The Silent Majority Wants Immigration Reform
By TXPoet Posted in Immigration — Comments (70) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Immigration is one of the many hot button issues of the ongoing Presidential Campaign. It has been the subject of many polls over the last few years.
What most voters, especially the younger ones don’t realize what the true future impact of immigration is. Today you can’t go into a store without seeing dual language signs because as the Pew Hispanic Center poll in 2006 showed a large percentage of both foreign-born and American-born Latinos do not believe they have to learn English to be a part of American Society. That's one reason you have to "Press One for English."
Bleeding heart liberals who think that immigration actually helps other countries should view Roy Beck's video “Gumball Immigration” explains why this is not just a security problem but it is a serious environmental and economic dilemma. And remember Roy Beck’s numbers deal only with LEGAL immigrants.
While it is acknowledged that Immigration and Border Security are hot button topics most voters really don’t understand the issues or even know where their candidate stands. Voters are being led by mainstream media and the liberal pundits. They quote from official sounding sources such as the “Center for Immigration Studies” and the “New American Media”. Recently these good folks conducted a poll in order to validate legislation proposed by Ted Kennedy and Diane Feinstein. The funding for this poll came from … a veritable Who’s Who’s of liberals [The Ford Foundation, Carnegie Corporation, The James Irvine Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Open Society Institute (George Soros), The San Francisco Foundation, The California Endowment and The California Wellness Foundation]. The results of the poll weren’t surprising based on who sponsored it! If immigration is good for these groups it must be bad for the rest of us.
Hillary told Bill O’Reilly her views. She is in favor of sanctuary cities:
I'm one hundred percent in favor of tightening our borders, of enforcing the laws against employers, of going after the kind of abuses that we see in the job market.
She blamed "partisan wrangling" for the federal immigration stalemate.
Illegal aliens convicted of crimes "should be deported, no questions asked," Clinton said. But she also said the American people don't want deputized law enforcement officials going door to door at businesses and homes, looking for illegal aliens.
US News & World Report has compiled a chart of where the candidates stand on immigration.
Candidate John McCain’s immigration has changed since he entered the race. At one time he joined with Ted Kennedy and drafted immigration legislation that was defeated due to public outcry. He has come around to the thinking of most conservatives as evidenced by his formal platform on his website. McCain acknowledged the public outcry and his views changed. I know some have called this pandering and others called it a flip-flop, but McCain acknowledged his position change; unlike other candidates who can’t seem to remember what they voted for (or voted “Present” to avoid the issue). McCain has always been for border security but now he has backed off any type of “amnesty”, but his views are still a bit murky. The voters still must continue to make their voices heard and John McCain must commit to #1 – No Amnesty and #2 – Deportation of Illegals.
TXPoet
When polls show that over 60% of the voters do not want illegals rewarded for violating out laws that is a bit more than a fringe element. Illegals come from many ethnic groups.
The same people who are now making healthcare, sanctuary-city and anti-employee discrimination policies to KEEP illegal immigrants here at tax-payer expense could just as easily (if they were motivated) make policies to actually make it harder to break our existing immigration laws.
-Proud member of the not-so-silent "angry fringe."
This seemed like a reasonable diary until the last few words demand Sen. McCain adopt a very unpopular view that he has been opposed to continuous. There isn't going to be a Mass Deportation of 12 million people. We can talk about what reforms are good and bad but the idea that anyone is going to send out the Government to find 12 million people and escort them back to Mexico is beyond implausible.
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and to be quite frank, not at all what I believe is the majority opinion. Arizona is providing a very good model for illegal immigration: self-deportation. They have made the legal climate cause the illegals to move out of the state on their own. Besides, it would be a huge waste of money if we started to hunt down illegals...talk about gestapo tactics that would have to be undertaken.
Those on the crazy side of this argument need to stop supporting mass-deportation. It isn't possible and it doesn't make sense.
Now also found at The Minority Report
Adam
You cling to this failed idea that the Force will deal with this issue, a false hope in a false power.
You must come to the Dark Side of the Force and serve the Dark Lord Tancredo.
Repeat after me:
Illegals must be rounded up and sent home.
Any public policy that does not result in all illegals going home is amnesty.
There is no possible compromise until this land is purged of all Mexican influences.
The Dark Lord demands your allegiance to the code of the Angry.
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Proud member of the Barry Goldwater wing of the party !
