The Public And The Elite Are At Odds On Immigration.

Just whose borders are these? We are referring to the borders, which define our national boundaries. Most Americans believe they are boundaries, which should be controlled on behalf of our people. The Washington elite, however, believe the borders are just political ammunition for their class to use in any manner they deem suitable.

A large new study reveals 60% of the American public view the present immigration situation as a “critical threat to the vital interests of the United States”. At the same time only 14% of our national leadership and opinion makers hold the same views. This reflects a huge disagreement between the people of America and the political elite. It also reveals why so little has been done to correct a problem everyone knows is worsening with every passing day.

One surprising thing is the lack of media attention given to this large study, conducted by the Chicago based Council on Foreign Relations. The organization interviewed 2,800 people over a three-month period to learn how the American public viewed the issue. At the same time the Council interviewed 400 opinion leaders, ranging from members of the current administration to union leaders, journalists and members of Congress. Most of the difference in viewpoint can best be understood when the motives of all concerned are examined. The American people see borders as homeland boundaries. If these boundaries are ignored, people view the intrusion as a threat to national security, a national economic threat, or an out and out violation of law. Our political elitists see immigration with very different eyes.

The Democrats have an unspoken view all immigrants. Be they legal or illegal, all are seen as potential future votes for the party. These party leaders refuse to take any action, which might turn off the flow of bodies, believing all immigration movement will eventually translate into votes.

Republicans also have a silent rationale behind their inaction on immigration. Their view is immigration translates into cheap labor. Because GOP support emanates from the business and agri- business world, the party does not want to take actions, which could harm those who provide needed funding. Further, they do not want to take actions, which could impede their attempts to generate more minority participation.

These attitudes, on the part of both parties, combine to form a completely unmanageable immigration policy.

The administration’s lack of response on immigration issues seems to be one area where President Bush does not enjoy public support. While his overall job performance ratings continue to hover in the mid 60s, when it comes to immigration 70 % of the people rated his actions poor to fair, the lowest rating received on any foreign policy matter.

Though the American public has desired reductions in all immigration for years, our leaders have continued to move in the opposite direction. They have regularly raising the numerical level of legal immigration above levels, which can be assimilated by our society. At the same time they have failed to take any meaningful steps to reduce the inflow of illegal aliens.

The Democrats have proposed amnesty for most of the estimated 8.5 million illegal aliens in the country. The White House also wants amnesty, but only for about 4 to 5 million illegal aliens from Mexico.

Some Republicans want illegal aliens to have the right to pay in-state tuition to attend college, while there is a Democrat move to make it easier for immigrants convicted of felonies to remain in the United States.

The feeling of the general public on immigration is almost a complete reversal of those attitudes reflected by the country’s leadership. In addition to the 60% of Americans who see immigration concerns as a critical threat, another 31% of the public see immigration as an important issue, but not critical. This means less then 10% of the general public remain unconcerned about the flow of human beings into the United States.

Within our national leadership there are those who view immigration as an important threat, but not critical. Overall 59% of the leadership compared to 91% of the public see the flow of foreign nationals into the United States as either an important or critical concern. But, it should also be noted only those who view the problem as critical are likely to take any action that might lead to a realistic solution.

One of the most interesting findings of the study is our political elite have not developed any increase in concern about immigration since the horror of 9-11. While the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon have increased public concern about immigration, among the national leaders concern actually declined.

The opinion leaders of our country drive most public policy issues. This alone should answer many of our questions about government inaction. Because these leaders have not changed their attitudes on immigration since the terrorist attacks, those who make public policy have been very weak in their calls for action. This clearly explains why Congress and the President have not seriously addressed what almost all Americans consider a major national problem.

The gulf between our American public and the elite of our society has existed for many years and will continue into the future. Candidates of the future will find it very difficult to obtain public support for any immigration policy that does not include both a reductions in numbers and a strengthening of the borders. Because the political leadership is very aware of public concern, it seems likely some politician or group of politicians will eventually decide to carry this banner.

It should become a winning issue for whoever makes the call for national security and immigration reform. The big question is which party will forsake old ways and answer the public’s cry?

The White House is a building. It has no wants or feelings or policy position.

