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, even if their resident card had expired, they are still legal residents.
Someone from Mexico is not just going to wade cross the river and get into our Army and become a citizen.
He could not anyway, you must be a legal resident to join the military.
HOWEVER someone could come on a tourist visa/ student visa/work visa/ etc. and join the Army and become a citizen. I think this could be done...
Only if they presented a counterfeit resident card and the recruiter did not do his job in check it out.
How can they be legal if the card expires? Is the INS too backed up to reliably process applications for renewal of green cards?
Illegal aliens cannot serve. But under Clinton one of the Army biggies (who happened to be Hispanic American) floated a trial balloon in 1999. His idea was serve in the Army and you can become a US citizen...
Think of it this way, when your credit card expires, does your account close? No. When the alien's resident card expires, he is still a resident, but he can no longer travel outside the US and if he is found by the INS, he will be fined.
Is the INS too backed up to reliably process applications for renewal of green cards?
No, usually the alien just forgets he needs to renew it.
Illegal aliens cannot serve. But under Clinton one of the Army biggies (who happened to be Hispanic American) floated a trial balloon in 1999. His idea was serve in the Army and you can become a US citizen.
Yes he did, but luckily it did not pass.
MI, I know you feel strongly on this subject, but are you maybe not reading these words the same way I am. Also, I belive the reason no Military applications were denied. Military are loyal to each other (a good think, mostly). I cannot see a Superior Officer critqueing a soldier's Language Skills, knowledge of the Constitution and of our laws. It would just come down to, Son, ya fought good, I'm approving your application. NOT ONCE WAS AN APPLICATION DENIED BY THE MILITARY. This is not comforting. I disagree with the process not the basic idea.
from post #905
While non-citizens are eligible to enlist in the military . . .Importantly, it is not necessary that the applicant still be in the military, or that he/she be a permanent resident of the United States. It is even possible to naturalize if the person is ILLEGALLY present in the U.S.
Now, can a non-citizen get into the Military, yes. When the recruiter either looks the other way and lies on his enlistment paperwork or the non-citizen presents a counterfeit I-551 (resident alien card), and the recruiter does not do his job and check for the validity of the document.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.