Monday, June 24, 2013

My thoughts On Immigration

Our immigration system is broken for two reasons. The U.S. doesn't enforce the border laws that are already on the books and we don't have enough immigration agents so it ends up taking quite a lengthy time for immigrants to become U.S. citizens.

Do we really need a 24-lb 1100 page immigration bill?  No.

There are a few different subgroups within the group of illegal immigrants.  There are people who overstayed their visas, people who could be on a guest worker program, and others who crossed our border and knowingly violated the law(s). I don't see passing an immigration bill as an all or nothing proposition.

At the very least I believe all of the illegal immigrants need to pay a fine.

We should allow those immigrants who want to be guest worker to be guest workers.  We should do additional background checks on the immigrants who overstayed their visas. We need to make sure that the immigrants are actually doing what they claimed on their visas.  If they don't pass the background check and the visa check then we should deport them back to their home country.  The illegal immigrants who crossed the border and broke the law I have mixed feelings on.  We need to do a background check on each of the immigrants. If they have been convicted of a crime send them back to their own country.  Should all of them be able to stay here? Should all of them be deported? Should some be deported and some stay?

Regardless the borders need to be secured so we don't have millions more illegal immigrants crossing the border into the U.S.

Sarah Palin says there are big holes in the amnesty bill.  I agree. Here is her article:

Just like they did with Obamacare, some in Congress intend to “Pelosi” the amnesty bill. They’ll pass it in order to find out what’s in it. And just like the unpopular, unaffordable Obamacare disaster, this pandering, rewarding-the-rule-breakers, still-no-border-security, special-interests-ridden, 24-lb disaster of a bill is not supported by informed Americans.I am an ardent supporter of legal immigration. I’m proud that our country is so desirable that it has been a melting pot making a diverse people united as the most exceptional nation on earth for over two centuries. But I join every American with an ounce of common sense insisting that any discussion about immigration must center on a secure border. The amnesty bill before the Senate is completely toothless on border security.
It's beyond disingenuous for anyone to claim that a vote for this bill is a vote for security. Look no further than the fact that Senator Rubio and amnesty supporters nixed Senator Thune’s amendment that required the feds to finally build part of a needed security fence before moving forward on the status of illegal immigrants who’ve already broken the law to be here. And if shooting down the border fence wasn't proof enough, they blew another chance by killing Senator Paul’s “Trust But Verify” amendment which required the completion of a fence in five years and required Congress to vote on whether the border is actually secure before furthering any immigration measures. And then they blew it yet again, nixing Senator Cornyn’s “Results” amendment, which also required border enforcement standards. Now the Senate’s pro-amnesty crowd is offering a fig leaf to security via the Corker-Hoeven Amendment, but this is really nothing more than empty promises. It’s amnesty right now and border security… eh, well, someday.
If this bill was genuinely concerned with border security, it might include practical solutions for those states that live with the problem every single day. Pass-through grants could be given to border states to actually build a fence. The most responsive and responsible level of government is the most local, and since governors accept pass-throughs all the time, this is a workable solution. We could also free up more federal lands along the border to be privatized. The farmers and ranchers would have a clear incentive to keep their private property secure from the flow of illegal immigrants and/or other illegal activities trafficked across the border onto land they’d cultivate. There are plenty of other commonsense solutions, but this bill isn’t about fixing problems; it’s about amnesty at all costs. 
CONTINUED HERE  




11 comments:

LL said...

Your arguments are sound and most Americans can agree on them.

1. Secure the border.

2. Allow for guest workers.

Anonymous said...

+1 LL

Teresa said...

Thank you LL. Unfortunately most Americans aren't in Congress or the White House.

Bunkerville said...

And of course no one read the thing. I cannot believe our congress can think they can act like this and no one call them out, but apparently they can.

The Debonair Dudes World said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
The Debonair Dudes World said...

Shame on You!

Is there NO such a thing as “ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION” any longer?
There is either legal immigration or undocumented residents these days!

The Debonair Dudes World said...

Illegal is illegal. they are lawbreakers period! And because they broke the law are we supposed to be sympathetic? I don't think so....

Teresa said...

Of course not Bunkerville. That would make sense and congress is full of nonsense.

Teresa said...

I get what you are saying Debonair. But I also think it is relevant why the immigrants left or what circumstances led them to leave their country. If it was violence and civil unrest I can understand. I ask myself what would I do if I was in their situation? Would I just stay in a life threatening situation? But if they left for better food, water, and job I am in full agreement with you.

Thanks for your comments.

Trekkie4Ever said...

Secure the borders and I have to disagree about guest workers. Because once their visas expire they don't leave.

Teresa said...

Leticia,

I am in full agreement with you on securing the borders. I've heard when we had guest workers in the past that it was successful. There certainly needs to be a better watch over guest workers.