TXPoet
Voluntary deportation would only work for a few. And I believe the 12 million is a very conservative estimate. Just because we have 27 million shoplifters I don't hear anyone calling for a pardon for them or asking for change in the law so they can get away with their crimes. There isn't much difference they are both misdemeanors. Stores routinely evict and ban individual shoplifters. Allowing the voluntary deportees to register and wait their turn for immigration could be used as a "carrot".
Why I suggest for the benefit of those who want all 20 million to be given some form of amnesty that they fight their legislatures to get rid of all misdemeanor laws....what's fair for illegals is fair for the legal citizens of the USA....or is this "pass" on law breaking only for foreign born citizens?
Freedom of Religion not Freedom from Religion
Only after Republican party lose again and again, and become the permanent minority party, can those anti-immigration hardliners like you understand it's a losing battle against demographics.
George W. Bush and Karl Rove are brilliant strategists in terms of knowing the importance of absorbing hispanics into the party. Unfortunately, the hardcore base simply does not understand it. Hispanics/Asians are naturally fit for the Republican party in terms of their values, work ethics etc.
Hispanic population is now 15% of total population. Republican party has already lose the black forever, do you want to lose latinos for good, do you seriously want an all-white permanent regional party?
Anti-immigration rhetoric has not won any seat for the party. If the hardcore base does not face the reality, the losing streak is going to get even uglier.
Anti-ILLEGAL immigrant rhetoric is. These are two very different things.
The problem, is that like every issue, Republicans have successfully let the Democrats and the media define, or misdefine(I think I made that word up!) their position to everybody but the committed base who actually pays a lot of attention.
We know many people are generally anti-illegal immigration. But people like Rep. Tancredo have used a lot of anti-immigrant rhetoric. He called Miami a "third world country" among other things. We have editors here who want to stop all immigration for some period of time. And many commenters who want fewer legal immigrants too.
The obsession with "pressing 1 for English" is not anti-illegal, it's anti-Hispanic.
So either stand up to the anti-immigrant faction that is giving you a bad name or at least stop trying to act like it doesn't exist.
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Very little. That is because the vast majority of Republicans are not anti-immigrant. Yet to many, Tancredo's position and rhetoric, as well as a few others such as Buchanan's, has been assigned to the party as a whole.
If I recall correctly, the 4 most likely presidential candidates of our party were a senator who had cosponsored a bill that basically called for amnesty, a mayor who proudly welcomed illegal immigrants to his city, and two governors whose conversion to a more hard line stance on illegal immigration was suspiciously opportunistic.
And 'pressing 1 for English' is anti-any immigrant who refuses to learn English, regardless of ethnicity. Most people that are upset by that would not expect to move to another country and instead of learning the language, have that country adapt its ways to them.
And those people that want to stop all immigration for some period of time-why is this? I'd be willing to bet that it is out of concerns regarding the assimilation of vast numbers of immigrants, and not ill sentiment toward any particular group. And ILLEGAL immigration is the reason that such vast numbers are an issue. Again, though, the perception is that Republicans are biased against Hispanics BECAUSE they are Hispanics, which is not the case.
What needs stood up to are the leftists and media members that blatantly distort the feelings of the vast majority of Republicans for political purposes.
There is absurd logic. I can never understand why so many activists are obsessed with these trivial stuff such as asking immigrants to learn English etc... Let me be honest, there seems to be some ridiculous fear about what's going to happen to the next generation of 'whites' among some base voters. Nobody can predict what the society will look like culturally in a few generations, even if Spanish becomes a second language in 20 or 30 years, so what? I can only predict this sort of battle over languages will look like extremely bizarre 20 years from now if many people become bilingual or trilingual. Stop fighting these useless symbolic stuff, Republic party should not be a nanny party.
Instead of fighting a losing culture war, Republican party needs to focus on some of its core values - personal responsibity, personal achievements & fulfillments, freedom etc. These values can resonate with Latinos, Asians, Whites etc.
And a refusal to learn English is a refusal to assimilate into our culture, and adopt our values.
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"If we want to take this party back, and I think we can someday, let’s get to work." – Barry Goldwater
This is such a laughable statement from an immigration-obsession activist, I'm not surprised though. What is the evidence that those 'browns' refuse to learn English? What's the evidence those 'browns' have refused to assimilate into 'our'('white') culture? Even if their first generation refuse to assimiate, I have no doubt their second, third generations will assimilate into the society(not some fantasy pure white 'culture')...
