Federal inaction on immigration lets issue fester

Georgia legislators sponsoring anti-immigrant bills say they have been forced to act by frustration with the federal government, which they believe has been unwilling to address illegal immigration issues.

Unfortunately, those legislators have a point, at least about the federal government’s failure to act. In fact, they have every right to be frustrated, even if the solutions they propose to fill the void left by federal inaction are unworkable.

Thanks to a combination of cowardice and political opportunism, Congress has indeed abdicated its duty to deal with tough immigration issues. The few steps it has taken in recent years — such as efforts to tighten border security — have been little more than useless if expensive window dressing.

Certainly, our border with Mexico needs to be tightened as much as possible. In practical terms, however, a boundary more than 2,000 miles long through mainly undeveloped areas can never be made secure against people sufficiently motivated to cross it. That’s a fact.

It’s also a fact that at least 10 million illegal immigrants already live here, and at this point, most have every intention of staying. According to the 2010 Census, roughly 850,000 Hispanics live in Georgia, and by some estimates as many as half may be here illegally.

So what do we do about them?

That’s the question that elected officials at the federal level refuse to address. That’s the vacuum that state legislators such as Rep. Matt Ramsey, R-Peachtree City, and Sen. Jack Murphy, R-Cumming, claim to be trying to fill. And it is really the crux of the whole illegal immigration debate. With the economy in the tank and the flow of illegal immigrants greatly reduced, the real issue is how to deal with those already here.

There are two basic options: Either make those people go back where they came from, or they stay. Ramsey, Murphy and other conservative legislators prefer that they go back where they came from, and are trying to pass laws so punitive that they will leave on their own. (The option of tracking down, arresting and removing 10 million people, using law enforcement and the judicial system to sift the illegal from the legal, is understood by almost everybody to be hopeless.)

Personally, I have no faith that a policy of discouragement can work. Illegal immigrants have already proved themselves willing to endure great risk, sacrifice and hard work.

No matter how difficult we make things, no matter how inhumane or punitive we make our laws, most illegal immigrants are going to conclude that things are better for them and their children here than they would be back home. And if you think about it from their point of view, they’re right.

Changing that calculation would be very, very difficult.

The alternative, then, is to acknowledge the continuing presence of illegal immigrants while providing an avenue for them to leave the shadows and join the mainstream. That’s a step that only Congress can take — a step that it has so far refused to take, and that it shows no signs of taking in the foreseeable future.

Back in the ’80s, President Ronald Reagan supported legalization, explaining in a 1984 presidential debate that “I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and lived here, even though sometime back they may have entered illegally.” Thanks to his backing, Congress agreed.

A few years ago, President George W. Bush tried to convince members of his party to follow Reagan’s lead, but the effort failed. President Barack Obama has also expressed support for such a change, but with chances of passage almost non-existent, he has expended no political capital on its behalf.

As a result, we’re stuck with a choice between bad solutions and no solutions at all.

– Jay Bookman

710 comments Add your comment

Mick

March 29th, 2011
10:26 am

**Moral of the story. Democrats, dumb, bad government. Republicans, smaller, good government that helps create growth and jobs. Vote Red**

Yeah, everybody should flee to that great bastion of republican deficits – texas….

jm

March 29th, 2011
10:27 am

deegee- that’s why they just steal SS ID Numbers…..

Paul

March 29th, 2011
10:27 am

Bosch

Complain?!!?

Heck they’d offer to give her shelter and hide her from the authorities. “Here you go, you poor thing. I’ve expanded this closet in my bedroom. You can stay here….”

jm

March 29th, 2011
10:28 am

Mick – numbers don’t lie bucko. But don’t listen to me. Have fun eating sand.

deegee

March 29th, 2011
10:28 am

no, jm. they steal SS ID numbers so that they can work, not to go to the doctor.

jm

March 29th, 2011
10:28 am

Thank heavens GA is a red state….

jm

March 29th, 2011
10:29 am

deegee – true. just a nice side bene.

