‘Borders First’ a Dividing Line in Immigration Debate

[Lasher]

June 23, 2013

As the Senate works toward a compromise on immigration reform, the emerging proposal addresses two widely-held public goals. Broad majorities – across party lines – continue to support a path to legalization for undocumented immigrants. And large majorities also say this legislation must include increased border security.

But the public is divided on an issue that has been among the most contentious in Congress – whether border security must be achieved before the process of legalization can go forward. The national survey by the Pew Research Center and USA TODAY, conducted June 12-16 among 1,512 adults, finds that 43% say that people in the U.S. illegally should be allowed to seek legal status only after effective border control is established, while 49% say this can occur while border security improvements are being made.



http://www.people-press.org/2013/06/23/borders-first-a-dividing-line-in-immigration-debate/

I'm in favor of a 'borders first' solution that would include a reliable Visa entry and exit program. The measure should also include strict sanctions against employers who hire illegal aliens. Such sanctions were promised in 1986 to sell the Reagan amnesty, but they were stripped out just before final passage.

A Reagan Legacy: Amnesty For Illegal Immigrants

July 04, 2010

As the nation's attention turns back to the fractured debate over immigration, it might be helpful to remember that in 1986, Ronald Reagan signed a sweeping immigration reform bill into law. It was sold as a crackdown: There would be tighter security at the Mexican border, and employers would face strict penalties for hiring undocumented workers.

<snip>

The law granted amnesty to nearly 3 million illegal immigrants, yet was largely considered unsuccessful because the strict sanctions on employers were stripped out of the bill for passage.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128303672

[on point]

1. I would say employers first. The ray gun amnesty was a con to undercut workers

In the USA. I would also cut back on all the work visa as well. This is scam to bump up supply so corps can undercut us workers. There is no shortage, only greed of companies

[Lasher]

2. GWB tried to do the same thing.

As a true corporate Republican would.

I second the motion about work visas. One in two new US college graduates is jobless or underemployed.