[TLI]

First, what they wouldn't expect is that they would be glorified prisons. Instead, they would serve many overlapping and complementary purposes. They'd be holding and processing facilities of a sort, where everything from an immigrant's health to his or her possible criminal background could be checked.

Would this plan present logistical headaches? Absolutely. But probably no more, if as many, than those brought about by a plan to build a gargantuan fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.

So, building a nationwide complex of housing, processing, educational and medical facilities will "present a few headaches." But building a simple fence is a "gargantuan" impossibility.

World Class Moron.

[livius]

Actually, it's an interesting idea, although I'm not sure what is supposed to pursuade them to surrender to authorities. But mass processing centers might be a partial solution.

IIRC, Bush's first plan, a year ago, put a lot of emphasis on assimilation requirements and aid to assimilation. This was something immigrants had 100 years ago (although from the private sector, mostly settlement houses and the Catholic Church, through its school system). They weren't encouraged to remain separate, although now in our "multicultural" society, everybody is encouraged to remain separate and build their own little ethnic strongholds. Bush did withdraw a lot of the "bilingual education" funding, although in many cases, the states and cities simply replaced it. So it would be necessary to ensure that the states and municipalities couldn't make an end-run around federal policy once again (as they did by refusing to check ID or citizenship status, for example).

I thought this was a good point:

But our poll respondents believe America has spent so much money rebuilding and otherwise supporting foreign countries that redirecting some funds to deal head-on with this pressing domestic problem suddenly seems smart.

[Clemenza]

Actually, most Irish immigrants came though Castle Garden, NOT Ellis Island. Many also came trough Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New Orleans.

[Cacique]

CALL! CALL! CALL! CALL! AND KEEP CALLING TILL THE LINES FRY!

WRITE! WRITE! WRITE! WRITE! TILL YOU RUN OUT OF INK IN YOUR PEN!

Bombard the Democrats as well, especially the ones that ran on an anti illegal immigration plank and the ones in marginal districts who could be vulnerable. keep pounding on them. This is a bipartisan issue not a Conservative or Liberal issue BUT AN AMERICAN issue.

STOP AMNESTY NOW!! WE CAN DO IT!!

The best way to stop Shamnesty

[ears_to_hear]

When I hear about the increase in TB and Hansons disease (leprosy ) in the USA I have thought about the fact that my ancestors came through Ellis Island where their health and identity were certified .

I think anyone with a visa for more than 30 days should have to have that kind of screening Period.

[gubamyster]

ping

[William Terrell]

The simplest problem with the bill is that the provisions that enable will be enforced and the those that restrict will not. None of the present illegal immigration regulations are enforced with any kind of will or vigor, so what makes us think that regulations in the new legislation will be?

[Gene Eric]

>> Immigration: The Ellis Island Solution

So forget the wall and construct a moat with a sandbar called Elárez Island.