Wednesday, January 30, 2013

On immigration, no's to amnesty and political posturing

Now that we're talking seriously about immigration reform, with both Democrats and Republicans on board that something must be done now, here are some "do's and don'ts" about how to discuss it. At least that's what a Latino conservative group told Republicans in a memo this week. Buzzfeed got hold of the memo and shared it. Among the no-no's The Hispanic Leadership Network highlighted:

Don't call children of undocumented immigrants "anchor babies" - it's considered offensive.

Do use "undocumented immigrant" when referring to those here without documentation, but "Don't use the word 'illegals' or 'aliens.'"

And here's a new one: Don't use "pathway to citizenship" (a phrase President Obama uses) when talking about the process for those in the U.S. without documentation to become a resident. Say "earned legal status." Pathway to citizenship is too akin to amnesty in people's minds, the group says.

But it's not just phrases, the group says to avoid. Their last point sends Republicans scurrying away from their icon, Ronald Reagan. The group says "Don't use President Reagan's immigration reform as an example applicable today." The reason is given in even smaller print in the memo. It says: "That legislation was true amnesty...."

Well now.

While the conservative Hispanic Leadership Network was listing talking points to GOP lawmakers, the more liberal Latin American Coalition came out Tuesday encouraged by the immigration frameworks but with some concerns. The Observer editorial board listed some of ours on Tuesday in our editorial. Here are theirs:

"Immigration reform is about keeping families together, first and foremost. This ultimate goal is not mentioned in either framework. Families across the country are being torn apart by our country’s current patchwork of failed and mismanaged immigration policies. President Obama’s administration alone has separated more parents from their children through deportation than any other administration. The moral case for immigration reform is overwhelming and getting louder.

"Making a path to citizenship contingent on any type of border security and increased enforcement is unnecessary. The United States currently spends more on immigration enforcement and border security than it does on all other federal law enforcement combined, including the FBI, DEA, Secret Service, U.S. Marshals, and ATF. The past 10 years have seen unprecedented and overwhelming increases in the number of border patrol agents, border wall construction, unmanned aerial vehicles and border militarization. Such vigorous enforcement and security, coupled with President Obama’s sharp increase in removals, have decreased undocumented migration into the U.S. Any plan linking citizenship to border security and more enforcement is mere political posturing.

"A plan for immigration reform must fairly and equally include the “world’s best and brightest” who receive a PhD or Master’s degree in American universities to the low-skilled, but extremely valuable immigrants who perform the very important and difficult work that Americans are unavailable or unwilling to do. Most of these people have worked very hard for many years and have contributed so much to our economy to earn a path to citizenship. Forcing them to the “back of the line”- an immigration line that, frankly, doesn’t exist - is deferring the details instead of dealing with them now.

"A clear and realistic path to citizenship- more fair than tough- will be far more effective in reducing the number of unauthorized immigrants than billions spent on punitive enforcement measures. 2013 must be the year that Congress will pass immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship for aspiring Americans. This is because the American people support it; Democrats want it; and Republicans need it. And our movement- which gets stronger every day- stands ready to make sure it happens. This is the right 

thing to do for the country, and now is the time."

What are your concerns?

12 comments:

Shamash said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Shamash said...

My concerns are the same as with the last amnesty program.

Too much fraud and not enough detection.

Encouraging even more illegals to cross the border and dump their anchor babies in anticipation of the next amnesty.

Too many ill-educated and poor people coming here instead of the better educated and richer ASIANS that we are just too stupid to let in.

And just a general dumbing-down and weakening of the US, I guess...

But as long as the politicians and minority special interest groups are benefitting, I guess it's all OK.

This country is just about a lost cause anyway.

Maybe when it is more like Mexico, people will just leave us alone.

The relatively rich will still live like kings and dominate the lower classes even more.

Just as they do in Mexico and most of the rest of the underdeveloped world.

So look on the bright side...

Ghoul said...

Don't you just love when illegal aliens tell real American citizens how to act and what to say? Their audacity is astounding.

What Fannie fails to realize is how badly illegal immigration is hurting the black community. They are displacing blacks in low skill jobs, and those still working are seeing their pay and benefits being driven down by illegals working under the table. Many blacks worked low skill, yet high paying jobs, like construction jobs, and could easily support a family. But now those jobs are dominated by illegals getting paid cash under the table, so no taxes are taken out, no benefits are given, and remaining jobs are seeing pay cut by 2/3rds.

