House Republican leadership to push for formal amnesty

Politico reports on the House Republican leadership’s approach to immigration reform for this year. As set forth by Paul Ryan, it will consist of four pieces of legislation to be voted on separately.
The first bill would provide amnesty but not path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. The second would provide a path to citizenship for illegals who came as teenagers or younger. The third would require the tracking of foreign nationals. The fourth would increase the importation of low-wage foreign workers.
Other than the fourth bill, which caters to certain American businesses, it’s difficult to see the point of this package. Politico sniffs that the package is “a sign the party is coming to grips with a political reality,” i.e., the increasing Latino vote. But because it stops short of granting most illegal aliens a path to citizenship, Ryan’s package represents a weak bid for that vote. It does, however, put Ryan half a step to the right of Marco Rubio on immigration reform, which could prove helpful to him if both seek the Republican nomination for president.
On the merits, providing amnesty with no path to citizenship hardly changes to status quo. Illegal immigrants have something close to de facto amnesty already.
The Republican bill would call for teaching them English and civics and require them to pay taxes and a fine. That sounds good, though one shutters to imagine the civics lessons to be taught. But what this legislation would really do is help pave the way for the next logical step — a path to citizenship. As such, it should be opposed.
The second bill, a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who came as teenagers or younger, rewards not just those who will obtain citizenship, but also those who ignored U.S. law by bringing their children into the U.S. illegally. I see no valid reason to thus reward their illegal conduct.
The fourth bill (if I can proceed out of order) — importing foreign workers — is, as I said, a gift to business interests, particularly agricultural ones. It is no gift to American workers although, depending on how the legislation is crafted, it may be that few Americans would compete for the jobs at issue.
The third bill — tracking foreign nationals — is a bad joke. As Mark Krikorian points out, Congress has passed eight such bills since 1996.
Politico gives away the farce when it states:
[The Republican] party is now crafting language that would seek to force President Barack Obama to enforce the totality of any law passed. Republicans say they don’t trust the president after he has unilaterally waved parts of the health care law.
Ryan said Republicans “have to find a way to write these laws that they are actually enforced.” “That’s very, very important to us,” said Ryan.
Yeah, and it’s very important for Charlie Brown to find way to have Lucy not pull away the football he’s getting ready to kick. Ryan is a bright guy, but he sometimes sounds like he just fell off the turnip truck.
The House Republican leadership’s new approach to immigration reform would be misguided even if we had a president who could be trusted faithfully to execute the law. With this president, the approach should not even be considered except perhaps for show.
Let’s hope that the majority of the Republican caucus sees it this way.

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archive...al-amnesty.php

On the merits, you re a fucking idiot.

Haha. I agree, the author doesn't know what he's talking about.

I think that's the new talking point for the Anti-immigration bunch - that we already have amnesty since they're not chasing us down the streets and grabbing us and deporting us. Except we can't get a driver's license, we can't get a work permit, we can't travel, and we're still deportable. Other than that, it's JUST like amnesty.

I can sympathize with the anti-immigration world view. At the core, there's the feeling that the country you knew is changing, that what was once familiar, day by day seems more and more aliean. On top of that, there's economic insecurity that more people mean less money for you- although that hasn't much ground in economic research.

Either way, I think both arguments against immigration are legitimate. I certainly recognize and sympathize with the feelings of the people who harbor them.

But God damn it, can those people show some empathy towards this side as well? Give me two points:

1. Most of the people who brave adverse conditions and legal disincentives have seriously worse choices where they re from. I mean, if you re from war torn Afghanistan and you can't feed your family, you would seriously think about migrating to another place as well. Is it so tough to recognize that instead of hiding behind a rigid recitation of the law?

2. Being an illegal immigrant isn't a walk in the park. Opponents keep throwing the word amnesty around while talking about the outrage of rewarding illegal behavior. It infuriates me that they fail to recognize how hard it is being an illegal immigrant.

I ve lost a ton of career and social opportunities because of my status. I used to be an extrovert and now I am introvert; I don't talk to people because that might lead to a discussion of my immigration status and I am scared that this will give power to random people over me, not to mention embarrass me. I constantly have to think of not getting into trouble and keeping a low profile. When you carry that low level of stress and ennui, it tends to grate on you; it suffocates you. It changes who you are and who you can be.

For me, the years I ve spend as an illegal immigrant is time served. Can you understand that? The sins I ve committed, the mistakes I made, I ve paid for 10 times over. Can this message get through to you?

Be against illegal immigration. I get it. I respect it. But give me those two points. Recognize the drama and burden that those other people carry. It's not so hard to do.

It is the year 2025, Most illegals have been deported.

I realized some time ago that this isn't just about their fear of the changing face of America. If they were just scared about what was going on, I could understand that. But, there is genuine racism/xenophobia at play. If we were all white Catholic's from Ireland that fell in line with Republican "Family Values" they would have passed immigration reform under Bush.

Instead, we are an amalgamation of everything they hate.