Bud Wiser

March 29th, 2011
10:29 am

Sorta resembles Obozo’s inability as a ‘leader’ in dealing with the Libya situation, doesn’t it?

And to top it off, his UN rep has said that the US might supply arms to the Libyan rebels?

What has this fool done now, besides making America a simple 3rd world arms dealer, destroying the economy, devaluing the dollar, heaping trillions of dollars in debt upon us, and trying to have us as the ultimate fools in the eyes of the rest of the world?

Keep Up the Good Fight!

March 29th, 2011
10:29 am

Poison…You really don’t know what you are talking about. You seem unable to logically apply discernable thinking. To your post that “a lot of “illegals” haave criminal records, I responded:
There are also a lot of citizens who have criminal records…….that factor alone is

Your response is then: Keepup, do you really think being a criminal is meaningless? really? thanks for letting everyone know how that

Not really on point are you. I never said being a criminal was meaningless. As a factor to determining an immigration system, “criminal” alone without the ability to discern more is meaningless. There is a significant difference to a rational mind.

Paul

March 29th, 2011
10:30 am

Bosch

“I’ve been trying to learn how to “mail merge” this morning, and I think I’m just going to slit my wrist instead.”

Don’t do it! I know this guy who’ll address your envelopes for $5 an hour. Cash. Don’t ask for a SS number to 1099 him.

His name is Sean.

TaxPayer

March 29th, 2011
10:30 am

deegee- that’s why they just steal SS ID Numbers…..

Of course jm has proof to support his claim and has withheld it from the authorities. Who’s that knocking at your door, jm.

Paul

March 29th, 2011
10:30 am

SoCom

Thbppppttttt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jm

March 29th, 2011
10:31 am

outta here. got stuff to do.

Liberals, have fun tying yourself in knots over completely inconsistent foreign policy and promoting the bankruptcy of our nation.

getalife

March 29th, 2011
10:31 am

Lets load up the cons on buses and send them to the country they love.

Libya because they love daffy.

Our country will be a greater country without cons.

A utopia if you will.

Harry Callahan

March 29th, 2011
10:31 am

Speaking of immigration…

Does anyone here have any idea why a man born in America and claiming to be a Christian would change his name from Barry Soetoro to Barack Hussein Obama?

Southern Comfort (aka The Man)

March 29th, 2011
10:31 am

deegee- that’s why they just steal SS ID Numbers…..

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AmVet

March 29th, 2011
10:33 am

What has this fool done now, besides making America a simple 3rd world arms dealer, destroying the economy, devaluing the dollar, heaping trillions of dollars in debt upon us, and trying to have us as the ultimate fools in the eyes of the rest of the world?

Carrying on the longstanding precedents and traditions of his predecessors?

Harry Callahan

March 29th, 2011
10:33 am

“Our country will be a greater country without cons.”

Good luck with that…it’s the “cons” as you call them who pay all the taxes to support your socialist/liberal big-government lifestyle.

Bosch

March 29th, 2011
10:33 am

Paul,

I give up, what is Sean’s number?

Harry Callahan

March 29th, 2011
10:34 am

“Carrying on the longstanding precedents and traditions of his predecessors?”

Exactly…he is carrying out Jimmy Carter’s 2nd term.

TaxPayer

March 29th, 2011
10:34 am

Does anyone here have any idea why a man born in America and claiming to be a Christian would change his name from Barry Soetoro to Barack Hussein Obama?

To give folks like Sarah Palin and birthers, et al, something else to whine about.

George W

March 29th, 2011
10:34 am

hahaha Southern you are hilarious…..you are right they spent thier lives fighting a cause that our f’ed up government will not support. As a matter of fact this tool we have in office would rather sue a state that is attempting to pass and enforce a federal law…….Great job oh Lord Obama!!!

Great work, thanks for proving my point!

Paul

March 29th, 2011
10:34 am

Bosch

1-800-foxnews

x666 for Sean

getalife

March 29th, 2011
10:34 am

Love it or leave it cons.

Get on the back of the bus cons.

Next stop Libya.

You did it to yourselves.