That is a real effective arguement there.(/sarcasm)

And the position of the Republican party is not in favor of amnesty, nor continued illegal immigration.

The Republican party is indeed in favor of granting 245(i), in effect, giving amnesty to millions of illegals here. The talk has bee quelled due to fall out from 9-11. The White House, or for you, the Republican party recently came out in favor of extending social security benefits to illegals. In a discussion of this issue on FoxNews this tonight, even Michelle Malkin conceded (strongly against her wishes) that this is pretty much a done deal.

The current thinking is to make a guest worker program with computer ID tracking that makes sure the immigrant worker goes home after a couple years.

You are correct that there has been much talk of and support for a guest worker program to deal with the illegal immigrants, mostly from Mexico. I do not support any amnesty or a guest worker program. It seems you support such a program, so I have a few questions on how the program would be administered.

It is said a national ID or guest worker card would be issued to control the “participants” in the program. I would like to know how would this ID work? After all, we currently have a SS system, birth certificates, drivers licenses and other identifiers. These forms of identification are routinely disregarded by government and law enforcement (LE) agencies when illegals approach and utilize government services. If government and LE agencies today are accepting the Mexican ID, giving out benefits and catching and releasing known illegals, what is to make us believe this policy will not continue if an illegal does not have his new guest worker papers or ID? If drivers licenses, birth certificates & SS numbers are being forged and stolen today, what is to make us believe these practices will stop with a guest worker ID?

What is so magical about the guest worker program that will change government and LE practices as well as eliminate all these illegal practices that are currently going on? Nothing! They are not going to change. Can you promise that the IRS will stop issuing TIN to illegals, and other government agencies will stop providing services, including education to illegals who do not have a guest worker ID? Will the government revoke FDIC insurance to banks accepting the Matricula card? Will LE agencies begin coordinating with the INS to deport known illegals they have detained?

Our borders are not secure now. Once we get a guest worker program will the borders be magically shut & the guest workers will only enter through designated areas? Will all the illegals currently in America be deported and only guest workers allowed back in? Will the guest worker program eliminate the drug dealers, murders, thieves and others who just want to come to America, but want no part of being a guest worker? What steps will be taken to shut our borders to those illegals after the program goes into effect? Will all those illegals without guest worker ID’s be deported and will their property be forfeited (similar to drug absconders)? Will businesses that hire illegals not in the guest worker program be pursued and prosecuted with severe fines, including forfeiture of their assets?

Currently we cannot track & deport visa violators. What makes us think we can track & deport guest workers any better? How will we track guest workers who just don’t show up for work? If we catch them will they be immediately deported? Will guest worker’s families be allowed to enter with the worker who is in the program? Will they also be tracked & deported if the guest worker is in violation of the program or commits a crime in America?

Currently the pro-immigration people (and it seems the government too) are unwilling to deport known illegals. When there is a work slowdown &/or the picking season has ended will these guest workers be shipped back to their country? At who’s cost? Why would we think that those who currently do not want to deport known illegals, those who want to put water & beacons out in the desert, will just turn around after the guest worker program is implemented and say “OK your work is done, go back home now”? What makes you believe they will be willing to deport the millions of illegals currently in the country who do no qualify or who are not needed as guest workers? It is not going to happen. These feel-good liberals will then start crying that the worker’s kids are in schools, they have ties in the community…anything to keep the guest workers here. The leftists will argue for unemployment compensation, not returning to Mexico.

What happens if the guest worker has a baby in America, then will the kid automatically be an American? You know the parent(s) then won’t be sent back home when their work is done. Will guest workers &/or their family be given access to social services?

What wages will the guest workers receive? Will they qualify for minimum wage, health insurance, workers comp., be eligible to join a union…? If so isn’t this defeating the purpose of the Republicans & “big business” who are in favor of illegals because they drive down wages? I can’t imagine these guest workers will be able to work for less than minimum wage & be paid cash under the table as illegals currently are paid. Their wages will go up and be competitive with American citizens who “wouldn’t do the jobs these illegals are doing”. Won’t the increase in wages make these jobs much more attractive to Americans? Won’t the increase in wages & benefits increase the cost of goods, further defeating the “business purpose” of allowing illegals into the country? Can anybody say “capital market force at work”?

