Illegal Immigration Part II

First let me say that I am happy to have a conservative forum where I can express some of my ideas.  As you might imagine, I run in pretty liberal circles.  Just a quick note on that, what you conservatives better understand is that winning the Latino vote would secure your political sway for decades to come.  Liberals and democrats understand this.  They cater/pander to the Latino community.  If not for George Bush’s relative popularity among Latinos, you would have likely had a two-term Gore White House.  Latinos share several core values with conservatives.  These should be pointed out and, where there are differences, these should be discussed and debated gently and not with megaphones and draconian legislation.  A conservative/Latino voting coalition would be nearly impossible to beat.

Second, You have to understand my background.  I grew up in the barrio in Tucson, Arizona.  My mother and father, both illegal at the time, had seven children of which I am the fifth.  They came to the United States to flee suffocating economic oppression.  They have always honored their native culture and spoke Spanish exclusively to their children.  At the same time, they insisted that we adopt the customs of our new country and made sure that we gave our full effort to studies.  Though never rich, my recently deceased father was a proud citizen.  He loved the United States and what it gave him.  He said, once, that it would be impossible for him to re-pay the United States for all that it had done for him.  His plea to his children near the end of his life would be for us to continue the repayment effort.  Because of that, I took school seriously.

It was my study of law and economics that spurred extra-curricular detailed studies in US history and government.  Though we share little racial/cultural heritage, I am forever bound to Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson.  Freedom is the bonding agent.  In spite of serious conservative leanings on issues of freedom, I side with the President on Immigration Policy.  I may not have chosen the best video to display in my last post.  Here is my own Immigration proposal, which mirrors the president’s.

Immigration Policy

Every immigrant wishing to become a citizen should be required to register to become a citizen.  If they register, they will be given immunity from deportation and be allowed to work during the registration period.  The registration period is 18 months long.  During that time, each applicant must:

• Achieve basic English proficiency
• Pass an immigration test heavily weighted toward US history, government and law
• Pay a $3500 fine to completely cover associated administrative costs
• Not commit any crime during the 18 month period (traffic and similar law infractions are excepted).  If a crime is committed, the applicant forever forfeits citizenship rights and will be immediately deported or prosecuted under US law.
• Be subject to US income and other taxes.

Besides this, the borders must NOT be closed but must be regulated.  If there were a far easier way for citizens of other countries to immigrate, non-criminal, illegal immigration would cease.  Border agents would no longer be over-burdened and could focus in on keeping bad elements out of the US.

I welcome any and all dialogue on this site or to my personal email, mariaangelicaleonchamorro@gmail.com