Democrats Unveil Outline for Amnesty

[Heracles 417]

So illegal aliens contribute $9 billion to SS across the nation yet it costs $1 billion to incarcerate illegal aliens for non-immigrant crimes in CA.

[Ban Hammer 13,336]

No. What it means is that for one, they contribute a significant portion to Social Security and Medicare and two, a black market has been created from Reagan's IRCA of 1986 for counterfeit SS#. The result of that black market is a benefit in terms of added revenue. We need immigration reform that addresses these issues. We need pragmatic solutions.

"Nine billion dollars sounds like a lot of money, and it is, but it is only about 1.5% of the total $593 billion paid into Social Security in 2005."

hmmmmm....i don't see that being a significant portion, as shown by your post.

[Heracles 417]

Great find actually. So $53,000,000,000 in wages are paid out to illegal aliens, yet apparently Americans want none of this. Lets not even factor the wages paid under the table.

Edited May 5, 2010 by Booyah!

[spookyturtle 9,465]

I think there are a lot of wages being paid under the table or 1099'd. I just don't buy it that it's good for the country to have this going on. If I did it, I'd be in prison. End of story in my book.

[Heracles 417]

Think about it, $53 billion in legal wages are being paid to illegals.

At $52K a job, 1,019,230 could be employed paying into the system and getting out of poverty. Or are we expected to believe Americans will not work for that either. Think about all of the jobs these people will in turn create spending their salaries and enjoying their life.

What it comes down to is this. In El Buscador's mind, these illegal aliens basically have a right to work here and should be granted amnesty. Following that, a guest worker program should be enabled to allow more to come. All while Americans twiddle their thumbs in ghettos.

Edited May 5, 2010 by Booyah!

[spookyturtle 9,465]

I just don't understand how anyone who has immigrated here legally can support this. Many of us here went through hell to do it according to the law. I'm not being cruel, I don't think it's right. The problem is caused by Americans, it needs to be solved starting at the source. Hefty fines for businesses will be a good start.

[Heracles 417]

I just don't understand how anyone who has immigrated here legally can support this. Many of us here went through hell to do it according to the law. I'm not being cruel, I don't think it's right. The problem is caused by Americans, it needs to be solved starting at the source. Hefty fines for businesses will be a good start.

The problem is people thinking this is good for the country. It's like saying China would prosper more if India offloaded 100 million on them. The funny thing is that El Buscador is a union guy, yet ignores the impact IA have on blue-collar salaries and jobs. Ironically the unions in AUS are the biggest protesters against anyone hiring illegals.

I just don't understand how anyone can ignore their own people and advocate for those from another nation to be taken care of and be provided with the opportunities. I'm not used to that at all. The arguments made by people like El Buscador and co here are foreign to me. No one left or right wing would mention that in AUS. No one rewards people jumping the line, unless they are refugees fleeing.

[Norm and Grace 0]

Lets all demand a refund on all the immigrations fee we have to pay if this passes.

I feel if they give the illegals a free pass then our government ows us our money for all fees.

Lets see 1-30 fee, AOS fee, DS-230 fee, medical exam fee.

[sachinky 465]

All, if not most of us, here on VJ are doing things legally. That means fees, forms, background checks, medical examinations, police clearances, financial proof that the beneficiary will not become a public charge on the U.S. government, the real possibility of being subject to AP, dealing with emotional stress while separated from family and loved ones for months, if not, years. It is simply inconceivable to me that someone who is a legal immigrant (or has an immigrant spouse/family member) could ever be in favor for this proposed amnesty.

If this amnesty passes, it will be a slap to all of us on VJ. All it will achieve is another new wave of illegal aliens who will be buoyed the fact that all they need to do is get into the U.S. Then they're home-free. Sooner or later, another amnesty will be granted.

Edited May 5, 2010 by sachinky

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I just don't understand how anyone who has immigrated here legally can support this. Many of us here went through hell to do it according to the law. I'm not being cruel, I don't think it's right. The problem is caused by Americans, it needs to be solved starting at the source. Hefty fines for businesses will be a good start.

Support what? Because I refuse to join on the emotional driven rants that offer no rational, pragmatic solutions, I'm supporting the status quo? Hardly. Deporting the millions that are already here is not a rational solution.