Look, lots of minority groups such as Asian Americans are doing damn good after a few generations' settlement in the States.
It's extremely amusing to find some people are so fearful that the society can not preserve the 'pure white culture'. Society is moving ahead, anything 'pure' is just a fantasy.
Stop fighting stuff like this, and you'll be all right, and the Republican party will be all right.
...and your grammar needs some work.
Jenn Sierra
Ft. Hard Knox
...and you need to stop being a dork.
being absurd...no one is calling for assimilation to a pure white culture we are calling for English to be the first and only language of the USA and that you speak it before you become a citizen....and no more anything other than the American language for any government assistance..DMV's, welfare, voting etc....this is the United States of America and we sir speak American.
America love it or leave it..quite simple!
Freedom of Religion not Freedom from Religion
"I believe we must adjourn this meeting to some other place." - The last recorded words of Adam Smith.
What would be laughable if it weren't so sad is your labeling of someone who disagrees with you an "immigration-obsessed activist." And where does anybody imply that "browns" refuse to assimilate and learn English?
It is undeniable, however, that many Hispanic immigrants do not want to learn English or assimilate. This is a small portion of a large group, and it has nothing to do with them being Hispanic or "brown." The same would be true if they were an ethnicity other than Hispanic. If there had been such a large influx of Japanese, for instance, you would find a portion of that group that did not want to assimilate. If we Imagine that such a proportionately large group of Americans emigrated to Russia, for instance, a portion of them would not want to assimilate. It is simply human nature, regardless of ethnicity.
Your point about the Asians is flawed for 2 reasons-we are dealing with a population that is much smaller proportionately compared with the U.S. as a whole, and most of them either were born here or came here legally.
The fantasy is your idea that opposition to illegal immigration is driven by a desire to maintain a "pure" white culture. Much of the anger simply comes from outrage over flagrant violations of the law. Cultural change happens over time, that is a fact. What people are concerned about, however, is rapid and dramatic cultural changes due to a huge influx of people. There is nothing bigoted about this concern, it reflects a pride in one's own culture, not prejudice toward others, and is a perfectly reasonable concern for members of any culture, not just American. If I was Polish and in a very short time found 3 or 4 million Americans in my country, I would be concerned too.
why are a large majority of Black Americans opposed to illegal immigration and in favor of making English the official language?
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
What's wrong with you?
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"If we want to take this party back, and I think we can someday, let’s get to work." – Barry Goldwater
where it belongs. If you truly speak like this you have my sympathy or maybe you are just another moby, either way you have no place here.
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Thou art the Great Cat, the avenger of the Gods, and the judge of words...-Inscription on the Royal Tombs at Thebes
"Today you can’t go into a store without seeing dual language signs because as the Pew Hispanic Center poll in 2006 showed a large percentage of both foreign-born and American-born Latinos do not believe they have to learn English to be a part of American Society."
Please name me one country in the history of man that has survived with a common language. Austro-Hungarian Empire? Ottoman Empire? Yugoslavia? Even Belgium might break a part. Think of the southwest USA as kosovo and the rest of us as serbia. Case closed.
If you can't help yourself but use the word "brown" go elsewhere.
You do not see any problem with moving to another country and not learning the language? If somebody wants to come here, they should learn English. If I want to move to Mexico, I should learn Spanish. It is that simple, it is about common courtesy, and respect for the people and traditions of the nation that you wish to move to.
And I will repeat, this is not the sentiment is not unique to Republicans.
http://www.zogby.com/soundbites/ReadClips.dbm?ID=12892
http://legacy.rasmussenreports.com/2005/Citizenship.htm
Most immigrants, Hispanic and non-Hispanic, are willing and eager to learn English. There is, however, a significant illegal immigrant population in this country that does not seem to think that there is anything wrong with breaking the law or that they should learn English.
I will say, however, that mass deportation is simply not feasible and should be forgotten about immediately. Employment verification sounds like a good idea, if it can be made to work.
Just like Adam C said, you have to let the hispanics, the vast centre believe Republican party is a party that welcomes the hardworking hispanic voters. Do you seriously become those antics such as debating whether national anthem should be sung only in English helps? Well, it may help to raise the blood pressure of those hardcore anti-immigration fringes, the so-called base, but is there any evidence it has produced even some short-term gain such as winning a seat?
