Submitted by sid, Jun 11, 2007 14:33

It seems to me that some compromise needs to be worked out on the proposed immigration bill. If it dies, it will be due to the incompetence of our elected officials. After all the Chavez shenanigans, no can deny that our southern border presents a threat; however it seems to me that the northern border offers as much or more threat to our security. One obstacle to establishing border security might be that the resultant decrease in drug trafficing might cut into "someone's" lucrative profits. However, decreased drug trafficing would be a benefit of increased border security. Otherwise, I believe that the US needs to realize that Central and South Americans are still "Americans," who for the most part share our culture and want nothing more than to be able to feed, raise and educate their families in peace. They love the US and the opportunities it offers to their children, and they don't seek to destroy our country in a violent jihad.

On the principle of "amnesty," I believe that no immigrant who entered the US illegally should be allowed to gain either a green card or citizenship by their actions. Any illegal who can show that he or she has been working here and otherwise obeying our laws might qualify for a Z Visa, which would simply regularize their status and allow them to work legally. A Z visa should not be a pathway to a green card or citizenship. All those who have committed crimes should be deported. I believe that the Constitution should be adhered to in that an child born in the USA is elegible for citizenship. However, citizenship or a green card "path to citizenship" should not be offered to illegals, unless they qualify on the basis of some other criteria, and certainly they should wait their turn on the line and be given no preference. Allowing people who live here, work here and raise families here to do so legally is not unreasonable. However, they should not be able to vote, travel on a US passport, or reap any other benefits of citizenship. If they pay taxes and into the social security fund, they ought to be able to at least collect social security benefits. I personally believe that minors who have grown up here, assimilated into our culture, and graduated from high school or college, should be allowed to apply for green cards. The congress should be able to decide what other benefits illegals might legally have earned. I believe that such a compromise needs to be worked out to benefit our society. A dream deferred in this case has the potential of ripping our country apart.

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