If you look at the polling data, Americans want comprehensive immigration reform. Americans want the law changed and they want it obeyed. I do, too.
Those polls say that immigration reform should include:
Better border security.
Better work place enforcement.
Some sort of additional Mexican worker program...call it a guest worker program if you like.
A path to citizenship for those already here.
The rest of the details are a bit murky, but those are the main points.
Americans want a law that works. And they want it obeyed.
Some parts of this reform package are a tough nut to crack. Take work place enforcement. It's the part I have the most trouble with. Enforcement that includes racial profiling is not supported by the American people. It is not allowed under the Constitution. What to do?
Some say biometric Social Security Cards for everyone. I and others say,
"Heck, NO!
That is too high a freedom price to pay to keep a few Mexicans from getting work."
So I don't know the answer to that piece of the problem. Maybe a guest worker program gets to it in a back door sort of way.
But I'm pretty sure what a pathway to citizenship should look like. Its nothing unique to me.
I want a pathway to citizenship for those already here...and working.
I would expect that path to include:
Waiting some years.
Paying a fine - just for the principal of it all.
Working not welfare-ing.
Committing no crimes.
Learning English.
Passing the ordinary immigrant knowledge test.
I know no Mexican immigrants who would not approve of that.
Some Americans want to call that "amnesty".
It's not.
It is merely common sense.
My list has been part of nearly every serious comprehensive immigration bill put forth in the Congress in the last several years.
That list is supported by the great majority of Americans in poll after poll - and even finds majority support in Arizona today.
The only reason it has not come to pass already is that the racist base of the Republican Party has the Congressional GOP quaking in their primary election boots.
Yes, I know a majority of Americans support the AZ law.
Yes, I know a majority of Americans support securing the border in a better way.
I also want border security increased - around all the edges on our country.
I want the Border Patrol to focus on stopping terrorists and drug runners - not workers.
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Jim Hale
Principal Broker / Owner
Graduate, REALTOR Institute e-PRO
2012 Member, Million Dollar Club of Lane County
2012 Member, Real Estate Brokers Million Dollar Club
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