How about this middle ground?

Yukaza

Legal immigrants come to America with the explicit approval of Congress and thus all Americans. Illegal aliens come here with an implicit 'blind eye' approval. Thus, illegal immigration problems are due essentially to inaction of Congress, law enforcement, and ultimately American citizens. To fix our dysfunctional immigration system, Americans need to educate and change legal, political, educational, environmental, labor and religious institutions. Over-immigration is not inevitable nor is the doubling of U.S. population this century that it will cause.
Legal immigrants deserve respect. Illegal aliens are law breakers who do not deserve jobs, amnesty, educational subsidies, driver's licenses, and other benefits at the expense of U.S. taxpayers. Illegal aliens first should be encouraged to Go Home voluntarily and then humanely deported as the law requires. Once the public recognizes that jobs and benefits equal encouragement the public will truly press for the flow to cease. Amnesties for illegal aliens have clearly made the problem worse and should be vigorously opposed. No amnesty
Amnesties do not solve the problem of illegal immigration. About 2.7 million people received lawful permanent residence ("green cards") in the late 1980s and early 1990s as a result of the amnesties contained in the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986. But these new INS figures show that by the beginning of 1997 those former illegal aliens had been entirely replaced by new illegal aliens, and that the unauthorized population again stood at more than 5 million, just as before the amnesty. Amnesty is not a fix.

DAR

I would vote against it until the problem were stopped going forward. Education and health care are hugely expensive above the taxes poor people pay, even if they pay all taxes. That is why there are limits on how many poor people are allowed to immigrate to begin with.

Until we have a handle on the in-flow to stop more from coming, I think all benefits (including but not limited to amnesty) that we give to those here draws more across.

I also feel that our leaders are not serious about border control, visa tracking or enforcement going forward, and only want to manipulate support for guest worker programs and amnesty which, once approved, will be difficult/imposible to undo.
--
edit, in 1986 it was supposed to be a one time thing and employer enforcement was supposed to stop it going forward. It has been given 7 times now, and we don't believe 'then this will happen'. We need to see it.

Also, I would consider working under a fake SS# to be 'another crime' barring amnesty. ALSO we can't afford to let them bring family, as residents or citizens. There are too many here now. Look at schools in border states and areas where illegals concentrate. How would you work that?

Tegeras

The problem with Amnesty is it does nothing to stem the tide, if anything it makes it worse. Now you will have even more people making the mad dash to the US to try to get in on the Amnesty that were not here before.

Illegals are hard to document when it comes to how long they were here or how much they earned. They can falsify anything needed because according to the US government they do not exist without a SS# or Valid ID.

Before anyone even considers if amnesty is a good idea maybe we should first stop the flow of illegals into the US and start enforcing our laws.

alanninn

i think that for the most part it's not about a skin color,race,etc.. what it is about is the blatent disregaurd for our laws..why may i ask haven't they tried to become citizens before now? because now we are forcing them! i have a mexican family donw the street from me that have been my neighbors for 10 plus years..wonderful people but you know they came here legaly,they had visas,learned english,and worked hard everyday to get it..they told me it was so disrespectful that they came here legaly followed the rules and became citizens,,how is it fair to them? it's like everything they worked for they could have avoided..

kysteelgirl

NO AMNESTY (BY ANY NAME).....what part of criminal don't you understand?

Seeing Clearly

They still committed a criminal act.... a fine is not sufficient.... they barged ahead of the rest waiting in line to enter the USA LEGALLY. Ship them all back to their countries and let them apply legally... but make them wait 5-10 years before allowing them to apply, as punishment for breaking our laws and stealing from the USA.

j H

Nope.. still wouldn't vote for it... ILLEGALS are criminals... and I don't want them around. We have enough problems already.

ILLEGALS = CRIMINALS = DEPORTATION

Niecy

I'm against amnesty, but I would consider it. I don't know how many would fit the criteria and it would be hard to determine how much they owe in unpaid taxes.

natallbad

sounds like a plan to me

Thomas A

i think everyone of them would be sent back then lol

im for it lol

lets do it

I mean for real would there be anybody that stays?

eva b

I would vote for it.Though knowing it would never work.It would be impossible to enforce.

Zoe

The only problem is illegal aliens will use fraud to make it appear they did all of the above or borrow someone elses ID.They all need to go back apply legally just like Mexico requires you have all documents to be there same should be here

Kim Y

And pay the filing, recording, and all legal fees associated with being granted naturalization? That is several thousand of dollars, ya know? Well, maybe. We need to stop focusing on the middle of the fence approach / the gray area.

Either you learn a country's laws, adapt to their laws, customs, languages or just don't cross that border. It shows commitment, to follow through with what must be done to be a fully legit citizen. Persons who follow the rules also have to state publicly that they are not loyal to any other entity, group, person, father/motherland. Public pronouncement.

Don't forget also that people who are not CAUGHT at breaking a law or are not charged with a crime are deemed as following the law. But what of terrorist groups like the MS13's who are from South America, setting up safe houses all over the US, murdering US citizens by the multitudes. Can't catch all members! They murder themselves; they murder outsiders; they murder entire families. What of them? The US Govt does not have any records on members, and they slip in and are very like doing guerrilla warfare; attacking and fleeing.

There is the hardworking soul who comes and tries his best to survive; then you get the criminal element. Legal immigration can at least help with the screening out of questionable persons and slow down the impending wave of this crime syndicate!

toff

Me. In a heartbeat.

Devin

Sounds like an excellent compromise.

angela R

I would vote for it all the way....This is a reasonable solution, to get people legal and stop criminalizing them for seeking a better life, and yes, they would have to meet these requirments!

i_love_my_mp

In theory it's pretty good...but I don't think there is anyway to determine the amount of back taxes owed, plus many may have low wages and that would be impossible for them to do.

But otherwise, I like it... many of these people are filling a need in society...

I do think that business/employers of illegals need to be held accountable, they are creating the problem by refusing to pay fair wages to citizens.

Brand X

I'd vote for this...but most people wouldn't. Apparently, to most people, crossing the border illegally is nearly as bad a murder.

rascal

Yes I would vote for it, but who would be in charge of checking the facts?

TomCruise

I would, If willing to abide by these guidelines then i would vote for it. To bad you are not in office.

*~BETHY~*

no, they are still illegal! they still came here illegally! what's so hard about that? if they are not going to do things by the law to begin with what else will they not do by the law? i think if you want to be a citizen of this country you should respect it and the laws! if you can't then stay the hell out!

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: