Just
yesterday the
Washington Post reported that Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Kyrsten
Sinema (D-Ariz.) have reached an agreement on a ‘draft framework of immigration
reform compromises’.
It is important to
know that D.C. has its own jargon that often functions as a euphemism in order
that those beyond D.C. don't easily comprehend their motives.
‘Immigration reform’
in D.C. means amnesty and a pathway to citizenship for illegal migrants.
‘Compromise’ usually
occurs when the GOP has surrendered its agenda before the Democrats.
The objects of the
Democrats’ generosity currently are the ‘dreamers’.
A bit of a background
about these ‘dreamers’.
DACA
(Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) is an Obama administration
policy implemented on June 15, 2012. DACA prevents the deportation of
immigrants who entered the US illegally as minors and allows them to work
permits.
The undocumented
immigrants who participate in the program are referred to as Dreamers, a
reference to the DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors
Act).
Most of these
Dreamers were born in Mexico (80.2%), followed by El Salvador (3.8%) some were
born in Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa
So what are the
details of this plan developed by Tillis and Sinema?
The WaPo revealed the
following salient ideas of the plan:
- A path to citizenship
for 2 million ‘dreamers’.
- A boost in resources
to speed up the processing of asylum seekers.
- More resources to
expedite the removal of migrants who don’t qualify for asylum.
- A continuation of the
Title 42 covid-health-rule restriction on migrants applying for asylum,
until the new processing centers are operational, with the aim of a
one-year cutoff.
- More funding for
border officers.
On the surface, this
is a win for both parties
The Democrats will
have 2 million new voters in the form of Dreamers and new asylum seekers who
are likely to be future Democrats voters.
The Republicans will
have border security, the removal of migrants, and the continuation of
COVID-19-based restrictions.
The Democrats are
claiming that the lame-duck session is the last opportunity to pass immigration legislation. They
could also claim that 3 out of the 5 points of the deal are in
favor of the GOP, hence the GOP should sign on.
In politics, if you
compromise on your agenda despite being in a position of power, you are not
only duped but also a betrayer of your voters.
The Republicans are
going to take control of the House next month. From then the GOP has two
years to the author and pass all the laws they want to ensure that the border
is secure. They can work to build a coalition with moderate Democrats in the
Senate after that.
If however, the
Democrats are able to squeeze in their agenda during this lame-duck session it
is a victory for the Democrats, despite their being in a position of
disadvantage.
Biden can claim that
he was a facilitator of this deal which increased their voter base increases by
2 million.
The legislation will
need 60 votes to pass. Currently, there are 50 Democrats in the Senate,
and the Democrats need the support of at least 10 Republicans.
The WaPo laments that
President Donald Trump, his adviser Stephen Miller and ‘right-wing media
propagandists’ such as Tucker Carlson ‘amplify that toxic message to enrage the
base’ i.e. it scares GOP lawmakers from compromising on their principles and
giving Democrats easy victories.
Yes it is ironic propagandists such as the WaPo have the audacity
to attack others as propagandists, but the sanctimonious rarely have any self-awareness
The WaPo was
unknowingly highlighting the importance of the MAGA movement. Trump, Miller,
and Carlson are the few standing not only against the Democrats but also
against establishment Republicans who readily capitulate before the Democrats.
The WaPo even refers
to GOP Senators who could support this plan. They are retiring Sens. Roy Blunt
of Missouri and J. Toomey of Pennsylvania and anti-Trump Senators such as Sens.
Mitt Romney of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, etc.
Let’s focus
on the idea of granting the ‘dreamers’ a path to citizenship.
By entering the
country illegally, the migrants have committed a crime. Perhaps the crime was
committed unknowingly because the minor had no option but to accompany his
parents and illegally enter the US. But it still is a crime.
A crime needs to be
punished to deter others from committing similar crimes.
If the dreamers are
granted a pathway to citizenship, it sends an invitation to potential aspirants
around the world.
It is the equivalent
of saying ‘feel free to enter the US illegally, someday your children will become citizens'.
There are other
disadvantages too.
If citizenship is
given to one group, it gives hope to other groups who are in the US illegally. They
could stay in the hopes of qualifying eventually and receiving citizenship.
The presence of
illegal immigrants are a burden on the taxpayers, and facility and
infrastructure meant for citizens.
If illegal migrants
work for less than minimum wage and without benefits, once again the citizen
could see a drop in wage or be rendered unemployed
If the illegal
migrants are of the criminal variety, once again the victims of these crimes
will be citizens.
Usually, it is the
working class who suffers due to this.
In the end, every
country has laws that have to be followed, and immigration laws are no different.
The only way to enter
or temporarily work in the US is to apply for a VISA, undergo a thorough
background check, and an interview. If the applicant clears all of these
phases, he or she can enter or temporarily work in the US. The duration of stay
and work also depends upon the VISA permits.
The only path to
citizenship is by Naturalization, Citizenship by Marriage, citizenship through
your parents, and citizenship through the military. Each route has its own set
of specific requirements which must be followed.
If this proposed
‘immigration reform' plan is passed, lawmakers will be incentivizing the
breaking of laws which is the last thing any lawmaker should do.
Hopefully, the GOP senators will not participate in this sneaky
attempt by the Democrats to push their agenda and instead focus on the dreams and aspirations of citizens.
Also appears on American Thinker
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