social Security just like everybody else."
How do the illegals pay into these programs without VALID social security programs?
"Most businesses that employ 18 MILLION illegals are legitimate businesses that pay the employer share of State, Federal, unemployment insurance, disability, and Social Security just like most every business."
What is it about the term "illegal" do you not understand? Why is it so hard for you to understand that these people are criminals according to our laws. CRIMINALS!!! Remember too, that employers employing these illegals are criminals also. If they are knowningly hiring illegals what else are they doing illegally?
Your mentality is such that we should simply scrap the Visa and immigration laws and welcome everyone, without consideration of their job skills or background. Hmm, perhaps an illegal can take your job. They would probably appreciate it much, much more than you would ever appreciate it.
"Yes, and God bless you.
"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." Mark 9:37"
So, are you saying we should have open borders because they are good for the country? Or is our charitable duty according to the Bible?
And I also think it's a little patriarchal to compare illegals with "little children." They used to refer to slaves as children in the 19th century, as well.
You "forgot" to cut and paste the rest, where the rich American teens are lounging by their family pool, WHILE ILLEGAL ALIEN TEENS TRIM THE HEDGES AND MOW THE LAWN AROUND THEM.
Let's at least be honest with yourself. I mean, lying to yourself won't get you anywhere.
So you do deny that the illegal alien kids swamping Cali schools barely speak English, and are bringing drug-resistant TB and Chagas from south of the border, which otherwise would be unknown in our schools?
Let's not live in denial. Face up to reality, if you are man (or woman) enough.
Or just come clean and admit you don't give a rat's rear end about middle class American kids who must attend our public schools.
Alan Simpson of Simpson Mazolli fame also says the bill was a disaster, did not work as intended and should NOT be re-attempted.
But we're supposed to ignore all this & think only happy illegal immigrant thoughts.
"McCain has begun working on reform with Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass."
Bump for a later read.....that line was all I could take for now.
I like it, too.
Illegal immigration did not become a serious issue until after 1965. It should be noted that prior to 1965, we had a guest worker program, which meant there was NO EXCUSE for someone to hire an illegal immigrant OR for those seeking to work here to come here illegally.
Despite what some would like you to believe, there is a connection between these two. Ignoring the connection will result in the problem continuing.
I did a little search (see link below). Actually you did post on that Gallup Poll thread where you claim that "illegal immigration only polls 1% of the population" shortly after the thread was put up. Then you repeated this claim on at least two other threads including this one.
So, if you are not a Gallup paid subscriber where did you come up with this little factoid? Also, I found it interesting that you would have this paid subscriber information so quickly especially since you are not a subscriber.
RWR8189 put up the thread at 12:29:14 AM CST (12/13/04) and you (bayourod) responded at 12:51:31 AM CST (12/13/04). That's 22 minutes.
And there was no discussion whatsoever about any question on illegal immigration either in Gallup’s summary or on that thread—aside from your remark. You just made the claim right out of the blue. Are you perchance referencing some other thread or poll? If so, where did you get your information from?
Care to shed any light on this bayourod? Thanks.
Only to people who have no clue how the Mexican elite run their country.
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