A big topic this weekend was the issue of illegal immigrants. Not all illegal immigrants - the focus was on those illegal immigrants protesting en masse and demanding that their lands be given back to the rightful owners, Mexico. The general censuses among generally liberal Massachusetts citizens was similar to that voiced in the forum entry in the previous post. Round em up, ship em out, build a fence, close that border down!
Someone forgot to tell our Senator not all liberals are so - liberal. In response to an explanation of where Mr. Kennedy might stand on this particular issue, the following form email was received.
"Dear Mrs. H:
Thank you for contacting me concerning the ongoing debate over immigration reform. This is a complex issue, with many concerns, and it requires a comprehensive solution. 12 million undocumented workers are currently living in the United States, working, paying taxes, and raising children who are U.S. citizens. These undocumented immigrants contribute to our economy, and it is long past time to provide legal avenues to bring them out from the shadows.
Border enforcement has increased dramatically from 1990 to 2004. The budget for the Border Patrol has increased from $263 million in 1990 to $1.6 billion today - a six-fold increase. During this period, between 480,000 and 660,000 undocumented immigrants entered the U.S. each year. In all, nearly 9 million have arrived since 1990. Our immigration system is broken, and enforcement alone will not fix it.
We need realistic and comprehensive solutions that will protect our borders, enable temporary workers to enter the country legally, and allow workers already here to earn legal status. IÂ’m proud to be a sponsor, with Senator McCain, of the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act, a comprehensive reform of our nationÂ’s immigration system. Under our proposal undocumented immigrants who wish to become citizens must show they are currently working, pay a $2000 fine, work for an additional six years, pass security checks, pay taxes, learn to speak English, learn about American civics, and get in line behind all other legal immigrants before being eligible for a green card.
Border Security is addressed in the bill. It establishes a National Border Security Strategy, based on "smart" border technology, information sharing, and cooperation with our neighbors. A new temporary visa will be created to allow foreign workers to enter the U.S. The visa will be valid for 3 years, and can be renewed one time for a total of 6 years. Enforcement of current laws will be strengthened, improving fraud detection and allowing random audits of employers to ensure compliance with existing labor laws. Unnecessary obstacles preventing families from being together when immigrating to the U.S. are also removed. The bill will enable undocumented immigrants to come out of the shadows, submit to background checks, and register for legal status. During this time, they would have to continue working, play by the rules, and pay substantial fines and back taxes. The bill is not an amnesty, which implies that all is forgiven. It is not. Undocumented workers must pay fines and go to the back of the line before earning a chance for citizenship.
By heritage and history, America is a nation of immigrants. Our bill proposes necessary changes in the law while preserving this tradition. These necessary changes will ensure that immigrant families today, as in the past, continue to live the American dream and contribute to our prosperity, our security, and our values.
Again, thank you for writing to me about this important issue.
Sincerely,
Edward M. Kennedy"
Mr. Kennedy is obviously not in tune with his constituatnts. The problem is not that complex. First, these are not undocumented workers; they are illegal aliens. Individuals who have chosen to come into this country on their own speed, knowingly circumventing legal entry.
They take away from the economy. Ask a union rep, any union rep, and that person will state that without illegal workers, companies would be forced to increase wages and offer health benefits, etc. I believe the unions are still funding Mr. Kenndy.
Additionally, there is nothing wrong with our current immigration laws other than the fact that they are not enforced.
There are questions that need to be addressed by the McCain-Kennedy amendment.
What country is offering cooperation on the boder? Mexican troops have escorted drug dealers across the Rio Grande into US territory. There's been little to no cooperation from Vincente Fox and the next administration will be even less likely to cooperate.
What will happen to those illegal immigrants who refuse to pay a $2000 fine?
How many will be able to afford to pay a $2000 fine?
Will that $2000 fine be another tax subsidy?
The solution: Deport 12,000 Million illegals?
Probably not.
New Bill: enforce existing laws; aid in this enforcement by building a fence, wall, what-have-you and adding additional security forces - military forces.
Place heavy fines on companies who are hiring illegal immigrants.
When an illegal immigrant is found inside our borders through either a routine traffic stop, rape, murder, etc., (i.e. committing a crime) send them back to their country of origin.
Allow those illegal immigrants who are inside these borders a grace of 60 days to register for a work visa or face deportment. Then if they don't comply, put them on a bus.
This might be a somewhat costly plan, what with transporting illegal aliens to the border, hiring additional civil servants to process those in the country, etc. but, either way, the American taxpayer is going to notice.
With this simple, not so complicated plan, we would gain control of our borders, stop the flow of illegal immigrants and somewaht appease the human rights activists at the same time.
If I were an Iranian suicide bomber: I might be tempted to make reservations for a flight to Mexico City. It's a hop, skip and a jump over our current open border. Surely out of the 29 targets suggested by Iran, one of them might be Hollywood.
Sit back and watch just how jingoistic Sarandan, Clooney, and that ilk become when the situation becomes more personal.
It is believed that the DNC is more divided that the red and blue states at the present time. The following months should prove interesting. Whatever the outcome of that party's woes; all American's should be pushing hard for defence of our borders and our soverignity.
Little is gained through chaos.
