I was going to write a somewhat long and involved post on this Washtington Post article on some executive-branch changes to immigration policy (short version: if you’re an illegal married to, or parent of, a US citizen then you don’t have to “leave the United States and apply for a waiver forgiving their unlawful presence in the country” if you want to legalize your status). But it started to get ranty, so let me be brief: in my considered opinion, this is not a good hill for hardcore anti-illegal immigration activists to die on. I will not join them on this hill. Large swaths of the Republican party will not join them on this hill. If hardcore anti-illegal immigration activists decide to die on this hill anyway, it will simply rebound to the ultimate benefit of the large swaths of the Republican party that did not join them. Which means that I should simply let hardcore anti-illegal immigration activists die on that hill, only I’m a party hack who would feel bad if I didn’t try to warn my fellow-Republicans about the buzz-saw.
Ignore or take my advice as you please.
Moe Lane
PS: Oh, yes, I am aware that it may end up that people online will line up to tell me why this is a marvelous hill to die upon. I’m not saying, Do not charge. I am saying, If you charge, I am not backing you up.
I concur. This is the wrong hill.
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The right hill remains border enforcement.
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Until we get that done, and I mean *really* done, not kabuki “smart fence” crap, there’s no point in fighting the small crap like this.
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That, of course, won’t stop some of the more Tancredo-minded folks from doing so.
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Mew
I could not agree more. If we’re not serious about keeping the flood down to a trickle, we’re not serious about immigration laws at all. “Catch and release” isn’t a fisheries management tool, and “catch and deport” is just a left-handed subsidy to whatever transportation medium is carrying the soon-to-be re-immigrants.
The fact that real border enforcement also protects us against serious enemies and real bad guys is my actual reason for wanting good border enforcement, but I’m good with it as an immigration tool as well.
Yep. Screw the rule of law; this would look bad.
…And that response will do precisely nothing to advance your policy goals, Crawford. I say this without heat, but I do suggest that at some point you reassess your strategy.
True.
But it bears repeating that the Obama administration is openly flouting the law. (Again.)
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Too bad most of the electorate doesn’t seem to care.
Right hill is to require the use of e-verify and come down like a ton of bricks on anyone hiring or giving tax-payer funded (not privately funded) assistance to those here illegally. Jail time, business destroying fines etc. Do prosecute identity theft. Remove the incentive to come here and the torrent will turn into a trickle. Just look at what a recession did to illegal immigration. Slowed it down.
also legal, documented means of coming to this country need to be expanded exponentially & made smarter. I don’t care if you are a doctor or engineer from Nigeria or England, you should be able to get your papers with very little effort. The farm sector obviously needs migrant, immigrant workers. Have the appropriate number of slots available. If a farmer is found to have hired workers who overstayed work visas or who never had them and can’t produce a CYA-e-verify paper trail, fines and jail. Seems to me this would effectively minimize the problem.
Agree, jbird … and the reason we don’t seem to be *doing* this is the folks who have the money to hire immigrants are the same folks who have the money to make campaign contributions.
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So… how do we go about changing this?
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Mew
If the number of migrant visas et al were increased to a proper allotment size and legal workers were readily available, would they really need to bother with illegal workers?
If they’re cheaper, the yes.
And since you don’t have to provide benefits, pay taxes, or meet OSHA certifications for someone you’re illegally paying under the table…
Really want to fix this?
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Start or join a local (in your State) campaign to enact (or enforce) *State* fines for hiring illegals.
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Note – not “knowingly hiring”, simply “hiring”.
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As much as States are hurting for ca$h right now, witch hunts are to be *encouraged*.
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Mew
I still dream of a wide open border with no welfare state to attract the undesirables, just a chance to work hard, integrate, and enjoy the fruits of your labors. We had that once, worked just fine; we could do it again.
What’s that? Why yes, pie is tasty when you’re a thousand feet up.
This is why I like most illegal immigrants I meet. Statistics say they are more likely to get government assistance and whatnot, but all the one’s I meet have 2.5 jobs (hard, manual labor jobs), which is 2.5 more than a lot of people in this country have.
I don’t have a problem with that at all, Oyster. I’d much rather spend winter in Zihuatanejo than Chicago… and I suspect the internet would even let me do my job from there.
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The trouble isn’t *just* the “welfare magnet”, it’s also the under-the-table jobs… but enforcing that comes down to money.
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Mew
Oh, yes, I am aware that it may end up that people online will line up to tell me why this is a marvelous hill to die upon.
“The object is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.”