Who pays to send them home when their work is done, or do they remain in the country when "between jobs"? Will they qualify for unemployment compensation?

Knowing that 70% of Americans want immigration reform and the Republican sweep in the last elections should have given the President the support to make significant improving changes. I don't see a move in this direction.

We need to close the borders, overhaul the current INS and immigration policy, fine businesses that hire illegls and eliminate the incentives for illegals to come to America. Now!

Will this administration guarantee these changes before or in conjunction with implementing the guest worker program?

I’ll believe it when I see it.

The first chores are to split off the border patrol from INS so it can be more effective and to get modern computers that can track immigrants. Until these things are done, there is no way to enforce any changes.

Reshuffling the chairs on the Titanic isn't going to help solve the problem. Neither is buying another computer system. Michelle Malkin goes into great detail in Invasion regarding the millions of dollars that have been wasted on computer hardware & software over the years. Still no effective immigrant or visa tracking system exists.

As these things are going to take a year, there is going to be no way to show you objectively how "the Bush administration" is doing until then.

Thanks for the reassurance - just sit tight folks. Well he has had 2 years & has done nothing. In fact if it wasn’t for 9-11 we probably would have amnesty by now.

So, you all are just going to have to stomp your feet and scream yourselves hoarse at every demagogueing article until then.

Another effective argument – call us names & equate us to 2-year-olds. How about if I opt out of paying my taxes for the next year until your great system is in place? When every illegal is taking $55K more from the system than he is contributing over his lifetime, I’d rather not pay for another year of freeloading.

The White House is a building. It has no wants or feelings or policy position.

The White House is the GWB or which ever Presidents that currently resides in it.

And the position of the Republican party is not in favor of amnesty, nor continued illegal immigration. The current thinking is to make a guest worker program with computer ID tracking that makes sure the immigrant worker goes home after a couple years.

The position of the Republican party is for what ever GEB wants. He is their golden boy and he wants amnesty and open borders. The fact that that Republican party leadership has ostracized and publicly stated that Congressman Tancredo's opinions of controlling the border, stopping illegal immigration and not giving amnesty to anyone, is not the opinion of the Republican parts, should tell you exactly where the Republican stands on these issues..

Also, as with every guest worker program in the past, if a new one is implemented, it will allow the guest worker to apply for residence and then citizenship. All past guest worker programs have this loop hole and any future guest worker program will also.

GWB wants Amnesty for all Mexicans and will do everything in his power to get it. The Republican leadership in Congress will do exactly wants GWB wants on this issue.

The President has only the beginnings of control over the INS by virtue of its moving to the new Dept of Homeland Security.

Moving the INS into the DHS provides no more control than he had previously. He is the President and already has all the control he needs. His appointment of and open borders libertarian to run the agency was your first clue to how dedicated he is to controlling immigration.

Splitting the enforcement side (which the border patrol is only 1/5th) from the service side will not make the enforcement side any more effective. They only way you can make enforcement more effective is to change the current policy and laws. You can split the agency into a million parts, but if the policy and laws does not change, nothing changes.

Also, computers can not track immigrants, and immigrants are not who we need to track. We need to track the illegal alien traffic that flows across the border and the visitors that enter the country legally. It takes more than a computer to do that. And any off the shelf computer can run a data base or system software. We need new officers, new policy and some more high tech equipment on the border. Computers we have enough of.

I spend 10 hrs a day enforcing our immigration laws, and believe me, everything Bush and Company has done is smoke and mirrors to make the average citizen believe that he is cleaning up the mess. Nothing has changed to stop terrorist from entering the country.

As these things are going to take a year, there is going to be no way to show you objectively how "the Bush administration" is doing until then.

Bush could change most everything over night if he wanted to. It’s been over 15 months since 9/11. What is he waiting for? Another attack? Policy change is the stroke of a pen. Bush won’t even pick up the pen.

So, you all are just going to have to stomp your feet and scream yourselves hoarse at every demagogueing article until then.

And your going to sit their in front of your computer denying reality until the next attack.

Most of these article were written with the help of people inside the INS, the people that know what is actually going on. It’s time to wake up sir.

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