Haven't posted much on the so-called immigration reform proposed by Bush. But there's a few thoughts I've got...
There's an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants. They've already demonstrated a willingness to totally disregard our laws regarding immigration and naturalization. (They're here, after all.)
There's always a tendency to accept a status-quo, especially when it doesn't seem to be explicitly harmful. It'd be hard to argue that the presence of 12 million illegals hasn't established a defacto status quo. The question arises, is it a harmful situation?
What can be done about this? To recognize the status quo, and issue a blanket amnesty? (Which this bill isn't EXACTLY) Tighten up the borders and start immigration sweeps? Make it exceedingly difficult to hire illegals, and expensive when caught? It's already been done - but not enough.
The thinking seems to be that folks who are here illegally will voluntarily return home, pay a fine, and then come back. That we can establish an ID that can't be spoofed, hacked, or counterfited, to serve to keep track of these folks. (Ask Microsoft how well that works. If they can't devise something that's workable as far as anti-piracy techniques for their software goes, I don't think the government can come up with something a sufficiently determined counterfiter can't duplicate.)
I'm thinking - why should they pay attention and go through the hoops that are proposed? There's already no real penalty for getting picked up - you get deported, but you got here illegally once. What's a second time?
This bill - it's toothless. It's a wish list of things that might, maybe, could possibly happen if you hold your fingers crossed just right and click your heels together and manage to get all the funding needed. It's not a serious thing, in my estimation.
It's just a whitewashed acceptance of the status quo.
That said, there's no easy solution. There are solutions, but no easy ones, and none that wouldn't drastically impact the entire economy. Is the problem worth solving at any price?
As it is, I'm disappointed with Bush. This just doesn't cut it.
J.