Isn’t it interesting how Bush appointees sound so much better after they leave his employ? Former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales penned a column about immigration recently in the L.A. Times that deserves further scrutiny. In that column Gonzales talked about how both of the major political parties need to reach out to Latino voters. He summed up his column this way:
I have said often that Latinos share a common prayer: “Just give me a chance to succeed.” I believe that the candidate who will win Latino votes is the one who understands that desire and who will engage the issue of racial equality for Americans of all colors. It’s politically wise. More important, it is the right thing to do for our nation.
I have said this before and it bears repeating – Latino immigrants who are undocumented do not necessarily want to become U.S. citizens. They just want to work here legally and it is too damn hard to do so. This is why they so often come here surreptitiously. So why don’t we change the system? It clearly is not working.
I believe that rather than focus on another amnesty, which the Republicans will fight to the bitter end, the Congressional Democrats ought to do the following:
- Make it easier to get a green card so folks who are currently enmeshed in the underground economy can pay taxes and open bank accounts.
- In so doing, I think a moderate fine would be appropriate – no more than $1,000. The money collected could be spent to pay for processing all the new green cards.
- In order to qualify for this program, immigrants should have to prove that: they have not broken any laws while in this country, other than coming here without documents and not paying taxes.
- They must prove that they have either sufficient skills or work experience to be able to get work and not end up on welfare rolls. In fact it might be a good idea to offer a green card with a few added considerations, such as no welfare, etc.
- The ability to speak English should not be mandated, however if these folks want to become citizens at some later date, then they should be required to learn English as part of the citizenship requirements.
- The green cards should be extended to the spouses of these immigrant workers too.
- There should be a stipulation that they must pay taxes once they get their green cards and they must not commit any felonies, or even misdemeanors. Committing such actions should result in immediate cancellation of these green cards.
- And finally, I think it would be a good idea for these new green card holders to have to check in with Homeland Security every two years for additional background checks.
As for citizenship, I think it should be extended to anyone who receives these new green cards after they have been in the program, with no problems, for at least five years. However, as I indicated, they must learn English, not break any laws, pay their taxes, and their children must likewise not get involved in any crimes. Parents should be held accountable for what their minor children do.
Gonzales wrote that:
In a close presidential election, the Latino vote could decide the outcome. For example, in the closely contested strategic states of New Mexico, Florida and Colorado, Latinos make up, respectively, 37%, 14% and 12% of eligible voters.
In 1999, according to a Pew Hispanic Center report published in 2007, Democrats enjoyed a 33% advantage over Republicans in partisan allegiance among Latino registered voters. However, in 2003, a sufficient number of Latinos voted for Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger (over a respected Latino Democrat) to make Schwarzenegger the governor of California. In 2004, President Bush won a historic percentage of the Latino vote (more than 40%). By 2006, again according to the Pew Hispanic Center, the Democrats’ edge in partisan allegiance had dropped to 21%.
Clearly Latino voters are important to both of the major political parties now, and they are up for grabs. The first party that can present a comprehensive solution to our immigration problems will no doubt pick up quite a few grateful Latino voters.
I don’t believed this is going to work, Art, nor is that $1,000 fine fair.
1) Immigrants brought here as kids didn’t commit any crime. What were they to do–wriggle out of their parents arms before they crossed the border? When they grow up here, go to school here, say that pledge of allegience every morning–they’re Americans and this home, no matter what any document or bigoted politico says. This is what I tell my students, a quarter to a third in this situation, that to be American, you have to be strong, have the courage to stand up and speak out, unite and work together, and have faith that this great country has always eventually blundered its way to justice.
2) I don’t believe their parents committed a crime either. The fact is they were welcomed here by the true powers that be, and that’s your old party, Art, (not to say that the D-party isn’t run by goofballs). The Republican party has long used the strategy of lip service to the working man to get his vote, and real economic service to big business to get political funding. Big business loves illegal Mexican labor–you can abuse ’em, cheat ’em, threaten ’em, and use ’em to prevent working people from organizing. Mexicans know their next-door neighbor very well. The border guard has been all lip service and a giant “Welcome-work hard and keep your mouth shut” sign flashes 50 miles north of the frontier. That’s been the real law, and everybody: Mexicans, Republicans, displaced Afro-American workers, everybody but true believers in Fox News know this. Those families coming north for a better life didn’t break any law to be punished for, they were following the “Welcome” sign maintained by this government.
3) Art, the permanent green card is a threat to our democracy, setting up an official category of 2d class citizens — like Turks in Germany. If you work here, and live here, then you’re one of the people, and our democracy is based on governent of, by, and for … the people.
4) Art, I don’t know of a really good short term solution, but I do hold with former president Vicente Fox (you do know, I trust, that his father was an American from Chicago, who immigrated to Mexico during the depression to seek a better life for his family), that the long term solution is for Mexico to realize its true potential as one of this planet’s richest lands. It’s resources are like California, Texas, and Florida rolled into one, but with more oil. But, Mexico’s potential has been held captive by in-grained corruption and crime in government, and now Mexico appears to be in a death-fight with extraordinarily powerful crime organizations. We need to help our neighbor win this battle, not exploit ’em or ignore ’em. If Mexico can win, the immigrant problem with Mexico will be about as serious as we have now with Canada. The wall is stupid and destructive.
Sorry, Art — I jumped to my keyboard without reading your article carefully — a momma bear charging to protect the cubs — those being my students, about 3500 so far in my career, less than a couple dozen of those who were not immigrants or children of immigrants. Your ideas seem sound, dropping the undeserved fine. But to integrate them into the American mainstream, we do need to get control of unrestrained immigration with means not aimed at the workers themselves, but at the unscrupelous employers who use immigration to keep workers from organizing to protect themselves and their families.
like your plan, but did see anything about, kids born to the above mentioned,while they’re here. Whats the plan for their schooling and health care costs?
Art,
Your plan is not half bad. But real, actual, tough and verifiable border enforcement must be in place first.
That is what the majority of Americans want – border security.
It is like that old saying “trust but verify.” Who said that ?
I like most of your plan, too. Minus the $1000 fine. I’d just include a no-amnesty clause and let chips fall where may leaving status quo for past violations.
Searched immigration in msn but for some reason found this page.great info
Very useful post. where can i find more articles about this topic ?
great post hope to see some additional comments