Amnesty? Si se peude!

Senators Teddy Kennedy, Lindsay Graham(R-SC) and Mel Martinez ( R-FL) giggle over what they just did to the country.

It appears that the Republican senate has finally caved in, and then we're headed for an amnesty bill for illegal immigrants, with the eager encouragement of the current occupant of the White House. Even worse, the bill as it now stands makes a mockery of a any notion of feasibility, and in fact is designed to keep cheap, undocumented labor flowing north even as we `normalize' the status of the 12 million or so illegal aliens that are already here.

The details are sketchy, as the senate is deliberately keeping most of it under wraps and may even circumvent any debate on the matter before sending to the House.

Ok, Teddy's sobered up for the big press conference, flanked by McCain and Spector.

Here's what we've got so far - and of course, your humble Freedom Fighter's comments:

The proposed agreement allows illegal immigrants who entered the US prior to January of `07 to obtain a "Z visa" and — after paying fees and a $5,000 fine — ultimately get on track for permanent residency, which could take between eight and 13 years. They'll have to return to their home countries first, and await background checks. Not only that, but they can also obtain "Z" visas for their families back in Mexico and Central America and bring them here as well...

- Hmmm..many of these are people that earn maybe fifteen to twenty thousand per year, and they're going to cough up $5,000? And then they're going to quit their jobs, go home voluntarily and wait for the US government to do a background check???

Sure they will. Just like the 600,000 plus illegal aliens that the courts have already signed deportation orders for and the ICE can't find.

This wonderful bit of legislation also assumes that all of these people are interested in citizenship, rather than simply a piece of paper that allows them to stay in the US indefinitely.
Not only that, but the volume of paperwork insures that it will be YEARS before the background and health checks are implemented..and meanwhile, we still won't know who's here.

And to add to the mess, all those family members will come North as well, adding to the burden on local social services and the problems we already have assimilating the 12 million or so illegal immigrants that are here already? Sounds like a winner to me.

Illegal aliens could opt to come forward right away to get a probationary card that would let them live and work legally in the U.S., but could not begin the path to permanent residency or citizenship until border security improvements and the high-tech worker identification program were completed. They needn't choose to become citizens if they don't want to.

They'd have to return home after a two year stint, and could renew the cards twice, but would have to leave for a year in between each time. And if they wanted to stay in the U.S. permanently, they'd have to apply under a ` point system' for a green card.

There's also a provision for establishing a` temporary' worker program admitting 400,000 workers yearly for a two-year visa after which they world be required to return home for a year and then re-apply.

Why would they even bother? There are a number of cities in the US that pride themselves on being `sanctuary cities' for illegals and prohibit law enforcement from asking about immigration status even during any run-ins with the criminal justice system. Two of the the Fort Dix Six had multiple run-ins with the cops and were never challenged in any way. So did Mohamed Atta.

And again, do they really expect these people to leave voluntarily, just because of a piece of easily forged paper? I could take Teddy into the MacArthur Park area in Los Angeles and get him a Social Security card, a Green Card and a Consular Matricular card in the name of Eduardo Garcia in a couple of hours.

The point system. like those $5,000 fines will, of course, likely be successfully challenged in court under the equal protection clause. And the provision for background checks will likely never be implemented, as it will take ICE years. Whom does the Senate think they're kidding?

It supposedly tilts the green card program in favor of `qualified' immigrants rather than mere family ties.

But let's forget about all those family members who will get to come in on those "Z" visas, hmmm?

The bill provides for the hiring of 6,000 more Border Patrol agents, actually cuts back on the length of the fence Congress already voted to establish ( and which, as Congressman Duncan Hunter, who wrote the bill revealed the other night, hardly any of which has been built yet) and establishes an employment verification system mandatory for employers to check the status of new hires.

I'll believe that when it happens. The 700 mile fence has had all of 2 miles completed, Border patrol agents are quitting faster than ICE can hire them because of the legal prosecutions designed to keep them from doing their jobs, and let's just say I'm skeptical about any realistic enforcement on employers. I mean, are we enforcing the laws that exist now, let alone new ones?

This is, as Senator Jim DeMint put it, amnesty, no matter what you call it. Not only does the bill's lackadaisical enforcement provisions guarantee a continued flow on undocumented cheap labor, but it guarantees a built in disrespect for law and a total lack of concern for border security.

Law's a fragile thing. When you start out with the misdemeanor of crossing the border illegally, it leads to more serious offenses like not buying legally mandated auto insurance, passing forged documentation, lying on Federal benefits and income tax forms, and worse.

What's more, it's ultimately a slap in the face to everyone who played bythe rules and came here legally.

It's also racist, because it benefits Hispanics at the expense of Africans, Asians and Europeans, simply because of proximity and a wink by our government.

Many of these people have the potential to become fine citizens, and they're an important human resource. There are ways America can make this work to our advantage.

But this cynical nonsense isn't the way to do it, and it shows a basic contempt for the American people and for our Republic.

Call your representatives. Now.