Mick

March 29th, 2011
10:35 am

**Have fun eating sand.**

Sorry to rock your fantasy world of republican superiority but I’ll remind you again that both partys are part of the same hypocrisy. I’ll take the dems while you can carry the water for the rich…

Harry Callahan

March 29th, 2011
10:35 am

“Lets load up the cons on buses and send them to the country they love.”

“Libya because they love daffy.”

Good luck getting to Libya on a bus, fool.

wigglwagon

March 29th, 2011
10:35 am

“The alternative, then, is to acknowledge the continuing presence of illegal immigrants while providing an avenue for them to leave the shadows and join the mainstream. That’s a step that only Congress can take — a step that it has so far refused to take, and that it shows no signs of taking in the foreseeable future.”

The reason Congress refuses to address the issue is very simple. As Mr. Bookman puts it, “providing an avenue for them to leave the shadows and join the mainstream” leaves 20-30 million legal residents and citizens unemployed while rewarding the illegal aliens and their employers. Either way, there are going to be a lot of ticked off voters in ‘12.

getalife

March 29th, 2011
10:36 am

Hillary Clinton,

You had me at vast rw conspiracy.

You complete me.

Mick

March 29th, 2011
10:36 am

**it’s the “cons” as you call them who pay all the taxes **

Sounds good, but no basis in fact, try again..

Bosch

March 29th, 2011
10:36 am

Paul,

Know what’s sad? The time I’ve taken fooling around with this stupid command, I could have just typed out the damn letters.

Harry Callahan

March 29th, 2011
10:36 am

Hey getalife, did you find any of those $500 lies I told yet?

George W

March 29th, 2011
10:37 am

Taxpayer……haha yeah great point for a 3rd grader!

getalife

March 29th, 2011
10:37 am

“Good luck getting to Libya on a bus, fool”

The bus will take you to Delta.

They are ready when you are con.

Love it or leave it..

Harry Callahan

March 29th, 2011
10:38 am

“To give folks like Sarah Palin and birthers, et al, something else to whine about.”

I guess he extended the Bush tax cuts to give liberals something else to whine about.

getalife

March 29th, 2011
10:38 am

hjarry.

Your name is a lie.

Pay up welcher.

Kamchak

March 29th, 2011
10:39 am

Either way, there are going to be a lot of ticked off voters in ‘12

Late to the party with that little nugget of wisdom.

There’s always ticked off voters.

George W

March 29th, 2011
10:39 am

Mick…..”Sounds good, but no basis in fact”…..Really look at how the demographics in voters amoung Repubs and Dems……

The wealthest 7% pay 42% of the taxes….which way to they vote again?

The lady in the welfare office that pays no taxes….which way does she vote?

Wisen up.

George W

March 29th, 2011
10:39 am

Getalife…..”love it or leave it”…..isnt that what the right said to you about Bush?

TaxPayer

March 29th, 2011
10:40 am

Taxpayer……haha yeah great point for a 3rd grader!

I’m glad I was able to connect.

Harry Callahan

March 29th, 2011
10:40 am

“Love it or leave it..”

No thanks, I’ll choose C) None of the Above

We took over the House in 2010, and kicked Democrats entirely out of the state of Georgia. We’ll finish the job in 2012.

George W

March 29th, 2011
10:40 am

There are more blacks in prison today that were ever in slavery…..interesting fact eh?

George W

March 29th, 2011
10:41 am

Taxpayer….with your lib base? Great job!

Mick

March 29th, 2011
10:41 am

georg

The lady in the welfare office probably doesn’t vote plus everyone who is wealthy is not a repub…wisdom forwarded..

Harry Callahan

March 29th, 2011
10:41 am

Maybe he failed to close gitmo to give you libbies something else to whine about.

Kamchak

March 29th, 2011
10:41 am

The lady in the welfare office that pays no taxes…

This crap again?

Every consumer pays taxes, sport.

Like getalife says, this is a no lie zone.

