How do you define amnesty?

Question

It's a term that is used a lot on this board. When you hear the term do you think:

Immediate green card or citizenship at the stroke of a presidential pen
or
Making illegal’s who are currently ineligible to apply for a green card now eligible.

I don't want to get into a debate about should we or shouldn't we have amnesty. I just want to get an idea of what people mean when they use the term.

What I mean is if some sort of amnesty is passed, what form will it take?

Answer 1

Definition of Amnesty: Amnesty for illegal immigrants is defined as the government’s pardon for violating policies related to immigration or politics. The federal government forgives these individuals for using false documentation (examples include social security numbers, identification cards and driver’s license among other documents) to more easily get employment in the U.S. and to be able to remain in the country. Amnesties allow illegal immigrants or undocumented aliens to gain permanent residency in the United States


http://www.cis.org/articles/2006/back606.html

the link above describes the last amnesty bill passed in America in 1986- the amnesty legislation being discussed currently is very similar in form.(at least that is what I have read) and will most likely be a very similar failure when used as a solution to illegal immigration. It doesn't make a lot of sense to put illegal aliens who have broken the law rights that educated law abiding would be immigrants don't have. i.e. a free pass

Answer 2

To me it's forgiving them of breaking many laws and allowing them to apply for citizenship. Their so called "path to citizenship" is easier than what legal immigrants have had to go through. There's no accurate background check. They have already committed crimes that a legal immigrant would have been deported for doing. Their fines are basicly the same as they would have had to pay if they had come here legally, therefore there's no real "punishment" for dis-obeying the law. Even when they are deemed deportable there's a group to run to their aid to keep the law from being enforced. They are not screened in the same manner legal immigrants are, therefore denying other legal immigrants a chance who may be better citizens and a bigger contributor to this country. Most are working low paid jobs and would then qualify for tax refunds for child credits and with the massive amount of children it would put a further drain on this country.
Also it says again...all you have to do is invade this country in a large mass and you will be given citizenship.
There's too many loopholes in the proposed amnesty and still nothing to guarentee yet another wave in a few years or any clear way to enforce the laws or increased manpower to do the job.

Answer 3

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RE:
How do you define amnesty?
It's a term that is used a lot on this board. When you hear the term do you think:

Immediate green card or citizenship at the stroke of a presidential pen
or
Making illegal’s who are currently ineligible to apply for a green card now eligible.

I don't want to get into a debate...

Answer 4

In this context, it would be telling illegals that they can stay.

While the politicians claim that illegals would not be given amnesty, but rather a lighter "punishment", most of the "punishment" that I've seen proposed is basically close to what they'd have to do under any circumstances (provide documentation, etc etc).

Sadly, between the sheer number of illegals and the horrible way that ICE has been run for decades (especially after being put into that black hole of logic, DHS), I don't see a way around an "amnesty" program that simply seeks to find out who all is living here, and get them on the tax rolls.

Answer 5

Amnesty= Bull-" Chit"

Answer 6

I define it as the wrong thing to do for this nation.
Amnesty doesn't solve this problem,it only opens the door for millions more to enter illegally and sit back and wait for the next amnesty.No amnesty under any guise .

Answer 7

A general pardon granted by a government, especially for political offenses.

A band-aid to an open wound

A Relief to a symptom but not the cause

A temporary solution to a difficult problem

An escape route for our government

An Aid to some but not all or the majority

A grant for more time to decide

A gift to those who came-a hand up--

Add on to your add on
I think it will be total with a stroke of a pen if it happens or maybe with just a few requirements just enough to appease the people here and no more than absolutely necessary.

Answer 8

My definition: Making illegal immigrants eligible to apply for either a green card or citizenship WITHOUT having to return to their own country and applying legally, through proper channels.
Any setup that allows people who came to this country illegally to move AHEAD of other immigrants who applied legally is amnesty, in my opinion, and should not even be considered.

Answer 9

Amnesty means that all the people who willing broke American law will be rewarded for their actions. All the legal immigrants waiting here and doing thing right, or the ones over seas who have to wait up to 10 years. They will all be getting the shaft

Answer 10

Z visa = amnesty