Immigration: Strangely Absent From The Debate Part 2 of 2

This post is the second, and final post, in a two part series that I started yesterday on immigration.  Yesterday, I took a look at Barack Obama’s immigration stance, and today, I will look at John McCain’s.  I have taken the liberty of pulling, from John McCain’s website, the key points of his immigration plan below, which can be seen here:

• Secure our borders
• Prosecute “Bad-Actor” employers
• Meet America’s labor needs
• Address the undocumented
• Eliminate the family backlog

It is strangely interesting that both candidates have similar key points in their respective plans.

First, let’s look at securing our borders.  Both McCain and Obama are in favor of adding increased funds to assist in shoring up border security issues.  Definitely not a bad idea, and it’s good to see that both candidates have similar views on securing our borders; although, I can’t help but wonder if Senator Obama is against a physical fence along our borders.

Secondly, prosecute “bad-actor” employers.  Both candidates support ensuring that employers are hiring, and retaining, legal, documented workers.  However, I feel that Senator McCain has a more robust policy of prosecuting those firms that refuse to comply with immigration employment laws.  I don’t believe that Senator Obama will take the controversial steps, when employers don’t wish to comply, to raid work sites that are suspected of employing undocumented workers.  If deterrence will not work, than harsher measures should be taken to discourage the employment of undocumented illegal aliens.

Thirdly, meeting America’s labor needs.  I do believe, like Senator McCain, that we need a temporary worker program in place, that is monitored, so that temporary workers do not “slip” through the cracks and stay longer than their work visas permit them.  We should employ a simple tracking system, and then verify, that these temporary workers are indeed working where they say they’re working, and living where they say they’re living.  This no nonsense step, of course, will require additional manpower, but with immigration being such a serious national security issue, we should take these measures, to ensure these workers are not staying here beyond their legally devoted time.

Fourthly, addressing undocumented aliens.  Senator McCain is in favor of having undocumented immigrants enroll in a program.  This program will perform background checks on these individuals to determine if they should be deported or not.  Sorry, I don’t think we should be performing background checks, these people have already broken the law!  I do like the fact that these people, who came out of the shadows, as Barack Obama says, will not receive green cards prior to those who have followed the rules, but it sure does sound like some form of amnesty.  Also, McCain indicates a fine should be levied on these individuals as well, along with the payment of any background tests, and to take a citizenship test.  What will this fine be?  Does this stance also mean that we will consider illegal immigration some form of federal misdemeanor, instead of a felony?  I do agree with McCain that we do need to resolve the status of these individuals; however, off them a path to citizenship?  I’m not so sure I’m keen on that idea or not.  I will need to see what this final plan entails prior to making any final judgment.

Finally, eliminate the family backlog.  Senator McCain makes a very good point here.  There needs to be reform in this area if persons, who are legally attempting to receive green cards, shouldn’t have to wait for 20 years for their number to come up.  We need some serious specifications and procedures on how green cards should be acquired, and what these people, who are legally doing the right thing, can follow to expedite the process.

With the exception of the fines for being here illegally, I cannot find too much to disagree with on McCain’s immigration policy.  However, I can see that both candidates have similar viewpoints on this all important national security issue.  As I mentioned in my first post, I really am not in favor of a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, but I do realize something needs to be done with the status of these people.  This policy should be fair, first off, to those who have followed all the rules and laws to come here legally.  We also shouldn’t be giving any sort of amnesty, because then that sets an equally bad precedent, that, in my point of view, just increases the odds that even more people will come here illegally, especially if they know they’re going to be forgiven of violating our immigration laws.

Immigration is definitely an issue that should be discussed in more detail.  It should be included in our national security, and homeland security debate.  We should come up with a robust policy, and reform an ancient system to suit the needs of the 21st century.  Until we can address this politically complex issue, who knows who exactly is coming across our borders.  For all we know, terrorists from Al Qaeda and other such organizations, could be illegally, and secretly, coming across our southern border.  The time to address this issue is here and now!

