Thread: Specter says "Why not issue 12 million green cards"

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http://www.miamiherald.com/851/story/194889.html

BY ARLEN SPECTER
www.specter.senate.gov

The charge of amnesty de-

feated comprehensive im-

migration reform in the Senate

this summer. It is too important

-- and there has been too much leg-

islative investment -- not to try again.

The time to do so is now.

Certainly the government should implement the provisions it has already enacted to improve border security and crack down on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. But the important additions on those subjects contained in the bill defeated in June will not be enacted without also dealing with the 12 million-plus undocumented immigrants and the guest-worker program.

So let's take a fresh look and try a narrower approach.

There is a consensus in Congress on most objectives and many remedies for immigration reform: more border patrols, additional fencing, drones and some form of a guest-worker program. Modern technological advances provide foolproof identification so employers can -- justifiably -- be severely sanctioned if they don't verify IDs and act to eliminate the magnet attracting illegal immigrants to penetrate the border. Yet Congress is unlikely to appropriate $3 billion for border security without dealing simultaneously with the illegal immigrants already here.

The main objective in legalizing the 12 million was to eliminate their fugitive status, allowing them to live in the United States without fear of being detected, deported or being abused by unscrupulous employers. We should consider a revised status for those 12 million people. Let them hold the status of those with green cards -- without the automatic path to U.S. citizenship that was the core component of critics' argument that reform efforts were really amnesty. Give these people the company of their spouses and minor children and consider other indicators of citizenship short of the right to vote (which was always the deal-breaker).

This approach may be attacked as creating an ''underclass'' inconsistent with American values, which have always been to give refuge to the ''huddled masses.'' But such a compromise is clearly better than leaving these people a fugitive class. People with a lesser status are frequently referred to as second-class citizens. Congress has adamantly refused to make the 12 million people already here full citizens, but isn't it better for them to at least be secure aliens than hunted and exploited?

Giving these people green-card status leaves open the opportunity for them to return to their native lands and seek citizenship through regular channels. Or, after our borders are secured and tough employer sanctions have been put in place, Congress can revisit the issue and possibly find a more hospitable America.

Some of the other refinements of the defeated bill can await another day and the regular process of Judiciary Committee hearings and markups. Changing the law on family unification with a point system can also be considered later. Now, perhaps, we could add green cards for highly skilled workers and tinker at the edges of immigration law, providing we don't get bogged down in endless debate and defeated cloture motions.

It would be refreshing if Congress, and the country, could come together in a bipartisan way to at least partially solve one of the big domestic issues of the day.

I have a better idea.

Why not issue 12 million deporation orders?

LOL........send him your idea AG!!!

Does he not understand that we do not want these people here, let alone in the company of their spouses and children....the majority of which are already here and we are already supporting.

Congress can revisit this issue until the cows come home....or the illegals go home.....and they'll still not find a "hospitable" America to those who've broken the law.

So he wants to change there fugitive stats eh? Well how about all the other fugitives that live through us everyday the murders, rapists, arsonists, armed robbers, etc etc! Do they get to be come free and clear? And what about the real real fugitives that illegally come into America? Are they absolved of there crimes too? The gang members? The drug cartels? The list goes on! We are inviting more hard criminals into our country? 20 million criminals already and 1/3 of them real bad fugitives too and gang affiliations!!!

Yea lets give them green cards and amnesty quick! I can't wait to be in line with these pride bunch of new Americans that Spector wants!!!

Oh...so now he admits they are FUGITIVES after time and again calling them poor UNDOCUMENTED immigrants.......He finally got it right !!!

Originally Posted by americangirl

I have a better idea.

Why not issue 12 million deporation orders?

DITTO

Benedict Arlen, it's not just 12 (actually 20) million green cards, actually over 30 to 50 years it will be more like 1 billion green cards. That will be the end result of your plan over time. Giving green cards to 20 million illegals will result in 100 million more coming here (who will want green cards), plus we will have to give green cards to their extended family, plus they will all have 5 kids each, so over 30 to 50 years we will have 1 billion unassimilated third worlders living in what was once the USA.

So Benedict Arlen why make them wait, let them all come in right now! Let me see you propose issuing 1 billion green cards, it is no different than you wanting to issue 20 million to the current group of illegals in the USA. Oh and while you are at it, open up the doors to your houses and let anybody live in them that wants to.

Originally Posted by americangirl

I have a better idea.
Why not issue 12 million deporation orders?

Or why not fine 1 million business owners?

Yeah! If we fine 1 million business owners we could eliminate some of our national debt!!

Does Specter take us for fools? We know good and well what will happen with those 20 million illegals should they be given green cards. Within 6 years they will be granted citizenship! When the Congress is poised to do that, we'll here a lot of the same arguments we're hearing now, however, there will be one huge difference. These folks, as legal green card holders, will already have their foot in the door. The ultimate outcome in such a situation can be nothing but citizenship.

Honestly, I don't think Specter would ever come close to getting the votes he would need to fly such a ridiculous idea. I can't see the majority of Republicans or Democrats going for such a looney plan. The Republicans would call it amnesty because it forgives past crimes by legalizing the illegals status. The Democrats would argue that it creates an underclass. They'll never go for something that doesn't offer a path to citizenship.