Borders and Immigration
Published January 08, 2004
Hot topic this one. I find it most interesting that most of the Republican-Conservative pundits have kept their mouths relatively silent on this issue since Bush declared how he is going after the Latino vote in '04. I think it only goes to show that there is no difference between the Republican/ Democratic parties anymore but really just a difference between the Libs and the Cons. I'd have a bit more respect if the Republicans would run another candidate for president on their side against Bush... then maybe then we'd see that there is still some thought in politics, instead of a white collar version of "Colors".
Republican Homeboy: "Yo, don't you dis Bush, man... He my brother! Hes' standing up for the Republicans, yo! Sure he's trying to put a squash on free speech, has a government larger than any Democrat can think of, and selectively forgets part of the Constitution, but yo... he's a REPUBLICAN so you can't speak badly about him!"
Anyway, in order to address this topic of immigration, I need to first address the borders.
Puerto Rico, Guam, US Virgin Islands, etc- Your time is up. Either you become a part of the Union or you go on your merry little ways. The idea of "territories" is very colonial, isn't it? No more limbo land! If you want to be a state, cool... come join. If you want to be your own country, great, we'll still trade! Otherwise... go away.
Borders with Canada and Mexico.
As much as I don't like fences, etc... I really see no way to monitor who is coming here legally and illegally without the fences or some sort of cyber surveillance on the borders. I really don't see too much of a problem with the Canadian border, but the Mexican one is a huge problem. To be fair, fences will have to go up on both sides. (I know the Canadians are going to Chirp about how much they hate the US and they don't want to come here, fine... I still like Canada.) So long as Canada is allowing things like this (yes, Muslims should be allowed to uphold the laws that they do in their own countries such as cutting the hands off thieves and stoning women since the laws of Canada are not good enough for them... which leads me to ask "if you don't want to follow the laws of the country your are emigrating to. If the laws are not good enough for you, why are you emigrating?"), I think maybe we'd better watch both borders until the world really calms down. Which it won't do, I might add until someone more sensible sits in the White House.
Immigration
Illegal immigration is illegal immigration and there should be no amnesty. I don't care if part of the United States economy is run by illegal immigrants. It's not the illegal immigrants who stop companies from paying below the basic wage. It is the companies themselves. Let's take this once step further: Say you do give temporary worker status and allow these illegal immigrants to receive social security cards, etc, how does that make them pay taxes? Taxes come out of your declared wages. If a company chooses to hire under the table, it doesn't matter if they have a social security card. They still will have no verifiable income. The problem in this case is not with the illegal immigrants as that is still does not force the real problem, corporate America to practice fair business. Keep things the way they are now, there will still be someone who does not have a right to be in the United States to still work under the table.
- Borders and Immigration
- Published: January 08, 2004
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- Section: Culture
- Writer: Ms. Tek
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Comments on this articleComments
Victoria, you are substantially incorrect in saying that "most of the Republican-Conservative pundits have kept their mouths relatively silent on this issue." The good folks at National Review in particular are pretty much up in arms.
However, some folks have kept their powder dry here for several legitimate reasons. For one, I don't see a clear right/Republican position on this stuff. Broadly, some more law and order conservative types will be for fences and increases in the INS. However, the more libertarian contingent of the right wing will be inclined to favor open borders. Then there are those somewhere in between who aren't sure just what to think.
Also, it is certainly reasonable to be skeptical of the motivations of any politician, but perhaps you should consider the possibility that the president actually means well. Remember that Bush ran as a "compassionate conservative." Hearing his remarks on this immigration issue yesterday, he sure sounded compassionate to the position of the illegals.
Liberals are always going on about the plights of the poor and suffering, yet many of you seem to exhibit little concern for these Mexican immigrants. I recognize that there are problems caused by their presence, but maybe you should credit the president for his concern- even if there is no really good solution on either side.
can i get a green card by investing in US
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/11545)
"You should not have to:
Marry a US citizen to get citizenship.
Have to make a huge investment in business to get citizenship.
Serve in the US armed forces to get citizenship."
I thought that we did have a naturalization process as part of our immigration policy. You have to file an application, take an examination and then go to a court hearing.
I think the requirements are that you have to be 18 years or older, have lived in US for at least 5 years, be of good 'moral' character (no arrest record), be able to read and write basic english, understand our government structure (I believe the test that you take in the naturalization process is a civics type test) and you have to swear allegiance to the US.
They didn't do away with this, did they?
The main point of the naturalization process is that you have to have immigrated here LEGALLY. By giving the 'temporary worker card or blue card' to illegal immigrants he is giving them a way to apply for citizenship even though they did not immigrate here legally.
Being a retired police officer there is a big part of me that screams 'NO, DO NOT REWARD SOMEONE THAT BREAKS THE LAW' but then there is the small voice in my heart that says that our immigration laws do need to be reformed, there needs to be a larger number of green cards issued per year. The citizenship law needs to be changed to include that any child born to 'ILLEGAL' aliens in the US is not a US citizen. This would encourage people to come in legally and would save the people in California, Texas, Florida, New Mexico, Arizona, etc. lots in taxes to support these people.
This is a tough situation, I want to be compassionate but we have to get control of our borders. We should have an amendment that says that police officers can arrest illegals and have deportation hearings. I know that the INS department can't handle the load.
"ItÂ's not the illegal immigrants who stop companies from paying below the basic wage. It is the companies themselves. LetÂ's take this once step further: Say you do give temporary worker status and allow these illegal immigrants to receive social security cards, etc, how does that make them pay taxes? Taxes come out of your declared wages. If a company chooses to hire under the table, it doesnÂ't matter if they have a social security card. "
I agree with what you are saying but the illegals can't negotiate any price with an employer because they will be deported and the employers can't list them on the regular payroll and pay taxes if they don't have a SS card. If they are here legally, the policy is hoping that this will change into the company paying the wage and having the taxes taken out, this will also give the immigrants a better leg to stand on in negotiating a wage. They won't have the fear of deportation and will have some rights.