Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced today that many of the bench marks established by the US for border security had been met, and it was high time to focus on immigration reform.
As reported in the New York Times, the policy allegedly would mean that "illegal immigrants would have to register, pay fines and all taxes they owe, pass a criminal background check and learn English." New immigrants would also be required to fulfill the last two of those mandates.
The problem with most policies in the past is that they often made no reforms to the process of naturalization, focusing instead on granting amnesty or harshly punishing those already in the country illegally. This proposed policy (if it is not a bait and switch tactic) is a surprisingly pragmatic solution for dealing with the approximately 12 million illegal immigrants currently in the nation.
The author is cautiously optimistic, as this policy as reported addresses several key issues.
- It does not grant amnesty for those who have violated US law, but punishes them for a misdemeanor rather than a felony, and allows them a legal path to become citizens.
- It reforms the naturalization process to (at least in theory) make it easier for immigrants without criminal backgrounds to become citizens.
- Following the guidelines of previous national security policy, it toughens sanctions on illegal immigrants.
While it remains to be seen if such a policy (as presented) goes into effect, these are heartening signs. We as a nation need to be aware of our immigrant roots. Curbing illegal immigration is crucial to preserving our life and our liberty, but to bar immigrants from becoming citizens for any reason other then legitimate threat to our personal safety or liberty is discriminatory.
So what's your take on the immigration debate? Weigh in below.
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Comments
I'll believe it when i see it.
when is it going to happend?
carlos- Thank you for your comment.
steph- They're saying it will be one of their top priorities going into 2010. Don't expect anything else substantial to happen before January (at the earliest).
Also, why I agree with this shift in policy it's important to acknowledge that while most in this country would like to be NOT everyone who is in this country illegally wants to be an American citizen.
as long as they aren't criminals and they speak english! hallelujah!
Another great article, unfortunately I happen to know one of her personal "advisers" staff persons on a very close level- she is crooked and so are they!
Do not believe a thing she says- ever!
Jesse- thanks for your comment. I agree; I don't believe it for a second but I'll remain cautiously optimistic.Although to be fair I always take anything that comes from any politician's mouth with a grain of salt.
Remember when Bush railed against Clinton for nation-building?
I agree that keeping out the immigrants is not the way to go -- we need to keep the in our society, but only if they learn "our" customs. Granted we all come from different places, that doesn't mean we shouldn't establish values, beliefs, and a damn language as a nation distinct from other nations.
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