Thread: Better for the borders (Take A deep Breath)

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Better for the borders

By RICK MARTINEZ, Correspondent

RALEIGH -- It's put up or shut up time for both sides in the illegal immigration wars. A few weeks ago, the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act of 2005 (HR 2330/S 1033) was introduced in both federal legislative chambers. It's not perfect, but it's close, so count me in.

The bill bolsters security and intelligence efforts, particularly along the U.S.-Mexico border. It provides for an economic-driven expansion of work visas for low-skill, labor-intensive jobs. And it greatly strengthens immigration law enforcement through increased funding, manpower and technology.

Most important, the bill deals forthrightly and honestly with the 11 million or so illegal immigrants who have taken up residence in the United States. What to do with this population is at the core of the divisive illegal immigration debate that's led to some pretty ugly exchanges in this state.

On one side are reform opponents, who use faux terrorism threats and an American work ethic that ebbed in the 1980s to justify the deportation of every illegal immigrant. On the other side are Hispanic advocates who believe illegal immigrants are entitled to driver's licenses and in-state tuition -- in essence de facto citizenship -- simply because they're willingly to take jobs on the bottom rung.

Both views are fantasy. Thankfully, this legislation, sponsored by Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and Reps. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois and John Kolbe and Jeff Flake of Arizona, deals with hard realities instead of rhetoric.

The Kennedy-McCain bill provides illegal immigrants already here a beacon out of the shadows via a temporary guest worker visa that, with an extension, can provide U.S. residency of up to six years. At the end of that period, the immigrant can return home or get in line for a permanent residency green card. He will not be able to cut ahead of workers already in the process of legally immigrating. And before an undocumented worker can file a single piece of paperwork, he must pay $1,000 in fines as punishment for entering the country illegally.

That's not good enough for opponents already characterizing this bill as amnesty -- which it is not. While the fine may seem light to some, the amount isn't important. What's important is that it deals with the initial illegal act of 11 million people. It makes absolutely no sense to continue the drumbeat for deportation of folks we tacitly welcomed to do the work in our fields, kitchens and construction sites.

Reform opponents counter that a new immigration law wouldn't be needed if we just enforced the laws already on the books. This ignores the fact that it was these economically out-of-touch immigration laws that got us into this mess in the first place.

The beauty of the McCain-Kennedy bill is that it's the first immigration reform that recognizes the very distinct class differences between legal and illegal immigrants. Current immigration laws and procedures are designed for educated, monied (relatively) immigrants who come to North Carolina to work in Research Triangle Park or to teach. No realistic immigration channel exists for the uneducated, poor immigrant whose primary economic asset is his or her physical strength and stamina.

As our nation has become more educated, the supply of American-born laborers has decreased. This legislation finally recognizes that by and large illegal immigrants don't displace domestic workers; they fill jobs Americans have abandoned as too hard, too demeaning, too short on pay and benefits.

The legislation's common-sense approach to immigration reform is bearing impressive fruit. Included in its wide base of support are traditional Hispanic advocates, who are finally dropping their long-held open-borders mentality. Michele Waslin of the National Council of La Raza said the group will work for passage before the 2006 congressional elections. I never thought I'd see the day NCLR supported a bill that explicitly calls for the end of illegal immigration. Andrea Bazon-Manson, executive director of Raleigh-based El Pueblo, says she'll not only ask N.C. congressional representatives for support, but for leadership.

I hope more people will accept immigration reform as the sensible continuation of this country's proud immigrant history. Deportation cannot be the final solution.

Rick Martinez can be reached at rickjmartinez@mindspring.com

Quote:
I hope more people will accept immigration reform as the sensible continuation of this country's proud immigrant history. Deportation cannot be the final solution.

No way Jose! I won't accept laws rewritten to appease these people. Deportation sounds like a final solution to me.

The beauty of the McCain-Kennedy bill is that it's the first immigration reform that recognizes the very distinct class differences between legal and illegal immigrants. Current immigration laws and procedures are designed for educated, monied (relatively) immigrants who come to North Carolina to work in Research Triangle Park or to teach. No realistic immigration channel exists for the uneducated, poor immigrant whose primary economic asset is his or her physical strength and stamina.

These uneducated, poor immigrants pay thousands of dollars to get into the U.S. If they can pay that much to sneak into the country, they certainly can afford to apply the legal methods of obtaining citizenship.

As our nation has become more educated, the supply of American-born laborers has decreased. This legislation finally recognizes that by and large illegal immigrants don't displace domestic workers; they fill jobs Americans have abandoned as too hard, too demeaning, too short on pay and benefits

Crack heads should not be published. As we get MORE educated, the supply of American laborers decreases? That is ludicrious. What job is too hard for the nation that built the Panama Canal, went from building widgets to bombs overnight in WWII, and the greatest highway system in the WORLD. The only thing too demeaning is to have your job outsourced to some Turd World single digit, low frequency idiot. What are benefits?
That has been a misnomer for years now.

As our nation has become more educated, the supply of American-born laborers has decreased. This legislation finally recognizes that by and large illegal immigrants don't displace domestic workers; they fill jobs Americans have abandoned as too hard, too demeaning, too short on pay and benefits.

Actually, this statement is FALSE. We've fallen well below our prior norm. More of our college aged children CANNOT READ OR WRITE!
We've lowered standards to an unacceptable level and our drop out rate has increased. Our Sciences are sorely lacking in qualified students as well as our Engineering areas.

WE ARE LESS EDUCATED and that alone should be a solid argument! Well, it would be if our people were BETTER EDUCATED!!