Opinion: A compassionate and sensible step on immigration
Publisher’s note: This editorial is from the Aug. 22, 2011, Sacramento Bee.
It’s not amnesty, back-door or otherwise. It’s just a little more sanity in our broken immigration system.
The Obama administration has announced that it will suspend deportation proceedings against thousands of illegal immigrants who aren’t a danger to public safety, including those who came to America as young children and have graduated from high school and gone on to college or into the military.
Other “low-priority” cases likely to benefit under the new policy are veterans and spouses of veterans, caregivers for a seriously ill relative or for a person with a mental or physical disability and those with family members who are citizens.
It only makes sense to target limited manpower and resources to deporting those who are violent criminals and drug smugglers, or who pose a national security threat.
This is not a blanket policy; immigration officials will review, case by case, nearly 300,000 people now in the deportation pipeline to distinguish those who may qualify for relief from those who should be expelled as soon as possible. It also doesn’t automatically grant citizenship, though many could eventually apply for legal status.
And while the Bee’s at it, why not advocate for the five billion other earthlings that would love to come to America. We can handle it. Sure.
Commit a crime, get amnesty. This will
certainly discourage people from entering our country illegally to take advantage of our generosity.
The more anchor babies the better. The more cheap labor the better. The more crowded our cities the better. The more press 1 for english the better.
Is America insane? Don’t ask.
Just sit back and watch America rot and crumble.
By the way, America is not a nation of immigrants as over 87% of us were born here.
All cases of someone breaking the law should be prosecuted. They may be “low priority” but they are not “no priority”. Put them on the back burner but don’t dismiss them.
Coming here illegally IS breaking the law.
In today’s economy, with unemployment in the double digits for much of the country, we have no business allowing anyone who isn’t entitled to work in this country take a job that an American citizen could be doing. Obama’s handling of this situation is unconscionable.
Precisely what type of Governor has Massachusetts got, who spends more time playing up to the illegal alien occupation of his state, then dealing with his jobless rate. Massachusetts doesn’t have the convenience of a hook-up to the ICE data bases, to query if foreign nationals are in this country lawfully. Liberal leaning Gov. Deval Patrick seems to have forgotten who is supposing to protecting–his residents. He has issued his own policy that criminal aliens or any illegal aliens in his state cannot be touched. He refused to implement the “Secure Communities” program to fingerprint criminal aliens. Instead he now has this road mayhem, when an illegal alien who allegedly (of course we must be politically correct, as directed by the Leftist zealots) killed a 23-year-old Massachusetts man in a hit-and-run accident Saturday. This is not an isolated incident as DUI (Drunk while intoxicated), hit and runs seems to be wide-spread across the country. Americans must throw out the entire pro-illegal alien activist Governors, Mayors, police chiefs and city Supervisors.
Nicolas D. Guaman, 34, of Milford, Mass, was arrested Saturday after his vehicle struck Matthew J. Denice, who was on a motorcycle, as reported by police. Guaman’s pickup truck had purportedly dragged Denice’s body a quarter-mile, the media reports. As always opponents of the “Secure Communities” program like to paint a mainly sympathetic picture of the criminals as “victims” in any kind of immigration enforcement cause. Same situation goes for E-Verify that would reduce illegal aliens, by rejecting them from jobs, which should be flowing to citizens and permanent resident. This is why unlike the Liberal extremists Democrats and even the Republican establishment core, have failed the American people dismally or intentionally in not enforcing laws already on the books. If you want to be on the ground-floor of the bloodbath that is an everyday occurrence in our nation you will find it at” American Patrol”, website. You can read the less visible news reports, that the Liberal oriented press doesn’t want you to view.
Only Alabama, Georgia and Arizona so far have had the guts to stand against the Dept of In-Justice; as we speak being taken to the judicial wall, to protect their states from the fiscal responsibility of unfunded mandates for supporting the illegal alien incursions. Americans must look for a presidential candidate, who has a exemplary grade on immigration and Rick Perry has a very poor record, as he is part of the Republican establishment. Go to “NumbersUSA” for the immigration grades of potential hopefuls?
