Posted on 03/25/2002 1:06:50 PM PST by davidosborne
Please Sign Petition to SUPPORT Visa Bonding..
David C. Osborne
David
David
The INS has had bonds in the pass and it never worked.
This will only hurt the legitimate business traveler or visitor to the US, not to mention the impact on the tourist industry.
The terrorist can afford any bond we request, but the visitor and business traveler can not.
This is not a good plan, and it won't pass Congress.
FReegards,
David
Tell me, what kind of provisions would you suggest with respect to INTEREST on these bonds? If I am expected to put up money that would otherwise be in my retirement fund, I sure as hell want to be paid a competetive rate on it.
Visa bonding will do absolutely NOTHING to curb illegal immigration. It would most likely increase. "Hey Julio! Uncle Sam wants us to put up a bond equal to a lifetime of pay here at home so we can go to California to be busboys! Nah, let's just sneak in." Well financed terrorists will post bond and not think twice about forfeiting the funds to do their dirty work.
It won't affect the poor, since they are mostly illegals. It won't affect the rich, since they can afford to pay. The middle-class, however strong their work ethic or desire to succeed, will be unfairly penalized. Again.
I could support the bonding program if some common sense was used. F'rinstance, a young lady from Japan coming to study English would post a $5 bond. A young man from Saudi Arabia here to study civil engineering, maybe $5000. If it is chemical engineering or avaition, multiply the bond at least 50 times.
But since common sense is unlikely be adopted under the present situation where some clueless politicians have already forgotten 9-11, I can't support another air safety program.
I'm not sure that this is THE answer, but I agree it is another possible tool. I like the idea of a citizen sponsor for those who want to enter the country - whether it is for just a visit or to become a citizen. Put the sponsor on the hook as well.
Excellent point! The Florida economy would collapse under a visa bonding system. There are plenty of other sun destinations that would salivate over the prospect of welcoming more tourists and their spending money.
Invitation letters as a requirement for tourists? Do you realize that that is what they used to do to tourists in the Soviet Union? Are you prepared to deal with all of the paperwork required when other countries enact similar restrictions for their visitors from the US?
The naysayers are over-reacting that it will hurt legit businesses. I don't think so in the long run.
Consider this a SECURITY DEPOSIT for our FREEDOM and SAFETY. It is only one measure. Much needs to be done. We have to do all we can do secure our borders, whether land or coastlines.
Being directly attacked is new for America and we must adapt to a new way of life. Likewise, non-citizens must adapt as a result of other's criminal terrorist actions, the likes of which have never happened before. Three thousand innocent victims. Families trying to pick up the pieces of their lives. We cannot forget September 11, 2001 as that day is driving all the changes being made to keep us safe and free. Floriduh Voter
How is it a security deposit for our freedom and safety?
Will illegal aliens pay? NO.
Will terrorist pay? YES, and they will be admitted to the US and then what? Do you divide the bond up for the victims families?
Bonding will not make us safer or stop illegal immigration.
The deposit that I made when I rented my apartment earns me interest of 6% per year. By law, my landlord must pay interest on all rental deposits. If I knew that I'd be earning interest on the money I had to take out of my savings to pay my immigration bond, I might be a little less opposed to the idea.
"The naysayers are over-reacting that it will hurt legit businesses. I don't think so in the long run."
Depends on the degree of the bond. If it's required only of foreign students, the effects will probably be minimal. People who can afford to study abroad can probably afford an immigration bond. It might even be a comfort to those parents who are afraid their children will go to the US to study and never want to return home. Extend it any further, and you're asking for chaos. The end result will be more illegal immigration and fewer skilled and semi-skilled working class immigrants. The rich and terrorists (sponsored by the rich) will not be hindered. Tourists, rich and otherwise, will simply vacation elsewhere rather than go through all of the red tape.
"Consider this a SECURITY DEPOSIT for our FREEDOM and SAFETY. It is only one measure. Much needs to be done."
That much needs to be done is something that we can agree on. But not this. This will cause more problems than it could ever possibly solve.
How about visa bonding for New Jersey drivers? Just kidding!