Southern Comfort (aka The Man)

March 29th, 2011
10:41 am

Southern you are hilarious…..you are right they spent thier lives fighting a cause that our f’ed up government will not support. As a matter of fact this tool we have in office would rather sue a state that is attempting to pass and enforce a federal law

No, you are hilarious. You talk about something that you’re so ill informed on, it’s amusing to see you continuously put your foot in your mouth. Under Obama, the number of deportations have increased year after year. Processes have been put in place to streamline the court processes on the Southern border to cut down on the length of time someone is held in custody before being returned to their home country.

Contrary to what you believe, those people who have given their lives ARE the government doing something about immigration. Just because something doesn’t make the news does not mean that nothing is happening. If you want to do something other than sideline bitching on a blog, go to http://www.usajobs.opm.gov and search for Border Patrol Agent or Customs and Border Protection Officer. You’ll get all the immigration training needed to do the job.

Cynthia Who?

March 29th, 2011
10:41 am

Nice spin Jay, “anti-immigration law”. Didn’t catch it at first.

TaxPayer

March 29th, 2011
10:42 am

I guess he extended the Bush tax cuts to give liberals something else to whine about.

I’m sure it had that effect on some.

getalife

March 29th, 2011
10:42 am

Paul

March 29th, 2011
10:42 am

Bosch

I was kinda hopin’ Sean’s phone number (800-foxnews) and “666″ extension was worth a little coffee spew on your monitor and letters -

Harry Callahan

March 29th, 2011
10:42 am

“The bus will take you to Delta.”

Conservatives drive luxury cars and SUVs. Buses are for liberals.

kayaker 71

March 29th, 2011
10:42 am

getalife,

And when all of the ‘cons” are gone, what’s left over will not last long. Who is going to make the money needed to pay the bills? We’ll take all of the “evil rich” with us who pay more than 70% of the nation’s bills. Then when the riots start from the unions who were “promised” all of these benefits and all of the blubber butt welfare brood mares descend on the capital demanding their slice of the entitlement pie, you will indeed be screwed. If it were not for “cons” in this country, we wouldn’t have a country. You are just to stupid to realize that.

George W

March 29th, 2011
10:43 am

Mick….just take the percentages and averages….that will be fine….I think you get my point.

Aquagirl

March 29th, 2011
10:43 am

George W, no wonder the “woman of color” from Cobb can’t rally her troops. Maybe she’d have better luck staging her rally at the local jail.

TaxPayer

March 29th, 2011
10:43 am

Taxpayer….with your lib base? Great job!

So far, only you responded to that post but I’ll let you know if anyone claiming to be a lib responds, k.

zeke

March 29th, 2011
10:43 am

There are plenty of laws to deal with illegals! Do not call it immigration. It is an invasion and democrats love it because it gives the voters. And it meets their agenda of a Caucasian minority in future years. However that will not happen in the next 100 or 200 years unless illegals are allowed to continue to invade the USA and are made citizens, The most ridiculous thing about the census is that no one was required to verify that they were indeed citizens, But, the government uses those numbers from the census to determine the total number of people living in a particular town, city, county or state in order to give out money for agenda programs. Non citizen, illegals should not count as population for the spending of taxpayer money!

Harry Callahan

March 29th, 2011
10:44 am

“Every consumer pays taxes, sport.”

If a welfare queen gets a $500 check from government, and 5% of that goes to sales taxes when she buys stuff, who really paid he taxes there, sport?

JKL2

March 29th, 2011
10:45 am

aquagirl- you’re going to shoot 12 year olds? Grandmothers? Pregnant women?

How do you shoot women and children? Easy, just don’t lead them as much. The Berlin Wall worked very well. It didn’t work because it was some gigantic thing a couple goofy college girls couldn’t climb over. It worked because the penalty for climbing over it was instant death. Our current policy is “if you get caught, you get free clothes, food, healthcare, and a trip back to start.” Why even have immigration laws if there is no punishment for breaking them?

Harry Callahan

March 29th, 2011
10:45 am

Kammy-poo…hello? Time for the Skittles-crapping unicorn rejoinder now? It’s SOOOOOO intellectual….