You can blame many things on George W. Bush's watch, but he and Karl Rove is not stupid in terms of strategically thinking. If the ever-shrinking hardcore anti-immigration base continues to dominate the agenda and image of the party, well, in no more than 5 years, Texas may become another blue state. Do you even know the demographics of Texas elecotral has fundamentally changed? The only thing that's holding democrats to win a state-wide position, is in my opinion, the mistrust between latinos and black. Just imagine they can somehow find a way build an alliance in the future, that state may well go blue for good.
If you think that taking offense when the National Anthem of the United States of America is sung in a different language is inappropriate, you are not on the same page as the vast majority of Americans, Republican, Democrat, and Independent.
And I'll yell it again-THE BASE IS NOT ANTI-IMMIGRANT!!!!!!! They are anti-ILLEGAL immigrant. And so is something like 80% of America, both Republicans and Democrats. Sure, a small amount of the country is opposed to immigrants in general, but that number is small and not confined to the Republican Party.
I guess, if believing that those who have entered the country illegally are have done nothing wrong, believing that breaking the law of another nation, ANY nation, is an acceptable method of gaining entry, or believing that those who move to a new country don't have a responsibility to learn the language of that country, rather than expecting the new nation to cater to them is anti-immigrant, than about 80% of this country is anti-immigrant.
Hispanics do need to be welcomed into our party. Our message needs to be that if they obey the law, learn English, and become productive members of society they are welcome additions to the Republican Party and the United States. The problem is that although this is the feeling of most people in the party, it is not the message that is being conveyed successfully. The solution is challenging those who misconstrue our message, NOT rewarding those who break the law.
They also have to be okay with their uncles and friends being forcibly deported. My original comment was that the forced deportation took a decent diary and put it in Tancredo-land.
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I've gotten so into this debate that I have forgotten all about the original poster.
Stop the fight over symbolic stuff such as whether national anthem should be sung in Spanish, German, Vietnamese etc. This sort of fight is simply the useless extension of culture war.
Hispanics will have to learn to speak good English if they and especially their children want to move up the ladder of American society. But what's the point for a party who stands for small government to meddle in things like this? Do you want to spend more free government money on English training as many democrats will happily oblige. One of the core value of the republic party is personal responsibility. I strongly believe that's also the core value of hispanic culture. Even if their parents can not speak proper English, they will request their kids to learn good English for the sake of their future. Society will adapt, people will adapt.There is no need for government to get involved in this sort of things.
As I said, even if Spanish becomes a second language in 20 or 30 years, so what?
and it shouldn't. It should just say that if you want to become a citizen, you have to learn English. It's that simple.
And I don't care if Spanish becomes a second language in a few decades. What I do care about is that English remain everybody's FIRST language. As for the idea of the National Anthem being sung in a different language, go by some eggs and try to stop an oncoming locomotive by throwing them at it, because thats about how much success you'll have in getting Americans to accept that.
I would argue that the vast majority of those who have come here legally will eagerly learn English, as will many of those who have come here illegally. The problem is that there will remain many illegal immigrants who will not learn English, and will not become responsible and productive members of society.
Just so I am clear, what is your position on the border? Should it be open, or should we seal it and allow a certain number of immigrants in per year?(like we are supposed to be doing now)
Again, your statement is self-contradictory and illogic. If the 'vast majority' of legal and illegal immigrants are 'egaer' to learn English, why are you still so fearful of the 'vast minority' who refuse to learn English? The 'vast minoirty' will be naturally abandoned by society in due course, which is the basic principal of evolution.
Why should Republican party spend so much time caring about whether the 'vast minority' want to learn English or not? Do you seriously belive it's more important than national security, economy, taxes etc?'Learning English' is just the boogyman argument of the anti-immigrant hardliners who fear the superiority of 'white' culture may get lost in the future.
Of course, I'm opposed 'open border'. What does border mean if it's 'open'? I'm opposed to some silly fight over the losing culture war. I'm opposed to big nanny government's idea of controlling each individual' behavior.
minority illegals who will not assimilate go...hmmmm....or do we just let them die..you know all evolutionary and what not.
How big of you personally to be against open borders...what does the border mean when you give amnesty to those who would cross it?...and it is the governments job to control the behavior of those who are doing something illegal.
Freedom of Religion not Freedom from Religion
"do we just let them die..you know all evolutionary and what not."...
