Getting it right on immigration
When I heard McCain talk about (among other measures) new high-tech border control with advanced radar and drones, my heart sank. We’ve been here. In 2006, Congress threw a ton of money at a high-tech fence. Five years, $1 billion, and a pathetic 53 (out of 2,000) miles later, Janet Napolitano canceled the program as a complete failure.
That was predictable. And some of us who predicted it were pleading for something much cheaper and simpler: a prosaic, low-tech fence. The kind built near San Diego (triple-layered) that resulted in an astounding 92 percent drop in apprehensions, or like the Israeli fence built along the West Bank that has reduced terrorist infiltration to practically zero.
There’s a reason people have been building fences for, oh, 5,000 years. They work.
The current Senate proposal must be improved, either in the Senate or by the House. It’s not complicated. Build the damn fence. And give “probationary legal status” to the 11 million — not on the day the bill is signed but on the day the fence is completed. Have the president drive in the golden fence post at Promontory Point II and sign the amnesty right there. Great photo op.
Blowback
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What do we do about visa overstays?
steebo77 on February 1, 2013 at 10:58 AM
I’m with ya, Chuck.
“Build the damn fence.”
blatantblue on February 1, 2013 at 11:05 AM
I 100% agree with Dr. Krauthammer.
Norbitz on February 1, 2013 at 11:14 AM
Reward them with permanent legal status of course.
xblade on February 1, 2013 at 11:16 AM
How about this:
build the fence, fine employers into oblivion, stop giving children of illegals born here automatic citizenship,and stop allowing banks to provide them services. Withhold funding to states and municipalities that have sanctuary city policies. Then go back and build the fence a little higher. After all that’s done, set up a guest worker program so we can keep our strawberry prices reasonable.
Problem solved.
Youngs98 on February 1, 2013 at 11:21 AM
Why the amnesty – at all?
OldEnglish on February 1, 2013 at 11:22 AM
That would never work – it would require govt to do the right thing for once.
OldEnglish on February 1, 2013 at 11:24 AM
Fence, great idea, “probationary legal status”, not so much.
The key is to punish the people who hire illegals. National E-Verify, and make knowingly hiring an illegal a felony. When employers have “skin in the game”, they’re attitudes will change overnight.
No jobs, illegals will leave.
Rebar on February 1, 2013 at 11:25 AM
If they truly built an impenetrable fence ala Israeli style that would surely make mass legalization much more palatable.
Add to that a no welfare of any kind clause and merely permanent residency and not citizenship.
NeoKong on February 1, 2013 at 11:27 AM
Big Capitalism is about cheap labor. They want the influx of illegals to do work.
What to get “immigration” right?
1. E-verify
2. Crushing fines for companies that use illegal labor
3. Rescind minimum wage laws.
4. Require citizen checks for rental property
5. Deport illegals
6. No services for non-citizens, or bill country of origin for services.
Bulletchaser on February 1, 2013 at 11:55 AM
Fool. Pursuing policy that you know is bad in order to buy votes is idiotic, cynical, and will prove ultimately counterproductive. Hispanics are not a natural Republican constituency. They come from socialist countries, support welfare, big government, and social justice, and vote overwhelmingly Democrat. We won’t get Hispanic votes and the nation as it was founded will be irredeemable.
sauldalinsky on February 1, 2013 at 12:08 PM
Fine. But, no new path to citizenship.
besser tot als rot on February 1, 2013 at 12:32 PM
Current facts:
Democrats lust for Vote Slaves.
Republicans lust for Wage Slaves.
Both want more tax payer slaves to help bail them all out of the 50 years of over spending and acts of crime with out tax money.
Result of the actions of a two party evil money cult in Washington D.C..
APACHEWHOKNOWS on February 1, 2013 at 12:43 PM
Charles,
The “Boeing” $1 Billion contract for the hew high tech fence…
“The Fix Was In.”
Now go back to 1966 to 1972.
Operation igloowhite.
Vietnam, I-Corps DMZ, Laos, Cambodia.
Run out of a base in Thiland, sensors installed by S.O.G. units, and planes, 360 IBM computers, use of other off the shelf things, acua bouy sub antenas, things from the Oil Fields people used to find oil simic, magnomerters to measure metal crossing places,
This in triple canopy jungle, in a war zone, the NVA tracking every team out placing devices, monsoon rain, all that and it did not work perfect by it did save a lot a Mraines lives.
Now think of what say Sandia Labs has ready, thin of what we now have in use in Afganistain and Iraq.
It is clear to any who know the things say the Seal Teams have or other special operaters have or the CIA with the drones, it is clear it can be done.
The liars in Washington D.C. are playing hide the ball with you.
Or it could be your dumb as a rock.
Have a nice day.
“Monkey Mountain” operator for Lt.Gen. Lewis M. Walt I-Corps VN
Two years six months over the fence install work.
APACHEWHOKNOWS on February 1, 2013 at 12:54 PM
It’s not just Republicans that lust for wage slaves. There are a lot of Brazilian businesses in my city that are owned by resident aliens or naturalized citizens that hire illegal aliens from Brazil. If these people are legalized they will move on and the business owners will hire new illegal aliens to replace them.
Brilliant minds think alike or The Hammer read my post on HA yesterday about a border state panel that would have to unanimously affirm that the border is secure. However, I’m not in favor of an open-ended legalization(8 million? 10 million? 15 million?) with nebulous standards.
Wigglesworth on February 1, 2013 at 1:00 PM
If you did all that other stuff then no fence would be needed.
Fenris on February 1, 2013 at 1:32 PM