Same format as previous. Let's talk about the illegal immigration policy, give ourselves thirty days to reach a policy, and then vote on the policy.

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I'd have to see the current process first...

Most complain it's too time consuming, and I'd like to see if that time is worth it instead of just red tape...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

I think that the current process of allowing people into the United States is generally far too time consuming. We need to focus on a three pronged assault. First we need to develop secure borders. Second we need to develop better relations with the countries immigrants are flowing from. Third, we need to find an efficient and effective way of dealing with those already here.

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If this is about "illegal immigration" & not immigration as a whole then the process isn't how we let people in the country but how we effectively keep out the unwanted. And yes, there are people we don't want in this country. Primarily criminals & the diseased.

If we want to talk legal immigration you should probably watch this video first...


As for illegal immigration --- the best & most effective security needs to be implemented. This includes both the northern & southern borders. It also includes international sea & air ports. Now, one of our big problems isn't just those coming in illegally...it's those over-staying their legal welcome. This needs strict enforcement as well to include continual tracking of foreign visitors.

What do we do now? We have somewhere between 12 & 20 million illegals currently in the country. It's not feasable to deport them all on our dime. We probably can't find themall at this poitn & we certainly couldn't afford the cost. I believe it's Oklahoma who has currently passed some strict employment & housing laws & that has resultedin a decline in the illegal population. If that were done seriously throughout the entire country --- badabing --- we've solved the problem. It likely will never go completely away but they certainly wouldn't be making up 6% of our population. Think about that when unemployment is below 5%. It seems like we could fix two problems at once & then have a sensible legal level of immigration.

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http://thecourier.typepad.com/rightonthemark/

"To educate a man in mind but not in morals is to educate a menace to society." --- Theodore Roosevelt

Every nation has a right and obligation to defend it's sovernty.We should embrace legal immigration but in an orderly fashion. We must first effectively secure our borders and then deal with the situation at hand that was caused by bipartisan refusal to enforce existing law.

I oppose direct Amnesty and we already have a pathway to citizenship through {existing} law. Deportation is unlikely,even I realize that,however,I'm a man always open to compromise where compromise is possible.

We need to enforce existing law with passion for this alone will have a great impact on illegals who continue to enter the country.If one is opposed to this idea,offer a compromise,we would all love to see the plan!

Immigration law was not created for economic reasons alone,this legislation also deals with security.

In the end,we can never be truly secure without a national Bio-ID card. We can take measures to improve security and orderly immigration but we only fool ourselves when it comes to true security without making a serious attempt at identifying "who" our citizens are! Without secure ID in this day and age,the whole question of the security aspect of immigration becomes moot.As long as Americans insist on privacy by opposing secure ID we will have to settle for something less and in this day and age,that could prove disastrous.

Am I encouraged that we will improve security and a faster path to citizanship? Yes,these things will eventually be improved but we will never have the security that is needed and I will have to be content with minor improvements. If we cannot or will not identify our citizans,holes in security will have to remain a calculated risk.

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"Destiny must be shaped and not left to mere chance."..Spencer Collins

My proposal is a three pronged attack on the illegal alien issue.

First, we actually enforce laws pertaining to immigration. Sanctuary cities end their "sanctuary status" or suffer drastic cuts in federal funding and assistance programs. When illegals are identified, they are detained to await deportation. We enforce, or even strengthen fines and penalties for those who hire or provide housing to illegals, even going so far as to institute jail sentences or even seizure of businesses/property for repeat offenders.

Secondly, we provide a national ID card with counterfeiting protections. These ID cards would help to create a national database that can be used to track issues like stolen/duplicated social security numbers so that we can curb identity theft by illegals.

Finally, we do away with the anchor baby laws. If you curb this problem, you empower immigration officials to take away any incentive to risk crossing the border illegally.

Good plan, but I suggest the border fence and security above all others...

I wouldn't try to empty the boat while the leak is still there and the water's still flowing in......

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

My attitude is that if the environment is inhospitable, they'll stop coming anyway. But then, you are talking to someone who stopped his world travels in Alaska and settled on a tundra. I have no room to make judgments about inhospitable environments.

That's the logterm goal...

I was talking about the order in which things should be done (as was the post I was referring to)..

You are correct, but the results of what you want to do won't be felt for awhile...A plug in the dyke will be effective immediately...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

Two fold answer here: Yes, the immediate problem is big. However, the immediate problem is one that had decades to become what it is. I think an abrupt and drastic change immediate closing of the borders WILL affect our economy, the perception the rest of the world has toward us, and the social climate for the average American living in populations that are dense in illegals.

Illegals with a criminal mentality and background should be priority one and I don't really care how the world sees us getting them out immediately. However, for the remainder who just want to be Americans and work (and have been filling a necessary role in our economy), it is better to gradually phase them out through policy that is inhospitable to the illegal as they gradually phase themselves back in through the legal process as real citizens. That way, we eliminate all the economic arguments against immigration reform and all the "racist" arguments against reform are shown to be what they are: idiocy.