Politics from the Palouse to Puget Sound

Friday, March 30, 2007

Immigration Reform: Encouraging Signs

[Cross posted from Versus the Mob]

The news out of D.C. this morning is that the White House has been at work on an immigration reform bill that does not equate to a free pass for some 11 to 12 million law breakers.

The first story I found on this was posted to CNN.com and can be read in full here:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/30/immigration.ap/

The key feature of the proposal that impresses me is that for an illegal to receive permanent residency, he or she must first return to their country of origin, apply to enter legally, and pay a $10,000 fine.

Otherwise, an illegal can apply for one of these so-called "plan Z" visas and legally work here for three years at a time, paying $3,500 to renew the visa at the end of each three year period. This will also have the effect of putting illegals on the radar as far as employment goes, which will likely put an end to their appeal as cheap labor in many industries.

But what I really like about this plan is that it does not potentially create 12 million voters overnight, the kind of voters whom leftists could easily buy with promises of lavish government benefits.

7 comments:

WSUCollegeRepublican said...

This is great. Send them home!

Barenjager said...

I have a better idea. If they want to stay, every able bodied one between 17 and 40 years of age should be made to immediately enlist in the Army or Marine Corps as an infantryman (men) or cook (women) with the duration of service to be two years with one of those in Iraq or Afghanistan. That would kill many birds with one stone. It would get them on the tax roles, ensure their non-gang related employment, provide minimal social benefits to their families and free up citizen soldiers to return home to their loved ones.

Paul E. Zimmerman said...

I'd call that a better idea for the ones who are fluent in our command language, English, but not so for the bulk of illegals. As it stands now, a foreigner can enlist (in the Army at least) with a green card or a visa, so long as either permit remains valid for the term of the enlistment. I think it would be a good and reasonable addition to this plan to grant the "z" visa to a qualified foreign volunteer inclusive of a waiver of the $3,500 fee.

Barenjager said...

Language is no impediment. They can be organized into independent brigades and integrated like we do with non-English speaking NATO elements in battle plans. We certainly have enough citizen soldiers who speak the predominant language(s) and would jump at the chance for promotion to lead as officers and NCOs in those units. Yet another win and another incentive to become a citizen.

Paul E. Zimmerman said...

Why, yes! I hadn't thought of that. By all means then, it should be made policy. Is it necessary to restrict them to infantry and cook roles though? Or would that just be their first enlistment?

Barenjager said...

First enlistment only. Full rights upon reenlistment or citizenship and earning a DLPT in English of 2,2,2 or better.

I chose Infantry becaue the basics are relatively easily and quickly learned and simple commands (i.e. yes, no, stop, go, shoot, that way) can be taught to all relatively quckly.

Since women are not allowed in the Infantry, the closest thing they can do which fits the above criteria is cook.

Paul E. Zimmerman said...

Makes sense. It's too bad they couldn't be put in paper pusher roles, which far and away are a worse hell than being in the infantry. Now that would be a true test of one's dedication to his or her adopted country! :)