Cheapening American citizenship makes us safer?

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It's good to be Big Media. You don't even have to conceal your biases anymore.

Senate Passes Immigration Bill Overhaul By DAVID ESPO
WASHINGTON (AP) - Legislation to secure U.S. borders and offer millions of illegal immigrants access to the American dream cleared the Senate on Thursday, a rare election-year reach across party lines and a triumph for President Bush.

The issue at hand was, apparently, "access to the American dream." What kind of horrid monster would be against access to the American dream?

You'd never know it from the article, but would-be immigrants can apply for access to the American dream at over 260 U.S. embassies and consulates throughout the world. Trouble is, they might refuse you for trifing reasons, such as no demonstrated ability to support yourself, or maybe you stabbed somebody in an argument and went to jail for six years. The other option, sneaking into the U.S., will then become more attractive.

Therefore, the Senate wants to grant amnesty -- sorry, access to the American dream -- to people whose first act on American soil was to commit a crime. In this debate, we have lost sight of that simple fact: It is already a crime to enter the United States and take up permanent residence without a visa. The Senate bill pretends to "secure the borders" by building some new fences and hiring some new Border Patrol agents. This is what they mean by a "compromise bill" -- the Republicans get to pretend to their constituents that they are "serious" about defending our borders, and the Democrats get to spend more tax money, while knowing that the enforcement will never materialize.

Those in the country unlawfully for five years or more would be permitted to remain, continue working and eventually apply for citizenship. They would be required to pay at least $3,250 in fines and fees, settle any back taxes and learn English.

These sound great, but they won't happen. What does "required to pay" mean, anyway? Who will track them down and make them pay? Immigration and Customs Enforcement? Federal courts? The IRS? These are illegal residents who have managed to dodge the law for a half-decade and more: you think they won't dodge the tax man?

And the requirement to learn English is an utter joke. Again, how will that be enforced? You only have to take a literacy test if you apply for citizenship. Permanent residents don't need to know English. (The guidelines for applying for permanent residency are here.) If learning English wasn't a problem for five or more years, it probably won't be a problem at all.

In other words, this is like a common-law marriage -- you shack up long enough, you're de facto married. You live in America long enough, you get to be a permanent resident, and maybe even a citizen with full civil rights, including the right to vote.

American citizenship used to mean something. The Founding Fathers risked their lives to establish it. Multitudes have died to keep it. And the United States Senate wants to give it away for $3,250 in fines and fees, plus back taxes. What gutless, loathsome, contemptible bastards.

10 Comments

What does "required to pay" mean, anyway? Who will track them down and make them pay?

The idea is that people will enroll in a guest worker program, and therefore become known to ICE and IRS. Once that happens, making sure they pay $3,250 doesn't seem a hard task. They have jobs already, and will be getting proper SSNs, so getting the money by payroll deduction is an option.

On the other hand, assessing tax on the income they earned in the past, either under the table or on a fraudulent SSN, is not going to be easy.

Eric, you offer criticism. Do you have any solutions to the issue? Don't you find it significant that many of those in the border states feel quite differently than you do?

Maybe if you had to see news reports almost daily of bodies found in the desert, you would react differently?

It is a shame that Catholic Americans do not listen to the bishops concerning this issue. Bishops like Burke, not just Mahoney. The border has to be secured so we can stop the problem, however what't the problem with giving them citizenship and having the parents and children assimilate? Nationalism and racism blind many devout Catholics.

Nationalism and racism blind many devout Catholics.
Baloney.

Eric, you offer criticism. Do you have any solutions to the issue?

1. Build fences, ditches, and barriers across the entire Mexican border.

2. Fine employers who knowingly hire illegals. Send company officers to jail if they participated.

3. Deport illegal immigrants when they are found. Bar them from ever entering the United States again if they have taken up residence without a visa.

4. Most important: pressure the Mexican government to reform its economy to allow greater competition and direct foreign investment.

Don't you find it significant that many of those in the border states feel quite differently than you do?

When border-state citizens are asked whether they want to give special privileges to illegals (college tuition, driver's licenses, welfare, etc.), they say no. I agree with them.

Maybe if you had to see news reports almost daily of bodies found in the desert, you would react differently?

So the answer is...grant amnesty and encourage more people to risk their lives? As I've said in previous posts, it is a damnable shame that certain employers exploit the poverty and desperation of the illegals. This reinforces what I'm trying to convey: that it's a dirty business that must stop.

It is a shame that Catholic Americans do not listen to the bishops concerning this issue.

I am listening. I respectfully disagree with the bishops. This isn't a matter of faith and morals, this is about public policy. There is no charism of infallibility involved here.

The border has to be secured so we can stop the problem, however what's the problem with giving them citizenship and having the parents and children assimilate?

Citizenship is a lot more than just a legal status. It means that immigrants have agreed to participate in working for the common good, obeying the law, and uphold the principles on which America was founded. It isn't supposed to be something "given" to someone. The person is supposed to desire it.

Nationalism and racism blind many devout Catholics.

That's a rather irresponsible statement. I can't speak for others, but I am a patriot, not a nationalist. Patriotism -- loving your country and working for the good of your fellow citizens -- is not optional. It is part of Christ's commandment to love our neighbor.

As for racism, that's a canard. The vast majority of illegal immigration is from Spanish-speaking countries, all of which have two or three major racial groups within them (African, European, and Indian.) Thus, Latinos don't collectively belong to a "race."

Preach it, Eric. Preach it, Brother.

It's hard to avoid the cynical conclusion that the bishops' stance on immigration is nothing more than a ploy to attract more (mostly Catholic -- for now) Hispanics to their geographic bailiwicks.

I know it's probably the case that no one is still reading this thread, but...

The bottom line is that you aren't going to ship all the illegals back home. Do the math, there aren't enough busses or planes to carry 12 million people back in under 5 years.

A very large portion of the illegals in the US are going to stay. You can make life very uncomfortable for them, but you aren't going to get rid of them. Let 'em stay, make 'em pay, and make sure you don't permit the illegals to bring in other family members. And, yes, I live in a boarder state.

But all this is academic nonsense unless the fed is willing to defend the boarder in the first place. Build a wall. Build a minefiled. Take some of Florida's gators and put them in the Rio Grande. All of this is political posturing...here and in Congress...until the boarder is secured.

4. Most important: pressure the Mexican government to reform its economy to allow greater competition and direct foreign investment. You must be joking! You've got a better chance of striking a deal with Iran to stop their nuke program.

Nah, we're still reading, Mark.

By the way, here's today's immigration fracas: House candidate tells immigrants "you don't need papers for voting", issues clarification.

Its quite sad that Catholics are willing to allow Hispanics to die in povery when they can easily come here an improve the lives of themselves and of their family.

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This page contains a single entry by Eric Johnson published on May 26, 2006 12:38 AM.

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