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Thoughts on the Gang of Eight Immigration Reform Deal
Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) at yesterday’s immigration reform deal announcement
As if the above photo of Lindsey Graham-nesty and Chuckles Schumer are not foreboding enough. But, seriously, much has been written the past 24 hours since the Gang of Eight Senators announced a framework for immigration reform.
The framework is published here.
Go ahead and read it.
What are my thoughts?
I don’t think much of the framework, if enacted into law will be a disaster for the country, and the GOP. With the President weighing into the fray with a speech today in Las Vegas, there will probably be more objections.
You can read much about the problems of the plan (note: legislation has not been written as of this post) from a number of sources.
First, the initial thoughts of John Hinderaker at Powerline.
1) The proposal begins with the oft-repeated claim that “our immigration system is broken.” But what does this mean? I think our immigration system is fundamentally misguided because it does not serve our interests. We should be recruiting highly-skilled people to come here from around the world, not unskilled people from, e.g., Somalia, who are recruited, in effect, because they are related to someone who is already here. Which, of course, is how that person got here, too. The present system is perverse. But the reorientation of our legal immigration system to emphasize skilled over unskilled labor has nothing to do with the issue of illegal immigrants who are currently here. What reason is there to link the two?
2) Countless politicians and commentators have said today that the presence of 11 million illegals in America is intolerable and we urgently need to do something about their status. But why? We have had millions of illegal residents in the U.S. for a long time. Why is it urgently necessary to do something now?
3) How is the current proposal different from the “comprehensive immigration reform” plans that we have seen through the years? In essence, it provides a “path to citizenship” for something like 11 million illegals in exchange for promises of future law enforcement–the same promises that have been made and broken in the past. See Mickey Kaus on this. Moreover, the Obama administration is now actively subverting our immigration laws, by, for example, recruiting illegals into the food stamp program. Why would anyone expect Obama to enforce future immigration laws any better than he is enforcing the ones we have now?
Heather Mac Donald over at National Review has a good summary of the proposal.
Mickey Kaus and Mark Krikorian have already acutely analyzed the new Gang of Eight’s “comprehensive immigration-reform” proposal; I will simply embroider on their observations. As Kaus has pointed out, the proposal is tantamount to an immediate, unconditional amnesty, and thus will lead to the same moral hazard — attracting further illegal immigration — as every previous amnesty in the U.S. and Europe. Nothing of consequence to an intending illegal alien distinguishes the “probationary status” that will be granted upon payment of a fine and back taxes from full-fledged legal status. It is of no import that a probationer will not be immediately eligible to vote. After the 1986 amnesty, very few newly legal Hispanics sought to become American citizens. Only Proposition 187 spurred a slight uptick in that direction.
No intending illegal alien is going to be deterred from trying to enter by learning that the only thing that stands between him and legal status is paying a fine and taxes. Kaus’s point here is critical: Far from making illegal aliens go to the “back of the line,” this proposal gives them the immeasurable advantage of legal presence in the U.S. while waiting for their green card, unlike aliens obeying the law and waiting in their own country for permission to enter.
Go ahead and read Mickey Kaus’ The Rubio Con and Mark Krikorian’s Lies, Damn Lies and Enforcement Promises.
This proposal will do NOTHING to either solve the burdens of illegal immigration on the United States or prevent illegal immigration in the future. It will merely cynically codify the illegality of over 11 million people who have NO right to be in the United States.
Political demographics drives the narrative – Democrats want more Hispanic voters and the Republicans THINK they can capture some – enough to win a Presidential election.
This is a poor way to set public policy.
I will write more later…..
