Thread: Alabama Patriotic Immigration Commision, Plan tough but fair

July 30, 2007

Guest columns
ALABAMA VOICES: Plan tough but fair

By Michael Ciamarra

Between 12 million and 20 million illegal immigrants live in the United Sates and the number grows by a half-million each year. The federal government has had sole control of our borders and it is Washington's failure that compels individual states to take action.

In the past, states and localities have been kept from playing a key part in creating and enforcing immigration laws. Change is coming.

Frustrated by the lack of action from Congress, state legislators across the country have introduced more than 1,200 bills to address illegal immigration. This is twice the number from the previous year.

State and local officials know the immigration patterns in their communities, as well as the burdens these illegals place on the state's public safety, public health and education systems. Each state should have the power to investigate, apprehend, detain and remove illegals.

This process must be a partnership of congressional action and state enforcement and Alabama has taken steps to do what it needs to do. The state Legislature passed a proposal written by the Alabama Policy Institute to create the Alabama Patriotic Immigration Commission and introduced by Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale.

The term "patriotic" was deliberately chosen to convey the security that will come with knowing that all immigrants in Alabama are legal, accounted for and interested in becoming Americans. They will have to learn the language, history and values that unite us as a nation.

The 21-member commission will be made up by appointments by the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the Alabama House of Representative and represent Alabama's state government, business, labor and community leaders. This commission is charged with developing a tough but fair plan of action to address illegals. It will be a model for other states to replicate as it oversees actions the state may or may not take regarding illegal immigration. The commission will ask the right questions and collectively bring forth the best policies and safeguards for Alabama taxpayers.

First, it is essential to understand how big and how serious this problem is. Hard questions need real answers that will show documented results. It is imperative for Alabama's leadership to insist on facts to define the problems and then use rational thought to formulate a policy that can be agreed upon.

Second, it is equally essential to understand how encompassing the changes will have to be to solve the problem. As part of any state-based plan, we believe that all immigration reforms must start with the premise that English is the official language in Alabama schools and the official language for government.

Third, it is important to construct a logical set of sequential, sustainable solutions that will result in a rational and orderly state immigration policy acceptable to a majority of Alabamians.

The consensus is that about 15 percent of the labor force in landscaping, construction, cleaning, food services and other personal services are illegal immigrants. Think about that -- 15 percent of landscaping crews in Montgomery County are illegals. Does this have an adverse impact on wages in the local economy? Hispanic children constitute about 4 percent of the states K-12 enrollment. What are the costs to taxpayers and what do those demographics mean for the next decade?

The Patriotic Commission will hold hearings around the state and welcome serious, thoughtful input from the public. All deliberations will be conducted with complete openness and all documents, testimony and discussions will be available to the public and press. The commission will report its findings and recommend very specific legislation and executive branch actions by early 2008.

Much needs to be done on the federal level, too. As advocated by former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, here's what Congress should do to renew its efforts for immigration reform:


Pass a bill to finish building a border fence in less than a year and establish complete border control in two years. It is imperative that America regain control of her borders.


Outsource to a company such as American Express, Visa or MasterCard the job of creating a real-time status verification system so that companies can quickly and accurately verify the legal residence of all workers. This would distinguish between employers who know they are hiring illegal workers and those who have no way of knowing if the workers are "undocumented."


Audit companies deliberately and repeatedly hiring illegals.


Focus efforts on deportation of criminals, especially illegal aliens with gang membership.


Cut off all federal money going to "sanctuary cities" which refuse to investigate if criminals are here illegally.


Bolster assimilation of legal immigrants by making English the official language of government and offering intensive education in English.


Ensure American citizenship by expecting every immigrant to pass an American history test written in English and to give up the right to vote in any other country.

After these steps have been completed, the federal government must create an economics-driven temporary worker program with an open-ended worker visa for high value workers who will help our economy. Workers who maintain a good work relationship and community ties, including family, should have the first opportunity to get new temporary worker visas. Instead of paying optional penalties which allow them to remain here, they should be required to leave the United States and apply for the visa in their home country.

Finally, make sure that immigrants understand and obey the laws of our land.

Legal immigration has been a primary source of creativity and prosperity and is very much a part of our rich history. To maintain that heritage, immigration reform must first honor the rule of law, enhance national security, sustain economic growth and reaffirm the concept of American citizenship and civil society.

A workable immigration policy which respects the dignity of the individual and meets the workforce needs of Alabama's economy is certainly within reach.

But we must get this reform right from the very start.

Michael Ciamarra is vice president of the Alabama Policy Institute and author of the Patriotic Immigration Commission legislation. Send e-mail to michaelc@alabamapolicy.org.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/app ... 12/OPINION

1) WE DO NOT NEED ANY MORE TEMPORARY OR GUEST WORKER PROGRAMS INVOLVING PEOPLE FROM MEXICO OR ANYWHERE IN LATIN AMERICA. THEY ARE CONSPIRATORS AGAINST OUR SOVEREIGNTY IN THE NORTH AMERICAN UNION PLOT, AND ALL AMERICANS SHOULD STRONGLY OBJECT TO HAVING ANY MORE LIVING AMOUNGST US. HOW RIDICULOUS TO EXPECT AMERICANS TO TOLERATE FOREIGNERS GUILTY OF SEDITION! WE CAN NOT TRUST OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO TAKE OUR WELFARE INTO CONSIDERATION. THEY HAVE CONSPIRED AGAINST US IN FAVOR OF THE MEXICAN GOV'T AND THE POPE.

WHAT HAPPENED TO DIVERSITY? THE IMMIGRATION POLICY OF THIS NATION IS RACIST AND ANTI-CAUCASIAN. KILL THE HART-CELLER ACT OF 1965 NOW! GET THE BIGOTS OUT NOW!

2) IN THE PAST, IMMIGRANTS LEARNED ENGLISH BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO AND DID SO ON THEIR OWN, NOW WE ARE EXPECTED TO PAY HOW MUCH TO TEACH SEDITIOUS CONSPIRATORS OUR LANGUAGE? GET SOME EUROPEANS OR VIETNAMESE PEOPLE IN HERE WHO LIKE US AND ARE EDUCATED AND SPEAK ENGLISH!

3) NORMAL IMMIGRATION RATES IN THIS COUNTRY PRIOR TO 1965 HAD BEEN AROUND 178,00 PER YEAR. OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE HAD OVER A MILLION COMING HERE!

WE NEED A MORATORIUM ON IMMIGRATION! WE NEED STABILIZATION OF OUR POPULATION AND OUR CULTURE. VIEW THIS:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 1393887069