This seems like a bandaid for massive hemorrage -- and it wouldn't be implemented on the Mexican border, for political reasons (these poor people come here to work, yada, yada). I tend to agree with Marine Inspector, terrorists will be more than happy to pay the bond, while legitimate visa-holders are penalized.
Chances are the bondsmen would be federalized to some capacity, thus undercutting incentive. I can see Congress guaranteeing the bond, to boot, and taxpayers would foot the bill. Never underestimate the stupidity (or motives) of Congress is my motto.
I suggest a system that would address your concerns..
We should require FULL financial disclosure, and we could have an EMPLOYER guarantee the bond so as not to put an unnecessary burden on the immigrant.
The point is to have a system which would provide a degree of motivation for immigrants to our country to keep their visas current...or return to where they came from..
David
Now that would be ridiculous.. money is money no matter WHO puts it up... and the GOVERNMENT would RECIEVER of the bond NOT the issuer...
That's what is great about freedom. We can disagree in a civilized fashion. My problem with the concept of visa bonding is that it will not keep out the people who need to be kept out. Moneyed terrorists will still get in. Penniless illegals will still get in.
"I suggest a system that would address your concerns..
"We should require FULL financial disclosure, and we could have an EMPLOYER guarantee the bond so as not to put an unnecessary burden on the immigrant.
This is fine in the case of rich professionals working for large companies, but a policy like this, for me, would be the difference between getting a job and not. In my industry, it's difficult enough as it is to convince potential employers that they need you bad enough to do all of the paperwork that already exists. So far I've had just one person say that they would be willing to jump through all the immigration hoops to get me, but we couldn't come to terms on pay and benefits.
"The point is to have a system which would provide a degree of motivation for immigrants to our country to keep their visas current...or return to where they came from.."
Immigrants don't want to leave your country. That's why they are immigrants. Visitors such as students are a different story. Real legitimate immigrants want to settle in and make a new life for themselves in their new land. If you make it too hard for genuine working people to get in, you will be stuck with the leftovers. Bonding for students isn't a bad idea, but when it comes to business travelers and tourists, the impact will be huge.
The poster that my reply was to originally suggested sponsors for tourists. I just pointed out that that was how they treated tourists back in the days of the Soviet Union.
The alien pays the bond, enters and disapears. No trail.
I would support a "sponsorship" program for real visitors.. but you and I both know people come to the U.S. to "visit" for the rest of their lives.. I don't know about you that to me is "resident" therefore required a visa.. therefore required to post a bond...IMHO
Correct me if I am wrong my FRiend.. but is this the FIRST time we have been on OPPOSITE ends of an issue?
FReegards,
Enjoying the civil debate... I so proud of FReerepublic.. the left must be so jealous when they watch this debate because with them anyone who disagrees is a ...right-wing radical rich racist repubublican
If they don't check out, they stay on a "still in the USA list" that they're still here. The bad guys, obviously, won't check out but we need to do better on visa expiration dates and I'm sure we have a better idea where cells are than we did pre-9-11. NIIS must not be a very good database because there is no followup.
We can't just throw our hands up in the air. We need a visitor database THAT WORKS coming and going and FOLLOWUP, red flags requiring further action. It can be done but of course the govt needs to hire dedicated, competent people to do the followup. We have enough paper pushers already. They need counterparts doing followup. CHECK IN AND CHECK OUT. IF THEY DON'T LET'S FOLLOWUP. That's all I'm saying. I feel relatively safe but not safe enough imho.
The tricky part: separating tourist visitors from immigrant visitors. There would have to be concrete classification. There's a big difference between someone who plans to stay the full 90 days of their visitor visa (or longer) who are travelling on an open-ended return or a one-way ticket, and a tourist or business traveller coming for a week or two with a fixed-date return ticket. If you target foreign tourists, the tourist industry will suffer, and other countries would probably take it out on US travellers by imposing similar restrictions on them.
I remember visiting Europe for a couple of months about 10 years ago. Even though Canadians need no visa to enter the UK, I was still looked upon with suspicion, probably because not many people fly Canada to London via Amsterdam, but I got a great deal on a flight from KLM. As soon as the customs officer saw my return ticket and my Eurailpass that had yet to be activated (I was visiting the UK first and BritRail doesn't participate in the Eurailpass program,) she knew I'd be leaving, and gave me no problem from there.
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