Talking Point Memo breaks down the path to citizenship and the new metrics of border security in the Gang of Eight’s comprehensive immigration reform package. The takeaway:
After months of vague talking points about creating a “path to citizenship” versus a “special path to citizenship” versus “amnesty,” the Senate’s “Gang of 8” finally has an immigration bill ready. And, much to the relief of immigration advocates, there is a relatively clear and reliable process for today’s 11 million undocumented residents to eventually become citizens.
That’s good news for the immigrant rights community. But it also means the Republican members of the gang — Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), John McCain (R-AZ), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) — have a difficult path ahead convincing a skeptical party that these features are necessary to passing a final bill. Or as one immigration lawyer sympathetic to reform put it to TPM: “Rubio is going to get crucified for agreeing to this.”
This article appears in Apr 11-17, 2013.
The proposal does nothing to solve the anchor baby problem and needs to go back to the drawing board.
The proposal will vastly increase immigration, by about 10 million a decade apparently. The nation is already overpopulated.
Besides, once the bill legalizes the 11 million undocumented, who will do all those jobs we’ve been told Americans won’t do?
It will require importing another 11 million illegal immigrants. Since the bill requires E-Verify use only for employers with more than 500 employees (and that only after 5 years), expect the proliferation of subcontractor firms with 499 employees contracting those jobs out for big corps like Marriott.
Getting one piece of legislation passed and into law is almost impossible, however, our problem is two difference issues. Our solution requires two new approaches to immigration and the separation of “illegal” and “undocumented residents”. Some where along the line estimates of 11 to 12 million people are living in the United States without legal status. Broken down 40% are illegally in this country having entered legally, on visas, visitor/tourist, student, work permits, etc. and the other 60% entered without documentation. So called beefing up the border will not solve the problem and only serves the interests of continuing to provide cheap labor and an underground economy that so many in this country have secretly profited. The cry for “border security” is just an excuse to do nothing and maintain our current sad status with millions of people in hiding. Separate the two issues, those who over stay their visit need to be tracked and “self deported”, go home when their time is up or request a temporary extension on their visa, with no path to permanent residency.
Let them go home, “self deport” and apply to come back legally, stand in line, and take their chances. While that leaves the status of millions in question, it narrows down the numbers to those who lack documentation, arrived illegally. The path for them, if the American people decide they deserve it, needs to be considered. Depending on different factors, age on arrival, were they transported here as children without means of consent and actually know no other country. Were they transported to this country under false pretense of jobs and in reality became “slaves” with no realistic opportunity to return to their home countries. They need an opportunity to apply for a permit or permission to stay, get legal jobs, earn money and the freedom to decide to apply for permanent resident status or go back to their home countries. It will be a little more work on our part, but truly it is time to recognize decidedly different factors are involved in the question of fair immigration legislation and residency status. It is time to face up to the problems of illegal and undocumented people, apply a fix, plug the holes in the border, and enforce visa permissions.
We are being told it’s 11 million people here illegally. I have to wonder if this is just another case of a low figure, and really it’s much higher. This will cost American taxpayers more than it’s worth….but then what else can we expect from those in Washington who do not work for American citizens. Everything is turned against Americans, in favor of the illegal population. I wish those in Washington would work for us the tax payers for once.
Here comes another California only on a larger scale …..third world USA.