Other areas of expertise on illegal alien statistics can be found at “NumbersUSA & the Federation of American Immigration Reform.” Another web site to be learn about the corruption in Washington D.C. and other states is “Judicial Watch” They are the opposite end of the spectrum of the communist inspired ACLU. Guaman’s first encounter with the law, was never reported to ICE, as the state is sympathetic to illegal aliens, especially Governor Patrick. On Guaman’s record are several previous citations for driving without a license and was charged in 2008 with breaking and entering and assaulting a cop in connection with a home invasion, and served probation but remained free. Served Probation? How come he wasn’t handed over to ICE and deported, which would have saved the life of Mr. Denice. This is what the Senate and House of Representative has handed us over thirty years, then trying to propose another mass amnesty. I don’t think so, nor does the TEA PARTY who is determined to stop any more Immigration Reform ideologies. No Sanctuary Cities or States like California, Nevada and Washington State. These States are under a tremendous financial strain, but the erratic Leftists will have none of it, overriding any sensible policies.
Under a conservative TEA PARTY leadership there will be no dream Acts, No Sanctuary City ordinances, no more welfare or payments for using the 14th Amendment to get a foot-hold for a green card by conceiving a baby here intentionally. Only the TEA PARTY will strictly observe the founders words has set down in the U.S. Constitution. The only immigrants to be welcomed in our sovereign nation are the highly skilled, with academic credentials. Our jails and prison system is full of criminals, from different corners of the world and like the welfare programs, the food stamps, low income housing the taxpayer foots the bill. Last year, the expenditure for foreign nationals residing in the United States was 113 Billion dollars, but climbing nationwide. Currently, there is more credence in a population number of 20 million plus foreign nationals in this country, then the Liberal media and open border activist offering their under-count. California has the heftiest burden caused by the Liberals sitting in Sacramento, then they would not be adding another $21.Billion annually and then Carson City, Nevada $1Billion dollars annually. Consider furnishing your incoherent Representatives to eradicate this plague, that will not leave until the 1986 immigration law is rigorously enforced.
The TEA PARTY doesn’t discriminate against any persons color or religion, as long their immigration status is lawful? JOHN THE TEA PARTY TO SAVE AMERICA FROM THE LEFTIST EXTREMIST TAKEOVER.
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Unless you are Native American, you have no business talking smack about undocumented immigrants at all, let alone immigrants stealing anything from “us”. If any of the above posters are ready to bend over picking pesticide-laden strawberries in the hot central CA sun, I’m sure you will be hired. You too can make the big bucks and experience the excellent health benefits for your family. You spout off about undocumented workers as if you worked SO hard to fall out of your momma’s vagina here in the United States. You did nothing but be born here. Pure luck of the draw. And if your family were suffering in MX, would you stay there and suck it up? Or would you strive to make it better for your kids?? You would do anything for your kids and your family. Just like all of us would.
Julie, don’t go assuming you know what any of us would or would not do. Your anger is misplaced. The law is what it is. If you break it, and get caught, you pay the price. Or should, if it weren’t for political correctness such as yours.
P.S. You can talk to me about it when the breadwinner in YOUR family gets replaced on a construction job by an illegal who works for 1/3 the wage and no social security, medicare, or workmen’s comp payments. They aren’t taking jobs we won’t do. They’re taking OUR jobs AND state and federal benefits. And WE are paying for it. Obama don’t care. . .
Free market.
Hear! Hear! Dogwoman! You notice they did cross the border illegally to take whatever jobs they could get, because no matter how bad the job it was better than what was available in their 3rd world corruption laden dictator run country.
Julie, for your information I have spent summers picking berries in Oregon and pears in Lake County.
Isn’t it the employers who are giving the jobs to undocumented workers rather than those workers taking the jobs? The employers don’t want to pay the wages that legal residents require so they give the jobs to cheaper illegal employees.
And if we’re going to prosecute all cases of someone breaking the law, what about the majority of drivers on Pioneer Trail and Rte. 50 who are exceeding the speed limit? Or anyone whose dog is not on a leash? Or don’t those law breakers count?
