It should be known that I am not as die-hard an “anti-immigrant” as many on this board are, or even as die-hard an “anti-illegal-immigrant”. I don’t want people in this country illegally, but I don’t think they are evil or should be shot on sight.
And I even think we need to reform our guest worker program, both to make sure guest workers leave when they are done, but also to make it easier for qualified non-citizens to get into the program and to target areas where we really need workers.
A good guest-worker program would lower the illegal immigrant rate, and we could adjust the numbers up or down as needed, for example this year we would cut the program off much lower as we have high unemployment, and could raise it later.
I have no doubt that a Romney plan wouldn’t be exactly what I want. And I know that no plan that includes anything other than a border fence and the electric chair would suit some people here.
But I see no reason for us to stop being a nation of immigrants, and I think we can’t ignore that we spent 20 years since 1986 essentially telling people to come in illegally and it would be OK.
The key word here is good. We already have many guest worker programs. I think you and I would agree on many points about what such a program would be, but not only do we still have huge problems with visa overstays (as you noted), but I see anchor babies as another force that will produce more leftists voters in the future.
Also, I object to the tendency of guest worker proposals to include a "path to citizenship" built in to the program. IMO such a program would also accelerate the increase in future Dem (or worse) voters.
Nor do I think that a massive "round up and deport" program would be the best way to reduce the number of illegals, but I do think they should be deported when they are caught in workplace enforcement. Napolitano (and I assume Obama too), however, believes in releasing them and giving them work permits.