It may sound cruel, but my answer is YES. Government has very little or no business in providing welfare to anybody who is able to work.
country of origin and apply to return to the jobs they hold and yes in an expedited fashion and than if they can afford to bring in family and care for them they should than be allowed to bring family....but to allow them to die....well you are a lot worse than those of us you accused of wanting to secure the "pure white culture" ....you are just sick.
Freedom of Religion not Freedom from Religion
I didn't mean 'allow them to die' literally. I'm saying government has no business in providing welfare to anybody who can work. For anybody who's in dire need such as medical emergency, of course a civilized government should provide aids whether the recipient is legal or illegal resident on a humanitarian basis.
I'm a pragmatist, I don't believe it's possible to ask illegals to simply go back to their country of origin. It's God given rights for everybody to pursue better life. If I was a very poor Mexican, you bet I would want to cross the border to seek better future even if it's illegal.
U.S. government needs to stop the inflow of illegal immigrants by beefing up border controls. What to do with people in shadow? I don't believe there's any one-stop-shop solution.
The minority of a large number is still a heck of lot.
And if you don't think that a large portion of any group that finds itself in homogenous communities in a new land aren't going to close up and refuse to assimilate, you don't understand human nature.
OK, you are opposed to 'open border,' which to me means that anybody who wants to come in can.
Nobody wants government to control individuals behavior.(nobody here at least!)
Dude,
There are Russian-American community, Italian-American community, Chinese-American community for generations...
I still don't get the hysterical fear of hispanics of 'not wanting to assimilate'.
Secure the border, yes. But debating over stuff like languages/assimilation/culture,is simply useless and generally inflammatory.
For generations we were a melting pot culture. Now we are a multicultural country. Liberal activists have successfully promoted multiculturlism in the name of diveristy as part of a larger deconstructionist vision of the cultural marxists. We are no longert a melting pot. Hollywood, media and academia does no longer promotes a sense of nationalis, patriotism and pride. Ethnic pride mixed with American self-loathing is dangerous.
Plus, we dont share contiguous borders with tose countries. Those countries do not claim this country as their own like Mexico nationalist do.
It a simple fact. Towns have declared Spanish the official language, La Raza is the largest racist speration group group in America. They have chapters in over fifty colleges. Just because you do not hear about it in Hollywood or the media, doesnt mean that it is not real.
Yes, there are many ethnic communities in America. The difference is they are all far smaller than Hispanics.
Another thing is that most of these communities were established by legal immigrants.
It is also worth noting that in a community where so many broke the law to get here, it is entirely logical that a higher percentage would be unwilling to recognize the laws and customs of America.
I wonder how many Hispanics would love to come to America, but don't want to go through the tedious immigration process, and don't come illegally out of respect for the law. If we could trade all or our 12-20 million illegal immigrants for 12-20 million of those people, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
Gosh,
It's so laughable to expect some illiterate illegal immigrants to go through 'immigration process' to come to the U.S legally. Do you seriously believe U.S. should welcome this type of immigrants???
I am a pragmatist, not some ideologue. To me, it's a God given right for anybody to pursue better life no matter how poor you're. U.S. government should do everything possible to control the borders, but to those who are already here, it's simply impossibe to round them up and deport them. I don't believe a one-stop-shop 'comprehensive immigration bill'. It's impractical, it's absurd. Many sensible laws/measures should be enacted over the next 10 or 20 years to absord those who're already here. Yes, U.S. government needs to close the border first.
Nobody is arguing that millions should be rounded up and deported. There are those (myself included) who believe that enforcement will impact behavior, and that illegals will leave if they are unable to find employment.
There are some statistics in Arizona that support that conclusion.
"Nobody is arguing ...".
That's not true, if you go to freerepublic, 'nobody' seems to be the majority there, and freerepublic has the most traffic among all right-leaning political blogs.
I believe some of the border states are doing a good job in reducing illegals without inciting mass anti-immigrant rhetoric. The federal government needs to cooperate with them closely to control the borders.
Again, stop the heated debate over language/assimilation/culture war, be pragmatic about the illegal-immigrant problem.
When illegal immigrants stop marching in our cities with Mexican flags and upside down American flags, and shutting down U.S. ports, the heated rhetoric will stop.
Studying is not this much fun. I'll just have to count on luck to get through the tests.
Again you've led emotions drive your rational thinking process. Those demonstrators are nuts, and Lou Dobbs is nuts... There's no reason for Republican party to jump into this mess.
I'm not worried about so-called 'Mexican invasion'. Hispanic culture/ideology(if there's any coherent ideology) is pretty much harmless to U.S.'s national interest.
