Paper: scaled-down immigration plan in the works

Austin American Statesman ^ | February 11, 2008 | Eunice Moscoso

[3AngelaD]

House Democrats are crafting a “scaled-down” immigration reform measure despite the political minefields that surround the issue, the Roll Call newspaper reported Monday. It says that Hispanic members — including Rep. Joe Baca — are seeking five-year visas for illegal immigrants who pay fines and pass criminal background checks. Baca, a California Democrat chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Baca said the prospects for a compromise package were discussed in high-level meetings that included Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel, and Rep. Zoe Lofgren, who chairs a key immigration subcommittee, Roll Call said.

The paper added: “It’s unclear if the behind-the-scenes discussions will actually result in a bill coming to the floor, but Democrats say drafts of legislation already have been written and are being vetted behind the scenes.”...

[3AngelaD]

Dear Joe: You way of thinking is how we got in this mess in the first place.

I'm not sure why you would want to make tens of millions of people self deport JUST so they can apply and come back into the country to do the same job they were doing before.

Three words: RULE OF LAW.

[Convert from ECUSA]

Dems trying to push “toned down” amensty bill - ping!

Ten to one it would be signed by our sitting President or any of the four candidates. Press “1” for what part of “no” don’t you yahoos in D.C. understand!

[Condor51]

are seeking five-year visas for illegal immigrants who pay fines and pass criminal background checks.

Here we go with the bs again. They KNOW that a good 90% can't pass a background check. That's why that provision was stripped out of the last abomination.

Even the so-called 'law abiding' ones have committed, and commit, crimes on a daily basis - like ID theft, possession of false documents, and wire fraud - that would get a U.S. Citizen 10 years in Club Fed on each count. And if it was Johnny Sutton prosecuting - Life without parole (not sarcasm).

[Just another Joe]

I agree. Are you ready to face the consequences this rigid way of thinking is going to bring?
Is there some other way of satisfying the words, "RULE OF LAW", without the same degree of consequences?

I have said many times that I would be in favor of having all illigals HAVE to apply from outside the USA for a worker visa of ANY type.
I have been rethinking this looking at the consequences that this many people moving would cause.

[truthkeeper]

We must be living through a Twilight Zone episode.

More like "Groundhog's Day."

[savedbygrace]

HA!

[3AngelaD]

Is there some other way of satisfying the words, "RULE OF LAW", without the same degree of consequences?

If you have to ask that question, you are unclear on the concept. No one is above the law. No one's behavior is exempt from the law. The law cannot be ignored or jettisoned just because the government or a faction finds it inconvenient. People who rob banks and people who molest children would also like to see a change in the "degree of consequences" for breaking the law. You cannot have it both ways.

[WOSG]

SALAMI SLICE AMNESTY is what it is.

[longtermmemmory]

Here is the “why”

If you make a TRUE guest worker program then the program is literally a GUEST worker, not a path to citizenship worker.

It shuts them out of that track.

The fact is that ALL the current proposals in the past and even this one are about AMNESTY period. These are not true guest worker proposals, they are just easy green cards. Other countries have guest workers and they have strict rules about leaving the country at the end of your work contract and mandatory “out” times. No “touchback” BS.

You create a path for the workers to guest work AND THAT IS IT.

[Just another Joe]

And if the "RULE OF LAW" changes?
What happens if Congress and the White House DO get a bill passed, and signed into law, despite the wrath of normal people?

Once again, I'm not saying that we give an illegal immigrant a, "path to citizenship".
I'm not saying that we don't fine them, make them pay back taxes on earnings, give them a shorter work visa than somneone applying from poutside the country, etc, etc, etc.
At some point 10 million people being forced to leave the country, even for a limited period of time, is going to leave a big black and blue mark.

Once again, are you prepared to face the consequences?

If a way can be found to winnow the chaff from the grain without taking the whole thing outside where it's cold, I say use it.

If there IS no other way, so be it, but don't be against it just because there MIGHT be another way.

[Texas Federalist]

This is the time for a true 3rd Party to emerge. I don’t mean protest votes, I’m talking about the real development of a third Party. Most of the other parties at this point are small and disconnected, they should group together and find common principles with illegal immigration and the war on terror being the binding themes.

James Carville predicted in 2005 that a third party candidate would emerge in the 2008 Presidential election because of the immigration issue and get over 30% of the vote in the general election. Say what you want about him, he knows politics.

[Just another Joe]

Other countries have guest workers and they have strict rules about leaving the country at the end of your work contract and mandatory “out” times. No “touchback” BS.

You create a path for the workers to guest work AND THAT IS IT.

I can live with that.
At least at that point you can stagger when 10 million people have to leave.

I just want a realistic approach to immigration reform that DOES include the 15 to 20 million already here.
I can't understand why someone DOESN'T want to include them. We will have to include them eventually anyway, even if they do self deport.

[CottonBall]

I was thinking more like “Mexico is south of here. South is that way. Get walking on the path to Mexico, and don’t come back.”

I'm voting for you.

[CottonBall]

How so? Just the threat of enforcement is causing them to leave Arizona and Oklahoma. Attrition isn’t a dirty word.

Exactly. We have a perfect example of how well it works.

[JoanneSD]

Most of the illegals do not want citizen ship any way.. more bennies if they are illegals....

[CottonBall]

No, the threat of punishment is causing them to leave, not enforcement on employers. And they are not leaving to return to their own countries, they are moving to other states within the union.

They're leaving because they know they won't have jobs. And they're going to other states because the laws aren't not applied there. If we start enforcing existing laws ALL over the U.S., they'll have nowhere to go but home. (And you're partially wrong about them only going to other states - there were many stories around Christmas time that many were going home for Christmas - and staying)

[CottonBall]

Sorry ‘about your mom. And your having to deal with illegals at such a time. That adds insult to injury.

I hope she’s doing ok.

[CottonBall]

Scaled down AMENSTY is like only a scaled down PREGNANT.

[truthkeeper]

I just want a realistic approach to immigration reform that DOES include the 15 to 20 million already here.

With all due respect, that 10-15 million figure is some kind of tired fantasy. At least you aren't using the tired old "12 million," which we've been hearing for at least 5 years. Excuse me, don't people reproduce?

Come to California and look around. Come to our flooded emergency rooms, schools, and highways.

Then tell me there are "only" 15-20 million illegals in this country.

[truthkeeper]

Thanks...yes, a little better.