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Flap’s Blog @ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2013-01-28
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- OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Immigration reform brings debate on ACA benefits – The Hill's Healthwatch http://t.co/5fh9Lpzn #tcot 18:55:10, 2013-01-28
- California Taxpayers Association http://t.co/gDwarOat #tcot 18:22:16, 2013-01-28
- Obama to Draw Few Ultimatums in Immigration Speech http://t.co/RqOjnNWu #tcot 18:22:15, 2013-01-28
- OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Immigration reform brings debate on ACA benefits – The Hill's Healthwatch http://t.co/CJnoNZ2d #tcot 18:22:15, 2013-01-28
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- OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Immigration reform brings debate on ACA benefits – The Hill's Healthwatch http://t.co/yUS456s2 #tcot 17:47:23, 2013-01-28
- OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Immigration reform brings debate on ACA benefits – The Hill's Healthwatch http://t.co/Iw2J98hG #tcot 17:12:49, 2013-01-28
- OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Immigration reform brings debate on ACA benefits – The Hill's Healthwatch http://t.co/nQChejaF #tcot 16:35:54, 2013-01-28
- Untitled ( http://t.co/mCghrSyV ) http://t.co/0HaDVsyg #tcot 16:35:54, 2013-01-28
- (404) http://t.co/eIw http://t.co/eIw #tcot 16:35:53, 2013-01-28
- RT @thehill: OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Immigration reform brings debate on ACA benefits http://t.co/fPPtYHrj by Elise Viebeck and @Sam_Baker 16:24:37, 2013-01-28
- RT @vcstar: Medi-Cal expansion proposed by California legislators as special session on health care opens http://t.co/KJ3pOuDn 16:13:03, 2013-01-28
- RT @JedediahBila: Well that was quick. "Clinton backers launch ‘Ready for Hillary’ super-PAC in hopes of 2016 campaign": http://t.co/eIw … 16:12:43, 2013-01-28
- @conncarroll You are not going to find many….that is unless you call McCain and Graham conservativesRubio is going on talk radio & spewing in reply to conncarroll 16:01:07, 2013-01-28
- Daily Kos: A way to immigration reform http://t.co/Id1xkC6g #tcot 16:00:04, 2013-01-28
- Rubio: Reagan erred in supporting 1986 amnesty for illegal immigrants | Post on Politics http://t.co/0K8Ntame #tcot 16:00:04, 2013-01-28
- (404) http://t.co/6D3 http://t.co/6D3 #tcot 16:00:04, 2013-01-28
- Way to end imm reform RT @markos: A way to immigration reform: Target GOPers who need Latino votes for reelection: http://t.co/2U6Wy5vt 15:54:12, 2013-01-28
- RT @jessicanwood: Rubio (in 2009): Reagan erred in supporting 1986 amnesty for illegal immigrants http://t.co/alFcMGK7 #tcot 15:51:10, 2013-01-28
- RT @kausmickey: It's Murdoch's network, not yours: Fox report buys into Rubio Con ("the principles explicitly state…") http://t.co/6D3 … 15:47:58, 2013-01-28
- Marco Rubio on Hugh Hewitt's radio show talking immigration. Will he run away from his amnesty plan once the details are legislated? Bet? 15:38:48, 2013-01-28
- RT @SenTedCruz: Appreciate efforts to fix broken immigration system. However, I have deep concerns w/ proposed path to citizenship: http … 15:36:56, 2013-01-28
- @chucktodd There is NOTHING new in the McCain-Rubio immigration amnesty. in reply to chucktodd 15:31:05, 2013-01-28
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- Conn Carroll: The income inequality factor liberals can't talk about | http://t.co/D2rHhz9A http://t.co/S98qzqlL #tcot 14:42:54, 2013-01-28
- ABC Gives Sen. Menendez Six Minute Interview With No Questions About FBI's Hooker Investigation | NewsBusters http://t.co/SCdLlDvD #tcot 14:42:54, 2013-01-28
- Conn Carroll: The income inequality factor liberals can't talk about | http://t.co/D2rHhz9A http://t.co/xhzHamzs #tcot 13:28:08, 2013-01-28
- ABC Gives Sen. Menendez Six Minute Interview With No Questions About FBI's Hooker Investigation | NewsBusters http://t.co/r0jYZB8E #tcot 13:28:07, 2013-01-28
