The Senate is crazy. If we're seriously going to consider allowing illegals to normalize their status and also have a path to citizenship, they should be made to prove their commitment by truthfully declaring all their income for their entire stay, and then paying the taxes on that income. And if they're discovered to be off by a penny, they should be denied and deported.
(Taxes paid under a false name, or stolen social security number should not be deducted from what they owe.)
I'm in favor of normalizing illegals, but I'm not in favor of allowing them an upgrade path to citizenship. The maximum I can approve of is guest worker status and the requirement that they return to their country of origin to apply for a full immigration visa if they want to try for citizenship. I also favor severe penalties for guest workers who violate the terms of their visas.
I rather like that anybody born on American soil is an automatic citizen, but I've decided that it shouldn't be extended to children of illegal residents, tourists, and illegal aliens. At best I think the children should be granted "U.S. National" status, and that such status should not prevent their parent or guardian from being deported. If their parent or guardian is deported, they can take the child/minor with them or the child can be entered into our foster services program. When the minor reaches their age of majority (18) they can apply for citizenship immediately, with the usual caveat that they have no prior felony convictions, DUIs, or outstanding legal problems that would normally inhibit the process.
Sorry, the Senate isn't crazy, nor are it's 100 members. Who is crazy is those who vote them in, time after time, after time.
Look, Kennedy, Kerry, Collins, Feinstien, Boxer, Snowe, Chaffee, Durbin, Biden, Reid and the rest didn't jsut walk in and say, "Hey dude, I'm here seat me." No, the good folk of their stae sent them by majority vote.
So, wanna get really upset at the one(s) responsibile for the current membership of the senate? Look in the mirror.
I agree with everything you said in your post. And I think it's great that you have the courage to post it here, where "off with their heads" is the only commonly accepted view.