Over time, illegal immigrants would have to pay fines and fees of more than $9,000 (plus thousands more for each family member). They’d have to prove they’re working and have no significant criminal record. They’d have to learn English and American civics. And, if they want legal permanent residence, they’d have to return to their home country to apply for it there. Getting a green card would take at least eight years, citizenship at least 13.
I don’t really consider that “amnesty” nor “fast-tracking” and I’m not sure how anyone else could, either. What am I missing?
You're missing quite a lot. To put your claim that the Bush-Kennedy-McCain bill isn’t amnesty in the best possible light, you are uninformed about what the bill would do.
USA Today’s claim that it isn’t amnesty is disingenuous at best. None of the fines, or the work requirement, or the requirement they learn English, have any effect on anyone who doesn’t apply for “permanent” legal residency and later citizenship.
The day the law passes all 12 to 20 million illegal aliens can apply for “probationary” legal residence. This probationary legal residence status has to be granted or denied within 24 hours of the application and never expires.
It allows the aliens to enter and leave the country as they please. It allows them to work, gives them their own Social Security account, it allows them access to social services, etc. The probationary residents will be able to do everything a permanent resident can do. There are no fines, no requirements, and no expiration date on the probationary status.
The only difference between “probationary” legal residence and permanent legal residence is the probationary people can’t apply to become citizens. That is the only difference between the two. Anyone who doesn’t apply for “permanent” status doesn’t pay a fine, back taxes, or anything else. They just get their crimes forgiven and rewarded with legal status.
The bill also expressly grants amnesty to the criminal employers who’ve been hiring the scofflaws.
Anyone who tells you the Bush-Kennedy-McCain bill isn’t amnesty isn’t being honest with you or is totally ignorant of the facts.
The problem with someone who tells me that I’m uninformed when I simply disagree is that I start seeing “Nutroots”.
Reasonable people are going to disagree. You are not going to eliminate dissent and you are going to cheese off some pretty good conservatives if you try.
You criticize Sister Toldjah yet she provides links. You provide your opinion, which is fine, and it’s your choice to recognize dissent or not.
Interesting points and post. Thanks.