I'd be spending more time worrying about how to root out the extreme Islamic ideology, black theology, stuff like that. Those are truly dangerous ideologies that have the potential to riot the entire society.
it makes us more vulnerable to Jihadists, black liberation theology, and other people who seem "nuts" to us, but are all hell bent on changing the way this country works.
it is about right and wrong.
And suppose we just throw up our hands when those that have blatantly violated our laws cause such a scene. What is next?
putting words in someone's post. I never implied that "illiterate illegal immigrants' are not capable of going throught the immigration process. I stated that the process was a hassle that took years, which it is. I'm sure many who wish to come here have other reasons for not as well, such as family.
I have also already stated that I don't support deportation. And no, it is not a God-given right to break the laws of a sovereign nation.
What is absurd is expecting the American people to accept arguments like yours. See the links I posted, and do a google search for more information.
I would love to continue arguing all evening, but unfortunately, I have finals beginning tomorrow, so I need to get to studying, which I have been putting off during the course of this debate.
quite right that we become inflamed!!! If in fighting against illegal immigration we become inflamed we are entitled and if illegal immigrants and their support groups LaRaza (the race) become inflamed by those issue's GREAT!!! the more noise they make the more the message that illegal is illegal gets into the heads of Americans whose only messages on this issue come through the media wing of the Democratic party than we win the battle.
Freedom of Religion not Freedom from Religion
who encourage illegals NOT to assimilate, to constantly assert grievances against government, businesses, and society in general.
In the past, learning English, assimulating, etc. were taken as givens. Now, they are somehow "inflammatory".
I am a first generation American. All the immigrants I know think assimulation is very important, and do think it is "inflammatory" to bring up the subject.
For the majority of the immigrants who want a better life, of course 'assimilation' is important. It's for their and their children own interest to learn the language, to 'assimilate'. It should not, however, become some official platform of a political party or government, to enforce so-called 'assimilation'. Mainstream political party and government have too many important things to be worried about. Cultural assimilation is the least they should care about.
life and realize that assimilation is in their best interest.
Disagree that the Republicans should refrain from taking a position against these radical leftists groups on an issue that is fundamental to the cohesiveness of society.
The only way America can be defeated is if it is Balkanized first.
Congress wastes time on thing less important to the country than assimilation. Steroids in Major League Baseball and other issues do not require Congressional action.
Immigration is by definition a national policy that should be addressed by Congress.
Unfortunately, there are insidious forces on the left at work in this country today that were not around during previous large waves of immigration.
We do not abandon anyone. If we allowed it to be so, then it wouldn't be an issue.
Instead of society's natural abandonment of those unwilling to assimilate by meeting our culture part-way, we have a collectivist fifth-column champing at the bit to provide these dead-enders a legal basis to grieve over their unwillingness to learn the language.
Grievance groups are monolithic Dem voting blocs.
Learning English allows us to publish legal and census forms in one language and process them in the same manner. If you can't understand why that is a vast improvement over having to offer up 2000 Census forms in over 20 languages and having to translate and then normalize that data, please send your wits out to be sharpened.
"I believe we must adjourn this meeting to some other place." - The last recorded words of Adam Smith.
OperationChaos, you're missing a couple of very obvious points in that line of thinking. The first is that the majority of the Republican party supports Bush on many issues, but parts ways with him on his soft immigration stance...the Republican Party is in trouble, because it has shunned the conservatives that put it back into power.
Also, illegal immigrants can't vote....no matter what their ethnic or national origin. Assimilating them into any political party wouldn't make sense.
Jenn Sierra
Ft. Hard Knox
The Indiana voter identification law's photo ID requirement was upheld by the Supreme Court only last week. An INS investigation determined that 4,000+ illegal aliens voted in the 1996 election when Loretta Sanchez unseated Robert Dornan by fewer than 1,000 votes. Are you sure that illegal aliens don't vote?
Sure, they aren't supposed to vote, but they aren't supposed to be here illegally, either.
You do have a point, there, MikeO. Lawlessness begats lawlessness.
Jenn Sierra
Ft. Hard Knox
There are already laws in place to solve most of the problem. Simply enforcing existing laws will solve the majority of the issue. I think what makes people so extreme on the issue are the huge numbers of illegal immigrants already in the country. Streamlining deportation of convicted criminals will send the message that the U.S. is getting serious about illegals finally. Ensuring that our buisnesses cannot hire undocumented workers will reduce the incentive to sneak into our country. Most of the problem will fix itself over time as it becomes more difficult to live here illegally. There will be no need to go door to door searching for illegals, they will leave on their own.
