Obama Plan Makes Illegals Legal

The New York Times reported November 13 that the administration of President Barack Obama will push to make the approximately 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. legal. The Times cites a statement by Obama's Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.

The Times says, "In her first major speech on the overhaul, Ms. Napolitano dispelled any suggestion that the administration - with health care, energy and other major issues crowding its agenda - would postpone the most contentious piece of immigration legislation until after midterm elections next November. Laying out the administration's bottom line, Ms. Napolitano said officials would argue for a 'three-legged stool' that includes tougher enforcement laws against illegal immigrants and employers who hire them and a streamlined system for legal immigration, as well as a 'tough and fair pathway to earned legal status.'"

Any system for making illegals legal should start with deportation. Allowing illegals to stay in the country rewards illegal behavior. They broke the law by entering the country illegally and we're going to pat them on the back and say, "Don't worry about it. We'll expedite your citizenship." A form of vote buying, maybe?

The Times continues: "Speaking at the Center for American Progress, a liberal policy group in Washington, Ms. Napolitano unveiled a double-barrel argument for a legalization program, saying it would enhance national security and, as the economy climbs out of recession, protect American workers from unfair competition from lower-paid, easily exploited illegal immigrants. 'Let me emphasize this: we will never have fully effective law enforcement or national security as long as so many millions remain in the shadows,' she said, adding that the recovering economy would be strengthened 'as these immigrants become full-paying taxpayers.'"

So what penalty will the Obama administration impose for immigrants breaking the law and entering the country illegally? According to the Times, the Obama plan would require illegals to register with the government, pay a fine and any taxes they might owe, pass a background check, and learn English. There's no mention in the article of what the fine might be, but I doubt it would be substantial--not if the goal is to get them legal and in full tax paying status.

The story says, "Drawing a contrast with 2007, when a bill with legalization provisions offered by President George W. Bush failed in Congress, Ms. Napolitano said the Obama administration had achieved a 'fundamental change' in border security and enforcement against employers hiring illegal immigrants. She said a sharp reduction in the flow of illegal immigrants into the country created an opportunity to move ahead with a legalization program."

What? What sharp reduction is she talking about? The governors of the border states are still screaming that the flow of illegals is steady and high, and that crime is increasing as a result. The border has not been made appreciably more secure, and the Border Patrol is still woefully undermanned. What is she talking about?

The Times says, "Some Republicans were quick to challenge Ms. Napolitano's claims that border security had significantly improved or that American workers would be helped by bringing illegal immigrants into the system. 'How can they claim that enforcement is done when there are more than 400 open miles of border with Mexico?' asked Representative Lamar Smith of Texas, the senior Republican on the House Judiciary Committee. He said the administration should 'deport illegal immigrant workers so they don't remain here to compete with citizen and legal immigrant job seekers.'"

Here, here, Congressman.

"Framing the administration's proposals in stark law and order terms, she said immigration legislation should include tougher laws against migrant smugglers and more severe sanctions for employers who hire unauthorized workers."

I agree that there should be more severe penalties for companies that hire illegals. These folks come here because they need jobs. If the jobs aren't there, they won't come.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/14/us/politics/14immig.html?_r=1