"Political tide turning on illegal immigration or Ridicule, then respect, for GOP's border plan "

Question

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/23/MNGOGLBFP31.DTL&feed=rss.news

Critics conceded a setback but argued that it would be temporary. They said enforcement alone won't stop illegal immigration but will alienate Latino voters, the nation's fastest-growing voter bloc. They said it will turn Republicans into a minority party, much as when former Gov. Pete Wilson won re-election in 1994 on an anti-immigrant platform that ultimately helped make California a Democratic-majority state.

For now, however, the political tide clearly favors enforcement first, legalization later.

"Not even a year ago, if you talked about a fence, you were an extremist who wanted to wall off the United States," said Rosemary Jenks, government affairs director for Numbers USA, a group opposing immigration on population grounds. "Now the fence is a no-brainer."

Frist said everyone agrees with border enforcement.

"We can't have hundreds of thousands of people running across that lower border of the United States of America," Frist said. "Let's go ahead and do what we all agree ... needs to be done, and that is to focus on securing our border."

Lungren said his conversations with GOP colleagues in the Senate lead him to believe that "they now understand the magnitude of the feeling out there that we've got to get control of our border."

Frank Sharry, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, a pro-immigrant group, conceded that if Republicans retain their House majority, their tough stand on immigration will be given wide credit, posing a serious hurdle to the push for broader legalization.

He predicted his side eventually will prevail nonetheless. "

What do you think?

Mike, I don't think anyone is missing that issue. Employers have convinced Congress that there is not an adequate system to verify employees in place and that building one will take years. While part of 'reform' is to start building that system, the employers have 'plausible deniability' until the system is in place, so current action is looking at other things. Besides, benefits are also a magnet, and if any are looking at legalization of screened people here, that will just draw more illegals unless we get a handle on borders and visa overstays. (Take a look at Spain for a recent illustration of this.)

America - absolutely.

Answer 1

We need to close our borders regardless of the illegal immigrant issue. There are criminals crossing that border, fleeing prosecution in their own countries. There are drug runners hauling there poisons across that border to prey on our innocent young people. There are murderers, pedophiles and rapists coming across that border to prey on our decent family members. There are thieves coming across that border to take what we worked all our lives to achieve. There are TERRORISTS coming across that border. A wall or a fence is a NCESSARY deterrent. It is not the ONLY thing that needs to be done. It is PART of the solution. It will slow them down. The Border Patrol can catch many who slip through. Others will be caught when they try to get a job with no documentation, or try to rent a house with no documentation or try to get health care or welfare or a drivers license with no documentation. Illegal immigration can be stopped. It has to be addressed in many different areas, not just one.

Answer 2

I found this of interest in your link

Ironically, the fence legislation coincides with the Department of Homeland Security's award of an $80 million contract to Boeing -- the first stage of a plan expected to cost much more than $2.1 billion -- to construct a "virtual fence" along all 6,000 miles of U.S. land borders, north and south. The new technology -- including sensors, ground radars and other technology in addition to physical barriers -- will begin in a 28-mile sector near Tucson, Ariz.

Asked at a briefing why additional fence legislation was necessary, Michael P. Jackson, deputy secretary of homeland security, said, "The bill is a sign of the commitment and the focus that Congress is bringing to the border."

Jackson repeatedly stressed that a fence is far from the only method the department is considering. "It would be a mistake to try to infer from that 28 miles that you now just take that and spread it across the border in some ham-handed way," Jackson said.

I agree that if this fence is built it must be only a part of border enforcement.Until employers are forced to stop hiring illegals the entire argument is a lesson in futility
We must take away any and all entittlements that are part of the lure to illegals coming to this country.That includes the right to disrupt this country with demonstrations that they could not get away with in thier own countrys.
What "rights" should an illegal immigrent have in this country?.They should be allowed only basic human rights but not the rights we as legal Americans enjoy.I am against any amnesty plan that awards illegals permanate redicency to someone that is a criminal.I dont care what scale you aquate the crime to,its still a crime.I dont agree with a lot of laws in this country but if I break one of them Im going to be punished not rewarded for my crime.
Why are illegals given special treatment ?

No amnesty
secure and protect our borders.

Answer 3

I think that we've been systematically played for decades by Mexico and pro-illegal advocates, and that the border fence and employer-centric immigration enforcement are years overdue.
People are finally starting to realize there's a noticeable drain
on our economy from all of this, and Mexico's policies are very much pro-mexico/anti-united states. With 'friends' like that, who needs enemies?

Also, I think the whole may-day demonstration business has basically knocked the legs out from under the pro-amnesty bunch, people nationwide got an up-close look at their agenda, and found it generally unpalatable.

Be sure to vote your conscience in November! Do YOU want to pay child support for 1/2 of Mexico? Vote carefully...

Answer 4

Rather Government likes it or not--people are taking action. These groups of citizens (and towns and States) are not going to go away. The fact is they are growing in numbers daily. It doesn't matter anymore--the people will continue to take matters in their own hands. I only hope innocent people will not get hurt-but I think some will. And all the media in the world won't stop one outbreak from another happening.
Either our Government will face this-or ignore it for as long as they can. Time will tell.

Answer 5

Every one is missing the point on the immigration issue.You want to solve the problem,enforce the laws we have already.The fine for employing an undocumented worker is a maximum of $10,000 per employee.If there are no jobs,there wont be a reason to enter the country illegally.This whole issue is a battle for free airtime.With upcoming elections both sides are trying to draw the public's attention any way they can.

Answer 6

let's talk after the november elections...

No Amnesty (by any name)
Attrition thru Local, State & Federal Enforcement
Repeal the 14th amendment

Answer 7

We do need to enforce the laws we already have, but we also need to strengthen our borders as well.

Answer 8

Let's wait and see what actually happens. Right now, they are only a bunch of words.

Answer 9

This is an excellent post; we think everyone knows where this will all end up! We will have some very disappointed people on this forum, like it or not.