AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS? (a question for Freepers)

August 22nd, 2002 | Sabertooth

[Sabertooth]

This is a vanity post, let's get that straight from the start.

Perhaps the most vain aspect of it is the conceit that it might stay on topic, but I'm going to give it a whirl.

One of the more contentious species of threads encountered on Free Republic are those dealing with the subject of America's immigration policy, particularly with regard to the Illegal Aliens currently in our country. According a range of reasonable sources, the estimates of their numbers here currently here range from six to thirteen million. Whatever the actual count, there are quite a few people now in violation of American immigration law.

One subtopic that inevitably arises is the question of Amnesty:

Should all or some portion of the Illegal Aliens be granted an Amnesty and be thereby allowed to change their status and acquire legal residence in the United States?

That's the question I'd like to put forward to the members of Free Republic.

Almost as inevitably on threads dealing with this subject, flame wars erupt. It's not my purpose to instigate another round of that, they're rather predictable. So I'd like to ask that your comments, if you're inclined to share them, focus on the big picture of American immigration policy, with particular attention to the subject of Amnesty. I'm not interested in the stock and gratuitous divisiveness of race-baiting or referring to the President as "Jorge," or anything of that nature from any quarter. It achieves nothing, it's sulphurous methane heat with no light shed.

I'd also like to avoid ad hominem ambushes. I'm genuinely interested in learning the collective feelings of Free Republic members on this subject. If you're gonna post, I'd like to ask that you ante up with your opinion on the question at hand before engaging the discussion with others. No taking potshots from the obscurity of the sidelines. I'll post my opinion below at #1.

Fair enough?

So, once again, here's the question:

Should all or some portion of the Illegal Aliens be granted an Amnesty and be thereby allowed to change their status and acquire legal residence in the United States?

[FreedomFriend]

WRhine, you stated things nicely.

[Torie]

Isn't it amazing how this country survived without any immigant restrictions until 1924, and without any immigrant restrictions from the Western hemisphere until 1964? America is a very resilient nation. I suspect it will be the lone hyperpower and prosper through this century. Somewhere along the line, I will depart this mortal coil, but this nation will prosper long after that.

[Texasforever]

Still waiting.

[catfur]

ROTFL..... brilliant, as always. What a sorry but true history of education.

[Militiaman7]

Usually the embassy in whatever country can get supporting information and documents. Also the person may have relatives already documented or citizens in the US who have papers and documents.

[nopardons]

Oh yes, I'd REALLY like to see that list. Apparently, though I have, time and time, and time, and TIME again, said here, on FR, that I am rabidly against illegal immigration and " open borders ", Freedom repeatedly claims that I am one of the " open borders brigrade" As a matter of fact, his / her last such claim, was that I was the " seventh member of the open border brigade ". This, of course, is a patentently false statement, by someone who talks without ever having the facts correct. :-)

Come on, Freedom, you lying poltroon, CCP every post, that I have ever made, on FR, tthat was pro open borders and pro illegal aliens ! If you don't do this, I demand a public apology !

[Joe Hadenuf]

Great post Friend, and yes, I get that feeling all the time.

[two23]

I say NO in capital letters, but we're preaching to the choir here, folks. The ones who need to hear just aren't listening.

[Sabertooth]

I am not sure of the purpose of this "poll". You will not find 5 people on this forum that has expressed support for a blanket amnesty. What is your point?

Partial Amnesty is also an option, and several have expressed support for that on this thread.

I was curious to take an unscientific snaphsot of sentiments regarding Amnesty for Illegal Aliens on Free Republic.

I was also interested in seeing if this could be achieved with some level of civility, which, with only a few exceptions, has been the case thus far.

[voa-davidk]

Nyet . No Amnesty.

[Sabertooth]

Come on, Freedom, you lying poltroon, CCP every post, that I have ever made, on FR, tthat was pro open borders and pro illegal aliens ! If you don't do this, I demand a public apology !

Did he do this on this thread? I hadn't seen it.

If not, let's keep the level of vindictive down, shall we?

[Joe Hadenuf]

I say NO in capital letters, but we're preaching to the choir here, folks. The ones who need to hear just aren't listening.

Great point! And that just about sums up the entire problem, with this ever escalating issue.

[Texasforever]

Yes I noticed a few posters that hinted at some type of VERY limited amnesty OR guest worker program. I also noticed that those were the ONLY ones you challenged. You know full well that this is not a hotbed of illegal immigration advocates. There is however, a sizable contingent here whose anti-illegal immigration stance is nothing more than a wedge to attract the worst traits in all of us.

[FreedomFriend]

You said it so eloquently. Thank you for standing up for America.

[FreedomFriend]

Sneaky and Corrupt.

[jwalsh07]

I oppose blanket amnesty. I oppose illegal immigration. I oppose deporting immigrants whose paper work became SNAFU. I support immigration though I would prefer Americans stopped killing their babies so we could reduce the scope of immigration, particularly those irksome H1B visas.

[nopardons]

Yes, he did. Go read the thread. Oh, and whilst we are on such moral high ground, dear, does this mean that YOU are going to stop engaging in your usual level of vindictiveness from now on ?

My post wasn't " vindictive ", in any way, shape , manner, or form. It was posted in a state of high dugeon !

[FreedomFriend]

Parts of LA closely resembled Calcutta.

[Texasforever]

still waiting.

[nopardons]

Put up, or post your apology ... NOW .