Immigration: Strangely Absent From The Debate Part One of Two

As I have been listening to the national debate this presidential election, I have noticed one significant issue has been absent, immigration and immigration reform.  Especially after 9/11, immigration is most definitely a national security issue.  I will discuss my thoughts on immigration reform in two distinct posts.  One post concerning my thoughts on Barack Obama’s immigration plan, and the second on John McCain’s.  I have taken the liberty of pulling from Barack Obama’s website, the key points of his immigration plan below, which can be seen here:

• Create secure borders
• Improve our immigration system
• Remove incentives to enter illegally
• Bring people out of the shadows
• Work with Mexico

It’s good to see that both candidates support securing our borders.  Both candidates wish to throw extra money at border security initiatives and providing CBP agents the tools they need, so I have no problem with securing the borders, and I generally agree with both candidate’s thoughts on securing the borders.  Now I will discuss my thoughts on the other areas of each candidate’s plans.

One issue I have with Obama’s plan is the idea of bringing illegal immigrants out of the shadows.  What he suggests is that those who have come here illegally, and have been here in good standing, could pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line for citizenship purposes.  So let me get this straight, we’re going to reward people who have broken immigration laws to pay a fine and become citizens?  So let’s go ahead and reward illegal behavior…  Sounds like the basis of a good plan to me!

On the learning English portion of bringing illegals out of the shadows:  Does this mean that Obama supports a concept where we ensure English is the official language of this country?  I think this is an issue that really bears discussion.  We should have a requirement that in order to become a citizen, you should speak English, because that’s the only language the test should be given in!  There should be no expectation that the government will translate any government documents into any other language!  So, Senator Obama, I hope you can get on board with naming an official language.

On Obama’s thoughts on revising the immigration application fees, that’s something I don’t have any issue with for improving the immigration system.  If high fees are a detractor and is a root cause of illegal immigration, then, perhaps, this is a good route to take.

I am also in agreement with Obama’s thoughts on discouraging employers from hiring illegal immigrants.  This is an area where ICE needs to increase enforcement of.  Now, as the media has reported, there has been an increase in work site enforcement raids, in Iowa and Mississippi, just to name a couple, that have made people very upset; however, in the long run, I think these raids will begin to show employers that the government means business on ensuring one, proper documentation, and secondly, that the government will not tolerate employers to employ undocumented workers.

Work site enforcement is another area where I disagree with Barack Obama, and I am convinced, if he is elected president, he will decrease efforts in work site enforcement.  According to Barack Obama, and you can see this quote directly here:

Immigration raids are ineffective: Despite a sevenfold increase in recent years, immigration raids only netted 3,600 arrests in 2006 and have placed all the burdens of a broken system onto immigrant families.

Now, I find it very difficult to believe that immigration raids are ineffective.  Do they place a burden onto immigrant familes, that’s something I can definitely buy.  Especially the children when they’re more than likely American citizens to lose their breadwinner.  To this I say, you shouldn’t have broken the law.  I know, that sounds really insensitive, but, are we supposed to make exceptions to breaking immigration law because you have a family?  I don’t know, and I’m glad I don’t have to determine a solution to that issue.

One area I can definitely get behind Obama on is making it easier for immigrant soldiers to quicken their path to naturalization.  Senator Obama, you’re right on, that we should make it easy for those who are fighting to protect our freedoms to become citizens quicker.  They are paying the ultimate sacrifice, and showing up front, before receiving citizenship, that they’re prepared to die for something they don’t have.

Finally, on the issue of working with Mexico, I completely disagree with Senator Obama with.  How would you propose that we work with Mexico?  Mexico has no interest in curbing their citizens from entering the United States illegally!  As a matter of fact, the Mexican government publishes pamphlets encouraging citizens to do so, and the best ways to not get caught!  Interesting that the Mexican government would be in favor of illegally entering the United States when Mexico has the strictest immigration laws in the world!  The Mexicans have no interest in assisting us with securing our borders and always, ALWAYS, throw a fit when we attempt to even begin talk of securing our borders, or increased border patrols.  I don’t think the Mexicans can be trusted as partners in this regard, and working with them will be a huge waste of our time and effort.

Overall, with the exception of his “Bringing illegals out of the shadows,” a decrease in work site enforcement, and working with Mexico, I largely agree with Senator Obama’s plan; however, I will reserve judgment until a comprehensive plan has been introduced with the final proposed language.

In my next post, I will go over my thoughts on John McCain’s immigration plan.