Soothsayer

March 29th, 2011
10:45 am

Rather than build a fence along our border with Mexico, we should build a fence around employers who hire illegal immigrants — much cheaper! and more effective.

Bosch

March 29th, 2011
10:45 am

Paul,

Under normal circumstances it would have been. I need a secretary.

getalife

March 29th, 2011
10:46 am

Dusty and you cons used to call out people that did not support our President in war.

Called them saddam lovers, traitors, unAmerican, unpatriotic, bla, blah, bla.

Fair is fair hypocrites.

As far as deporting, there is only one group of so called Americans that deserve to be deproted.

You cons.

Mick

March 29th, 2011
10:46 am

georg

You have not made a point, just a warped opinion…

Harry Callahan

March 29th, 2011
10:47 am

Since we just proved Kamchak’s statement that “every consumer pays taxes” to be a lie, I wonder what’s next? He’ll tell us socialism doesn’t exist? LMAO

John Birch

March 29th, 2011
10:47 am

1) Withdraw the troops from Obaminiation’s pointless and costly wars.
2) Use said troops to round up the illegals.
3) Ship them all into Mexico, regardless of country of origin, Mexico has been the biggest problem, let them deal with everyone.
4) Use 20% of the troops to patrol the border with the use of deadly force.
5) Levy huge fines against all employers found to be emplying illegals. Use the money to pay for the deportation.
Why is it all the limp little libs always say it’s impossible to do anything to improve our country? We transported, armed and fed millions of troops using 1940’s technology, rounding up 20 million illegals (everyone knows there’s way more than the ‘official’ number) should be a piece of cake.

ragnar danneskjold

March 29th, 2011
10:47 am

Dear Bosch @ 10:16, and jm @ 10:17, one word: OpenOffice. I’ve used it more than five years. The only thing it does not do is print mail bar-codes on the envelope.

Kamchak

March 29th, 2011
10:47 am

If a welfare queen gets a $500 check from government, and 5% of that goes to sales taxes when she buys stuff…

Continuing the myth of silly Ronnie.

getalife

March 29th, 2011
10:47 am

kay.

Imagine a country without cons.

You can do it if you try.

George W

March 29th, 2011
10:48 am

Aqua….agreed.

George W

March 29th, 2011
10:48 am

JKL2…..yes.

Harry Callahan

March 29th, 2011
10:48 am

“Fair is fair hypocrites.”

Yeah…like bashing the Iraq’Afghanistan wars but enbracing this one isn’t hypocritical.

Critical thinking really isn’t your forte. is it?

George W

March 29th, 2011
10:49 am

Kamchak….you didnt answer the question.

tscali

March 29th, 2011
10:49 am

people can have as many babies as they want, just do not ask me to support them. any party who asks me to pony up will not get my vote. just wait until the other minorities (in name only) lose a piece of their government pie.

Harry Callahan

March 29th, 2011
10:49 am

“Continuing the myth of silly Ronnie.”

Prove it.

Libertarian

March 29th, 2011
10:49 am

When the “cons” leave, the entire country will look like the “Twentieth Century Motor Company.”

@Harry…why would you bother to argue with someone as infantile and uninformed as “getalife?”

George W

March 29th, 2011
10:49 am

Harry….he cant….that is the point.

Paul

March 29th, 2011
10:50 am

Bosch

One secretary, coming up!

http://tinyurl.com/4skgwny

getalife

March 29th, 2011
10:50 am

Where is my money hairy?

Your name is a lie so pay up welcher.

Donate 500 to St Joseph’s hospital and post the check if it clears.

Do it now.

Bosch

March 29th, 2011
10:50 am

Ragnar,

I’ll bet that’s cheaper than a secretary, huh? Even an illegal alien one? :-)

Kamchak

March 29th, 2011
10:50 am

Kamchak….you didnt answer the question.

And which question is that.

seabeau

March 29th, 2011
10:50 am

Aquagirl!! You’ll only have to shoot a few!! Its the threat that counts! This is how every other country in the world does it! Its how Mexico’s southern boarder is controlled,with armed guards!!!