[Pooky 3,784]

Support what? Because I refuse to join on the emotional driven rants that offer no rational, pragmatic solutions, I'm supporting the status quo? Hardly. Deporting the millions that are already here is not a rational solution.

And there's the rub. Any solutions which differ from your idea of one are immediately sidelined, in your opinion, as emotional driven rants. There have been plenty of solutions put forward, most of which boil down to one common path. Enforce the laws we have. Funnily enough, it's the one course of action that has not already been fully tried.

Edited May 5, 2010 by Pooky

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Support what? Because I refuse to join on the emotional driven rants that offer no rational, pragmatic solutions, I'm supporting the status quo? Hardly. Deporting the millions that are already here is not a rational solution.

You don't have to join any rants or emotional driven aspects of this issue. I said what I said as I think it is reasonable to assume that the majority of the people at this site have followed the law when bringing their significant others here. Now millions will get to bypass that process because they violated the law. I'm sorry, that doesn't sit well with me. I know what I went thru emotionally and financially to get my wife here.

I agree that it isn't practical to deport 15 million people, but we have spent a trillion dollars in Iraq, and we have American businesses violating the law by employing known undocumented workers, yet they get to do so without fear of repercussion. It's time to treat the actual disease, not the symptoms. If there are no jobs, many will simply go home again. A much more effective solution, IMHO.

[Susita 175]

i guess you never heard of self deportation - dry up the job market with draconian fines levied on businesses and individuals that knowingly hire illegals and you'll see a mass exodus outta the usa.

That's the best way to go about it IMHO

[sjr09 155]

Lets all demand a refund on all the immigrations fee we have to pay if this passes.

I feel if they give the illegals a free pass then our government ows us our money for all fees.

Lets see 1-30 fee, AOS fee, DS-230 fee, medical exam fee.

Call Your Senators Now and Tell Them You Want Enforcement, not Amnesty!

Schumer-Menendez proposal closely mimics the 2007 Bush-Kennedy amnesty bill (S.1639). Specifically, the proposal:

Grants amnesty to illegal aliens in the U.S. (while calling it a “broad-based registration program”);

Creates an “H-2C” guest worker program for low-skilled workers (with apparently no cap) that contains a path to citizenship;

Massively expands legal immigration;

Incorporates the DREAM Act;

Incorporates AgJOBS legislation that would grant amnesty to millions of illegal farm workers; and

Preempts state and local laws encouraging immigration enforcement

In addition, the Reid-Schumer-Menendez proposal offers all kinds of promises regarding the future enforcement of our immigration laws. But we know through years of experience and hard lessons that the federal government has broken virtually every enforcement promise it has made to the American people. Now, Senators Reid, Schumer and Menendez go so far as to say: “there will be zero tolerance for illegal entry and reentry into the U.S.” Who can believe this?

We need your help! Right now Congressional Leaders are determining whether this proposal will be brought to the Senate floor. PLEASE call your Senators NOW and tell them you reject this proposal! Tell them you want immigration enforcement -- NOT AMNESTY – and that you will not be fooled by more false promises.

CALL NOW and MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Click here to find your Senators’ contact information.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You don't have to join any rants or emotional driven aspects of this issue. I said what I said as I think it is reasonable to assume that the majority of the people at this site have followed the law when bringing their significant others here. Now millions will get to bypass that process because they violated the law. I'm sorry, that doesn't sit well with me. I know what I went thru emotionally and financially to get my wife here.

I agree that it isn't practical to deport 15 million people, but we have spent a trillion dollars in Iraq, and we have American businesses violating the law by employing known undocumented workers, yet they get to do so without fear of repercussion. It's time to treat the actual disease, not the symptoms. If there are no jobs, many will simply go home again. A much more effective solution, IMHO.

From an economic perspective, that status quo actually helps our economy, albeit in a broken way. As for jobs - actually the numbers have dwindled after our recent economic recession. We have free flowing trucks full of goods driving from Mexico into the U.S. by the hundreds, if not thousands on a daily basis, thanks in large part to NAFTA. Unless we are willing to tear up that trade agreement, it doesn't make any logical sense, at least economically as to why we can't or shouldn't allow a steady flow of labor by expanding our guest worker program under the umbrella of NAFTA.

Edited May 5, 2010 by El Buscador