Employers do their best to hire only documented workers and those allowed to work. The employees fill out I-9s, show ID and either a social security card or green card. I don’t know of any employer in town that hires immigrants because they are cheaper! (doesn’t mean there aren’t any, I just don’t know of them) There is a minimum wage and requirements they must fulfill, no matter what nationality the employee is.
If there are people hiring undocumented so they don’t have to pay worker’s comp and other taxes, turn them in.
30 Year, minimum wage is in the area of $8. A really good (legal and licensed)carpenter makes $40. Most illegals have phony documents. The people that hire them do so with a wink and a nod. Don’t even pretend you’re unaware of it.
As to Robot’s comment, free market, well, that would be fine. If it actually WAS a free market. But government makes umpteen requirements for contractors and employers when hiring citizens that if they don’t do, a citizen will complain to the authorities. An illegal will not. That does not qualify as a “free market” situation as you well know, Don’t be snarky.
The part no one wants to talk about it that we all enjoy the fruits of hiring illegal aliens. Lettuce and other hand picked vegetables are extremely cheap. The fact of the matter is American’s would scream if they actually had to pay the price of hiring legal immigrants in agriculture. The same goes for many industries. There would be huge inflation.
Its very simple economics: supply of labor goes down, cost of labor goes up. That means prices go up…a lot. There are a lot of people who know this, but they all get labled as soft on illegals when they propose worker programs and make these people legal.
Also, yes employers hire them, but the reduction in cost is passed along to the consumer just as an increase in cost is passed to the consumer. This again is basic economics. Business can only ever earn a “normal profit” in an industry or a competitor will reduce price to increase market share.
The other low priorty cases issuse will be used by every criminal and insane illegal in the state. Besides this is against the constitution and should be stoped. The talk of this is not what should be discussed. The USA has a imigration policy that has worked for years. Its not broke don’t try and fix it. This is game the democrats are playing trying to gain votes. Because they know that all of us business and working citizens are going to vote their butts of office. 2 much and 2 big government. 2 many people work for the government. Time to scale it back.
To 30 year local,
Employers often use labor contractors to staff their workplaces. They receive “assurances” from the labor contractors that the employers are legal without having to verify anything.
I know of many employers in town who are using undocumented workers via labor contractors. They are doing it because they are cheaper, won’t complain and usually are much more reliable than legal employees. The employers also use labor contractors so they won’t have to employ the workers directly and won’t have to pay unemployment or other required benefits.
And a large number of agricultural operations in California also use labor conractors rather than employing the workers directly. This is the way they get around the responsibility to make sure all of their employees are legal.
Of course it isn’t free market, nothing it, except for maybe the drug trade. It is still market forces, the ones that drive everything in the right direction, right? Excess of workers, willing to work for less, for jobs that aren’t very skilled. And people willingly hire them.
If your job is being taken by an undocumented worker, your job wasn’t worth much.
People can get away with hiring undocumented workers, and they do it. Take a look at the meat packing industry. They actually recruit in Mexico. And every few months they hand over some of their workers, they get deported, the cops look like they are doing their job.
It is more of an abuse of the worker than anything else.
So keep eating your $4/lb pork.
Any discussion of the cost of illegal immigrants with out involving the contribution of the cheap labor to the economy is incomplete.
Hhmm, me smells a bit o’ racicism in some of these comments. No human being is illegal. Adios muchachos
And any discussion of the cost of illegal immigrants without involving the expense of social services, education, medical care, paid for by citizens who get $4 pork instead of $5 pork is also incomplete.
Not quite a fair trade, I don’t think.
Dogwoman, you made up the numbers for the cost of pork produced with and without illegal labor. But even with your numbers, how many people who would be willing to work in the fields of the Central Valley have health insurance? Now I understand that paying for medical for illegals is expensive, but the replacement labor would not have insurance either. So the difference is the person getting the medical speaks Spanish. The cost is the same.
You may be right on the cost of pork, you are nowhere in the ballpark with a 25% increase in labor for strawerries. Chemicals and labor are the primary expenses with any hand picked fruit/vegi. Labor being by far the greatest expense.
Go talk to Conservation Robot about made-up numbers. I was using his.
You are missing the point completely. Try re-reading the article and the thread of posts.