Another attempt at amnesty

The Washington Times ^ | April 7, 2006 | staff

[kellynla]

The senators who worked late Wednesday night devising a "compromise" on immigration legislation should have gone to bed early, serving the country better by getting some sleep. The "compromise" they came up with bears a striking resemblance to the one which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee a few weeks ago. Amnesty? Check. Guest-worker program? Check. So where exactly is the compromise?

It all depends, to revise a famously fatuous remark, on what the definition of amnesty is. Instead of the committee's blanket amnesty of all 11 million illegal immigrants, senators appear to have agreed to the definition offered Wednesday night by Sens. Mel Martinez and Chuck Hagel. Illegal immigrants who have been in the country more than five years, estimated to be about 7 million, would get a pass toward citizenship. Those living in the country less than five years but more than two would be required to return home -- perhaps just to a "port of entry," whatever that means -- and re-enter as temporary workers with a path toward citizenship. The rest, those living here less than two years, would go home to get in line for a guest-worker program like everyone else naive enough to obey the law of the United States.

Still to be explained is how a three-tiered amnesty solves any of the problems of a blanket amnesty. In fact, it adds a few more. In both scenarios, the workability of amnesty rests on the assumption that illegal immigrants would willingly pay a fine and back taxes for citizenship. But there are no incentives for them to do so, unless Congress imposes a criminal threat on their continued illegality and on the employers who hire them. Neither threat is in the Senate bill.

[P-40]

but what the majority of Americans don't realize is the cost in BILLIONS EVERY YEAR to American taxpayers

Most Americans tend to think in terms of feelings, not numbers. They don't want to talk numbers. They will run away if you talk numbers. Numbers represent reality and that tends to be unpleasant to think about.

[Peach]

You're not kidding, are you? I never knew that was a goal of that group.

[kellynla]

well I am still optimistic,
between talk radio and the Internet, I believe more Americans are aware of what the heck is going on more than ever before! And as long as we keep the clowns in D.C.'s feet to the fire there still may be hope. LOL

[Kewlhand`tek]

It repeals a 1996 law that prohibits state universities from offering in-state tuition rates to illegal aliens. huh? someone tell arkansas, texas and few other states that offer instate tuitions rates to illegals already and for years.

[texasbluebell]

I'm not kidding, unless the author of the article was kidding, and I don't think Schlafly was!

It seems to be a buried fact. But looks like we're going to fund this if our "leaders" get their way.

[P-40]

I believe more Americans are aware of what the heck is going on more than ever before!

I think Americans that *choose* to know what is going on have great opportunities to do so these days. As an example, if you want to know what a particular bill is about, it takes only a second to download it. You need not rely on some reporter to tell you what someone else told him or her about it. But then, I don't think most people truly want to know beyond learning about things they want to be true. Understanding the ins and outs of a lot of problems takes some learning...and most people simply will not take the time. As one former Senator told me, "People say they want the truth and the truth is often readily available but the truth tends to be complicated and dull so the truth goes unlearned."

[Peach]

OMG.

[Rakkasan1]

BOHICA. courtesy of our senate.

[DennisR]

"The problem employers are most likely small businesses and labor contractors looking for cheap labor."

Yep - start fining and/or jailing the dishonest employers. That would put a quick end to the situation.