Posted on 08/22/2002 7:04:53 AM PDT by Sabertooth
This is a vanity post, let's get that straight from the start.
Perhaps the most vain aspect of it is the conceit that it might stay on topic, but I'm going to give it a whirl.
One of the more contentious species of threads encountered on Free Republic are those dealing with the subject of America's immigration policy, particularly with regard to the Illegal Aliens currently in our country. According a range of reasonable sources, the estimates of their numbers here currently here range from six to thirteen million. Whatever the actual count, there are quite a few people now in violation of American immigration law.
One subtopic that inevitably arises is the question of Amnesty:
Should all or some portion of the Illegal Aliens be granted an Amnesty and be thereby allowed to change their status and acquire legal residence in the United States?
That's the question I'd like to put forward to the members of Free Republic.
Almost as inevitably on threads dealing with this subject, flame wars erupt. It's not my purpose to instigate another round of that, they're rather predictable. So I'd like to ask that your comments, if you're inclined to share them, focus on the big picture of American immigration policy, with particular attention to the subject of Amnesty. I'm not interested in the stock and gratuitous divisiveness of race-baiting or referring to the President as "Jorge," or anything of that nature from any quarter. It achieves nothing, it's sulphurous methane heat with no light shed.
I'd also like to avoid ad hominem ambushes. I'm genuinely interested in learning the collective feelings of Free Republic members on this subject. If you're gonna post, I'd like to ask that you ante up with your opinion on the question at hand before engaging the discussion with others. No taking potshots from the obscurity of the sidelines. I'll post my opinion below at #1.
Fair enough?
So, once again, here's the question:
Should all or some portion of the Illegal Aliens be granted an Amnesty and be thereby allowed to change their status and acquire legal residence in the United States?
Not now, not ever. Profile, detain and deport.
NO AMNESTY!
I'm with you Saber.......
The real question is what will the gop do.
They've abandoned their base and face a very real threat to their control.
If they determine that the hispanic vote can shift the balance in big cities, this amnesty idea will become reality.
I'm against. They should go back and go threw the legal immigration channels...regarless of country of origin. Cutting in line just doesn't sound right.
While established Americans want a sane immigration policy, new immigrants and politicians want everyone to come.
Amnesty is a open door with a red carpet and a flashing neon sign saying "Welcome".
Americans are being played as saps.
I oppose any amnesty program.
If people come here illegally, they should know they will be held accountable.
I certainly don't want new citizens who have distain for the laws of my country.
Poll numbers indicate a shift to GOP in the Hispanic community, not to say that that is needed to oppose amnesty.
Amnesty, welfare, social programs, racial divisiveness are all RAT tactics, not needed in the GOP.
It's really an exercise in futility, because it becomes ever more apparent that only the ordinary American is expected to obey the laws of the land while D.C. plainly has "no controlling legal authority" over their actions.
We can vote in these polls until dooms day and they will be ignored unless and until, Americans make it a major hot button issue, and we have a limited amount of time to do that in.
Emails and faxes go ignored, phone calls may be somewhat better but I don't see it. Only one thing will make it an issue and that is a massive demonstration in D.C. Until then Free Trade will rule, a stupid idea in which we export nothing but jobs and import everything, especially third world masses both legal and illegal.
And you're hearing this from a latino.
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