- The income inequality factor liberals can't talk about – illegal immigration http://t.co/D4ArxCgn #tcot 12:53:21, 2013-01-28
- Lies, Damn Lies, and Immigration Enforcement Promises http://t.co/Kyb8mTg4 #tcot 12:53:21, 2013-01-28
- ABC Gives Sen. Menendez Six Minute Interview With No Questions About FBI's Hooker Investigation | NewsBusters http://t.co/tftksPvg #tcot 12:53:20, 2013-01-28
- John McCain still thinks illegal aliens are stil living in the shadows. Guess he has not been in Los Angeles lately. #tcot 12:07:36, 2013-01-28
- RT @jamiedupree: Fox News broke away from the Senate immigration news conference before Sen Marco Rubio R-FL started speaking 12:00:28, 2013-01-28
- Lies, Damn Lies, and Enforcement Promises – By Mark Krikorian – The Corner – National Review Online http://t.co/wEkDBKNh #tcot 11:57:39, 2013-01-28
- Hey Rubio stand closer to Menendez…. why don't you? #tcot 11:49:25, 2013-01-28
- Rush, just said Marco Rubio is coming on his show tomorrow to talk about immigration. Bet it is different than Mark Levin show. #tcot 11:46:03, 2013-01-28
- Hey Sen. Menendez How about answering some questions on your hooker problems? http://t.co/9VrhNvR3 #tcot 11:37:53, 2013-01-28
- Wondering if @SarahPalinUSA will weigh in on McCain's Shamenesty immigration plan? #tcot 11:36:06, 2013-01-28
- Awaiting the Gang of 8 Immigration amnesty news conference….#tcot 11:34:40, 2013-01-28
- RT @PoliticalTicker: Sources: Congressional Hispanic Caucus members urged Obama not to unveil immigration bill – http://t.co/o5aJDVL7 11:23:29, 2013-01-28
- Ridiculous RT @brahmresnik: .@JeffFlake on why Gang of 8 released #immigration plan today: Obama can't be the leader. http://t.co/pdOgmodi 10:33:49, 2013-01-28
- The California Flap: January 28, 2013 http://t.co/vt3eD2aK 10:24:16, 2013-01-28
- Suicidal GOP senators join open-borders Dems for Shamnesty Redux http://t.co/Ojr5YMp0 #tcot 09:31:38, 2013-01-28
- For GOP, immigration reform and sweet talk won’t be enough | AEIdeas http://t.co/ns36vgF7 #tcot 09:31:38, 2013-01-28
- They Think We’re Stupid on Immigration http://t.co/NPEWLxdl #tcot 08:53:22, 2013-01-28
- RT @JimPethokoukis: For GOP, immigration reform and sweet talk won't be enough http://t.co/tNheAu9Y 08:48:58, 2013-01-28
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- Bipartisan group of senators to unveil framework for immigration overhaul http://t.co/C1fh7Lqh #tcot 06:14:03, 2013-01-28
- Republican Annihilation Is Not Likely http://t.co/uapCYyIF #tcot 06:14:03, 2013-01-28
- California becoming less family-friendly http://t.co/oI6ZJ9jH 05:23:55, 2013-01-28
- Democrats, tea party unite vs. Mitch McConnell http://t.co/yvmmg6RW #tcot 04:58:15, 2013-01-28
- RT @conncarroll Rubio plan calls for "strong employment verification" but does not endorse E-Verify. Why? 04:57:15, 2013-01-28
- RT @conncarroll wait, Rubio's amnesty plan lets ag workers jump in line cause they "have been performing very important and difficult work"? 04:56:22, 2013-01-28
- RT @conncarroll Rubio's Southwest border commission will do for border security what the BCA's Super Com did for debt reduction (nothing!!!) 04:55:06, 2013-01-28
- RT @conncarroll @ByronYork because until the drug war ends our border is as secure today as it will ever be. 04:50:06, 2013-01-28
- RT @jamiedupree Sen Marco Rubio R-FL lays out views on immigration reform; Senate D/R framework likely today http://t.co/w0YtAGpc 04:48:37, 2013-01-28
- RT @ByronYork Bipartisan senators will say proposal requires security first; skeptics will be skeptical of how it will actually work. 04:47:51, 2013-01-28
- RT @ByronYork Why not pass secure border/enforcement measure first? Wait couple of years, make sure it actually gets done and is working? 04:47:05, 2013-01-28
- RT @ByronYork Question many in GOP will ask about proposed immigration overhaul… http://t.co/Jg8TFfBa 04:46:46, 2013-01-28
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Happy Monday! 04:42:25, 2013-01-28
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