I am all for letting anyone come to our country and try for a piece of the American dream, but they need to follow the same laws the rest of us are forced to comply with.
Mord
Even more radial would be two prongs:
Federally fund the 287g illegal alien screening programs in all jails in the US, cutting off Homeland security funds to those jurisdictions who refuse to participate.
Cutting off all Federal Homeland Security funds to all self defined sanctuary cities.
If Republicans do not stand for law and order what do they stand for? The first tactic one goes after illegals who are here committing additional crimes, the second tactic keeps my tax dollars from going to cities that don't want to be part of the Union.
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I agree with you, so it took me a few minutes to play the Devil's advocate, heh.
I want to propose an idea that may get people on board who feel a little hesitant about forcing people to leave by making their lives difficult. I propose that any "sanctuary" city who released an illegal on bail instead of deporting them would be subject to loss of funds after 6 months, or something like that. My point is...as laws start to get enforced in some areas and not others, the illegals will choose to live in areas friendly to them. As cities who refuse to comply get filled with illegals, they wll feel the impact and either change the way they operate or...elect new local govornment. A city that doesn't comply after 6 months loses federal funding, a double whammy.
I know it's not a perfect plan, people who obey the law will be impacted no matter what. But even surgery hurts, when it's intended to save.
I just propose the time limit to salve the conscience of the people who want life to be Fair. Unfortunatly it's not.
We dont' know how effective our current laws can be because they've not been enforced.
These are two different things, & we can put in those who overstay VISAs also into the illegal categoty.
Simply enforcing our laws has shown to work in jurisdictions that enforce the laws. Illegals leave. I would like to see this work on a nation-wide scale. Once the incentives from illegal employment and taxpayer largesse are removed, the illegals by-in-large go somewhere else.
There will be some that are truly anti-immigrant. Those people make up a very small minority of those who see the great problems of the illegal aliens in the US. The vast majority of us have no problems with legal immigrants, & welcome them. We enjoy the glimpses into the different cultures, as well as the food and other contributions they make. What we have a problem with are the illegals - those who are not here legally.
The current porous border must be the first concern, and not just some sort of certification from the governors of the Border States, but a full two to three year analysis that it is secure including staged incursions, demographic data, and public scrutiny.
During that time, a paring down of undesirable aliens (felons, violent offenders, burglars, etc.) This will also be a test of how well the border holds up in how easily they come back. After the governors and the country reasonably believe that there is a secure southern border, then we debate the remaining non-criminal persons remaining.
If and when McCain wins the presidency, he will be looking at a Dem congress... the only way he can work to get their support for a firm border security stance is to have the only item to offer the Dems... a process for naturalization for those remaining.
This process should not be easy, but it’s the only way to fix our border. Otherwise, GOPers and Dems just argue while the fence rusts. The Dems can have their cake and eat it too by doing nothing other than obstructing or delaying... either tactic amounts to no border, no security and a revolving door!
This special naturalization process should include the following: English proficiency; payment of back taxes/fine; and a minimum provable residency of 5 years. A probationary period and work permit should help established gainful employment and non-reliance on public assistance. The probationary period will also help process first those entering the naturalization process legally.
One other thing, the GOP should work hard to get them once they are naturalized. Working in the non-profit sector, I see many hard working Hispanics who would be very receptive to the entrepreneurial ethic and socially conservative stance of the GOP. This has always been a DEM inclination to go after immigrants because they believe (I think falsely) that they are naturally liberal at heart. I know that many new citizens are not… and many in unions even resent union dues. We should not let the Dems think they are the default party for these new citizens.
to immigration problems. . . .
http://samuelatgilgal.wordpress.com/2008/04/26/the-british-begin-restric...
Txpoet
And where's the legislation that would deal with immigration in the way you would like to see it handled being introduced? By who, with what chance of being passed and signed into law?
See that's the thing, you're so busy being angry that maybe you missed that concept, you know the one that says laws are the thing that makes stuff happen. When you get serious, and get over being angry about what ever is your real source of anger, then you can tell us about the laws that you support that achieve the end you desire.
Silent majority hardly, Angry Fringe is more like it.
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Proud member of the Barry Goldwater wing of the party !