We cannot support the rest of the world. Mexico has abundant natural resources, oil, natural gas, coal, gold, silver, tin, copper, uranium, and some of the best tourist destinations in the world. But their political corruption, dominated by drug cartels, means they linger in the 3rd world, and refuse to join the USA and Canada as prosperous nations. We can only do so much, but for them to foster their problems onto us is too much to ask.

CarolinaDrums said...

....sorry, y'all but ILLEGAL alien is still ILLEGAL alien...Illegal, Illegal, Illegal. ILLEGAL ALIENS who are here ILLEGALLY have NO standing. Period. They are ILLEGAL ALIENS.

Unknown said...

I totally agree that we should not use the term illegal aliens. While we are at it let's also change the following: 1. drug dealers: unauthorized pharmacists, 2. gang members: social club members, 3. homeless; urban campers, 4. welfare recipients - government beneficiaries. I'm sure there are much more out there.

Unknown said...

Honestly, how does someone here illegally, an illegal alien, have a voice in this country. There are people here who pay taxes and still dont have a true say but you have Latino groups advocating for the US to allow citizenship.

But the main issue for me is that the US govt accepts anchor babies as valid reason to let an illegal stay here. Then we have illegals who dont contribute via taxes yet they and all their children use public resources that are reserved for real citizens. The fact that the govt is trying to expedite what is supposed to be a difficult 7 year process is disrespectful to those who have endured the wait.

CapnCrunch3.14 said...

"Immigration reform is about keeping families together, first and foremost." NO - it is not our responsibility to re-unite families of people who have sneaked into our country. It IS about allowing the most qualified and desirable people to become US citizens. We should be able to chose, not them (illegal immigrants).

"Making a path to citizenship contingent on any type of border security and increased enforcement is unnecessary." FALSE. Then the only qualification to becoming a US citizen is the ability to sneak into this country.

"A plan for immigration reform must fairly and equally include the “world’s best and brightest” who receive a PhD or Master’s degree in American universities to the low-skilled, but extremely valuable immigrants who perform the very important and difficult work that Americans are unavailable or unwilling to do." I'm sorry, but we have plenty of unskilled labor and if we need more, issue temp work permits. Its the educated immigrants that contribute by far the most to our society by starting companies, etc.

"A clear and realistic path to citizenship- more fair than tough- will be far more effective in reducing the number of unauthorized immigrants..." TRUE because then all of the formerly 'unauthorized immigrants' will now be given US citizenship.

Wiley Coyote said...

Don't call children of undocumented immigrants "anchor babies" - it's considered offensive.

So what do we call children of Chinese who come to America to bear their offspring to get around the one child rule in China?

Yeah, they are Americans and so are children born of ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS who come from Mexico, but at least the Chinese eneter the US LEGALLY to have their babies.

Richard said...

United States of ??????? I have no idea any longer. It's hard to blame it all on the government. Our population is also approving so many things very foreign to me.

Jim said...

Is there any. . .ANY. . .group whose prospering would (1) increase the numbers of Democratic voters, (2) increase the dollars contributed to "entitlements" and (3) weaken traditional values of the nation which does not receive the editorial support of the Observer?

RobNClt said...

All of those talking points are nuts, verging on insanity!
Those people are illegal immigrants. The children born to them in this country are anchor babies, they broke our laws coming here and they should not be allowed to become citizens without going through the same process everyone else entering the U.S. has to go through regardless of the length of time they have been here.

When they lightened up on Mexican immigration laws we should lightened up on ours. Why isn't the media and everyone in congress going after Mexico about their laws that are very difficult?

In another 10 or 20 years we will probably have another 30 million Latinos marching for rights they do not have because they have come here illegally. When and where does it stop, particularly since we are paying so many of them welfare to be here illegally.

As for them being family people, thats almost laughable. I see young Latino girls with older Latino men and they are not their daughters. They actually like 15 year old girls when they are old enough to be their dads. How do I know, because I was told that by some Latino men. They said that's the way it is in their country. Oh yeah, I've been to Mexico!

Ettolrahc said...

Everyone go in tomorrow and tell your employer you list of do's and don't.

Call your creditors and tell them how you want things to be.

From now on your Mother In Law will be just the way you want.

And if other drivers do not drive as you wish tell them to get off the road.

A new day is dawning in the usa and we all need to be a part of it.