Paul

March 29th, 2011
10:51 am

Harry Callahan

“He’ll tell us socialism doesn’t exist? LMAO”

Define socialism.

Thought I’d get that out of the way –

“-)

deegee

March 29th, 2011
10:51 am

Wow!, Southern Comfort. That was very artistic!

I really think that people should have to present a tamper proof SS card when applying for social security benefits. We need a tamper proof national ID card to establish that a person is in the country legally and is eligible to work. The drivers license should be used strictly for operating a motor vehicle, and the voter registration card should be used strictly for voting.

We are deluded into thinking that we are somehow more free because we don’t have a national ID card. I think that we are actually less free because of the consequences we suffer from the fraudulent use of SS cards and drivers licenses.

TaxPayer

March 29th, 2011
10:52 am

If a welfare queen gets a $500 check from government, and 5% of that goes to sales taxes when she buys stuff, who really paid he taxes there, sport?

Five percent! Which county does Harryet live in.

Bosch

March 29th, 2011
10:52 am

Thanks Paul! :-) I’m feeling better already!!

AmVet

March 29th, 2011
10:52 am

No, you are hilarious. You talk about something that you’re so ill informed on, it’s amusing to see you continuously put your foot in your mouth.

It is not all the time that one sees a tape measure home run of a smack down…

ragnar danneskjold

March 29th, 2011
10:52 am

Dear Bosch @ 10:50, ha.

getalife

March 29th, 2011
10:53 am

“Define socialism.”

Our US military that just won a war in Libya.

Joe

March 29th, 2011
10:53 am

I wonder How much money is going to cost the State if all this bills go into law?

Joe

March 29th, 2011
10:54 am

Does any body know?

Bosch

March 29th, 2011
10:54 am

“Aquagirl!! You’ll only have to shoot a few!!”

Yeah, Aquagirl, what’s a few freaking kids! :roll:

Let me guess, this person is pro-choice as well, but if some kids are crossing the border, shoot ‘em.

Southern Comfort (aka The Man)

March 29th, 2011
10:54 am

2) Use said troops to round up the illegals.

Troops can not be used on US soil in police actions.

3) Ship them all into Mexico, regardless of country of origin, Mexico has been the biggest problem, let them deal with everyone.

Negative ghostrider. Mexico can simply refuse to accept all non-Mexican Nationals. You’re right back to square one then. Mexico probably has the largest population totals, but I don’t think there’s any evidence that would show that they’ve been the biggest problem.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/print/9214730/Lawsuit_against_Infosys_turns_light_on_B_1_visa?taxonomyName=Careers&taxonomyId=10

If you haven’t heard about that lawsuit, anyone, working for Infosys, who entered the US on a B-1 visa to do work that required an H1B visa, was an illegal immigrant. Simply violating visa requirements renders someone’s status to that of illegal immigrant. How do you determine who has violated their visa status while still here in the US?

Bosch

March 29th, 2011
10:54 am

Damn, I meant pro-life.

TaxPayer

March 29th, 2011
10:54 am

I wonder How much money is going to cost the State if all this bills go into law?

Not to worry. It’s nothing that a few tax cuts will not pay for.

Doggone/GA

March 29th, 2011
10:55 am

“I was kinda hopin’ Sean’s phone number (800-foxnews) and “666″ extension was worth a little coffee spew on your monitor and letters -”

I was for me…I only just read it

George W

March 29th, 2011
10:55 am

Joe….not as much as it is costing us not to imprison the trash!

George W

March 29th, 2011
10:56 am

Bosch….I am sure you could open up your crib and let them live with you.

getalife

March 29th, 2011
10:56 am

liebertarian.

Mind your business or I will rule you too.

Bring it son.

Paul

March 29th, 2011
10:56 am

getalife

The military has a world-class socialistic health care system, too.

Admiral Sestak (retired) says if it’s good enough for him it’s good enough for the country.

Bosch

March 29th, 2011
10:56 am

” as it is costing us not to imprison the trash!”

Ya’ just gotta love George’s Christian compassion.