Immigration Reform Part 7: To Amnesty or Not Amnesty

By: davenj1 (Diary)  |  November 28th at 09:57 AM  | 

The most troublesome issue regarding immigration reform is what to do with the illegals currently here. Inevitably, the dirty word “amnesty” is introduced into the conversation. The most well-known such program enacted was 1986′s IRCA under Ronald Reagan which eventually granted amnesty to some 2.7 million illegal immigrants. Additionally, certain agricultural workers from Mexico were granted amnesty. The main criticism is that once it is | Read More »

Immigration Reform- part 6: The Labor Market

By: davenj1 (Diary)  |  November 27th at 09:05 AM  | 

There is the belief that the hiring of illegal immigrants depresses the wages for all Americans. Ironically, that is an argument used by such disparate interests as the US Chamber of Commerce and organized labor. Practically every study completed indicates this is not true because not too many Americans aspire to pick vegetables, be laborers or landscaper helpers. Any program that would increase competition for | Read More »

Immigration Reform Now- Part 4: Fences and Barriers

By: davenj1 (Diary)  |  November 26th at 08:10 AM  | 

For the past 20 years, the main thrust of immigration reform has centered on enforcement and border patrol and fencing. It has become sacrosanct in conservative circles. We often hear, “Secure the border first.” Personally, I don’t understand why border security improvements cannot be done hand-in-hand with immigration reform. The Reagan amnesty, or IRCA, dictated increased enforcement along the border and at the workplace. However, | Read More »

Immigration Reform-Part 3: Anchor Babies- Give Me a Break

By: davenj1 (Diary)  |  November 25th at 09:08 AM  | 

The notion of birthright citizenship is rooted in the the language of the 14th Amendment. It states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” The primary purpose of the Amendment itself was to overturn the Dred Scott decision. The clause itself was the brainchild | Read More »

Immigration Reform Now- Part 2: Social Services

By: davenj1 (Diary)  |  November 25th at 08:09 AM  | 

There are the obligatory complaints about the effects of illegal immigration on public services and infrastructure. However, one has to look at the problem in perspective. In certain cases, there are clear cut effects, but blanket assertions that state that on a whole illegal immigrants are the cause of all our ills serve no purpose. According to the Census Bureau, immigration to the US accounts | Read More »

Immigration- Need for Reform- Part 1

By: davenj1 (Diary)  |  November 24th at 10:35 AM  | 

Without a doubt, one of the most controversial issues in politics involves immigration reform. It requires compromise on both sides of the issue. And that compromise should not be motivated by courting the Hispanic vote. Some have called for the mass deportation of all illegal immigrants. Sorry folks, ain’t happening. One cost estimate is that it would strain the Federal treasury by $285 billion over | Read More »

Weakening the Democratic Base, Part 9: Hispanics

By: davenj1 (Diary)  |  May 19th at 08:51 AM  | 

Recently, Barack Obama gave a speech on immigration to an adoring audience in El Paso, Texas.  That speech was generally panned by those on the right, the left, the middle, the upside downs, the sideways, and most importantly the Hispanic community.  Instead of offering up a coherent Administration policy and strategy, he delivered a highly partisan speech dripping in sarcasm that attracted guffaws from the | Read More »

Leftist Immigration Hypocrisy

By: davenj1 (Diary)  |  May 5th at 10:11 AM  | 

      Over at one of my favorite Left Wing websites, Think Progress, the same folks who asserted that the south got what they deserved with the recent outbreak of tornadoes and deaths because their lawmakers dare question the scientific validity of global warming, they recently ran an article authored by several writers.  I assume they used several writers because they either (1) lacked much intelligence | Read More »

Happy Birthday S.B. 1070- a Few Days Late

By: davenj1 (Diary)  |  April 27th at 12:11 AM  | 

      With the anniversary of Arizona’s S.B. 1070 signing into law a few days ago, it is interesting to note that there is currently a case before the Supreme Court which may give future guidance and hints to the lower courts in ultimately deciding the constitutionality of S.B. 1070.  Up front, let me state that on grounds of legal principle, I personally find nothing wrong | Read More »

Immigration-Part 1: The Chicken or the Egg

By: davenj1 (Diary)  |  July 10th at 05:03 PM  | 

     I believe it is a very real statement of the obvious that both Democrats and Republicans and everyone in between believe that our nation’s immigration laws are in some serious need of reform.  The reasons for that need or how to go about it seem to create the divergences.  For example, I truly believe that the Democratic Party seeks the more liberalized option not | Read More »