Posted on 08/22/2002 7:04:53 AM PDT by 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?
True BUT during Mr. Bush's run for presidency he was very careful about concealing his open borders, globalist agenda. He knew that articulating such nonsense during the campaign would have instantly doomed his election. Well, he won't fool many of us again.
What is debatable about illegal immigration? It's called illegal because it's against the law. I have e-mailed and called politicians, running up a phone bill to ask them...what laws can I break that you'll amnesty me for? I'm tired of politicians in both parties selling the country out.
Since I began voting I have yet cast for a democrat, but when it comes to immigration there's no such thing as partisanship for me, I expect these people to do the right thing in the national interest. We tried amnesty once, it was a disaster, the last thing we should be doing is giving another one. I don't care how hard they work, or if everyone of them votes Republican, either we're a nation of laws or we aren't.
We can all come together on the constitution and the enforcement of our laws. Otherwise you effectively believe in open borders and a disregard for the law.
I'm flagging here because you'd posted on this thread, and I'm keeping a running tally of the answers to 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?
Responses to this very unscientific poll are breaking down into the following categories:
1. Support blanket Amnesty
2. Support partial Amnesty
3. Support no Amnesty
4. Did not state
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to tell from your replies on the thread what your answer would be. While I think I have an idea for some of you, there have been a few surprises, so I've scored you as "Did not state."
If you'd like to clarify that, let me know.
Thanks.
Well that depends on how they want to handle it. Amnesty has proven it's ineffectiveness. Light amounts of border patrol has proven it's ineffectiveness. Your statements that illegal status is not itself a reason to deport or enforce the law is obviously ineffective. Your position supports open borders and in no way is a disagreement about how to enforce the law. It is a disregard for the law.
Sorry, but when my cousin's Mexican Immigrant husband tells his American-born daughters that they are Mexican, I view this as much an example of non-assimilation as HC's missionary example.
No I did mention your position on welfare post 467.
A person who is working hard, even if they came in illegally is doing a lot less harm than the hucksters and demagouges who are demanding reparations for slavery, if you want my unvarnished opinion on the subject.
Prisoners on the chain gang work hard too, but they're still lawbreakers.
Say what you want about blacks and reparations, which is ridiculous, nevertheless they are AMERICANS with a right to be here. Illegal aliens on the other hand have no such right.
Whether you know it or not, you are a spokesman for the Chris Cannon, Orin Hatch, Chuck Hagel wing of the Republican party, so I'll ask YOU...what laws can I break and be amnestied for?
I view this as much an example of non-assimilation as HC's missionary example of assimilation.
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