Fresh conservative commentary on Texas issues ranging from politics and culture to religion and family.
Twitter
FacebookThe Texas Republican Party Pushes For Legal Immigration In the 2012 Party Platform
Twitter
Facebook
Delicious
Digg
Stumble
Reddit
The one thing that we can all agree on, is that it’s so much easier to complain about a problem than it is to create solutions that actually address the problem. While I was not able to attend the Texas Republican Party state convention in Fort Worth, I just found a copy of one of the planks that has been adopted, thanks to the hard work of Norman Adams and many other good Republicans that address the problem of illegal immigration within our state.
Please read the plank from page 21 of the 2012 RPT Platform.
IMMIGRATION
The Texas Solution – Because of decades-long failure of the federal government to secure our borders and address the immigration issue, there are now upwards of 11 million undocumented individuals in the United States today, each of whom entered and remain here under different circumstances. Mass deportation of these individuals would neither be equitable nor practical; while blanket amnesty, as occurred with the Simpson-Mazzoli Act of 1986, would only encourage future violations of the law. We seek common ground to develop and advance a conservative, market- and law-based approach to our nation’s immigration issues by following these principles:
1. Secure Our Borders – The U.S. Border must be secured immediately! We demand the application of effective, practical and reasonable measures to secure our borders and to bring safety and security for all Americans along the border and throughout the nation.
2. Modernize the United States Social Security Card – We support the improvement of our 1936 Social Security card to use contemporary anti-counterfeit technology. The social security card will not be considered a National ID card for U.S. citizens.
3. Birthright Citizenship – We call on the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches of the United States to clarify Section 1 of the 14th amendment to limit citizenship by birth to those born to a citizen of the United States with no exceptions.
4. Create an Effective and Efficient Temporary Worker Program – A national Temporary Worker Program should be implemented to bring skilled and unskilled workers into the United States for temporary periods of time when no U.S. workers are currently available. The program should also require:
· Self-funding through participation fees and fines;
· Applicants must pass a full criminal background check;
· Applicants with prior immigration violations would only qualify for the program if they paid the appropriate fines;
· Applicants and/or Employers must prove that they can afford and/or secure private health insurance;
· Applicants must waive any and all rights to apply for financial assistance from any public entitlement programs;
· Applicant must show a proficiency in the English language and complete an American civic class;
· Temporary Workers would only be able to work for employers that deduct and match payroll taxes;
· All participants would be issued an individual Temporary-Worker Biometric Identification Card that tracks all address changes and both civil and criminal court appearances as a defendant.
If we are going to truly fix the problem of illegal immigration in the state and in this nation we must find a common sense solution that is workable and does not treat people differently solely based on their nation of origin.
The Republican Party for several years has taken a beating because of its stance on illegal immigration. And while we all know that this was wrong, and all Republicans want is for people to come here legally, obey our laws and pay their fair share of taxes. We have been ridiculed and persecuted and called racist because we believe the rule of law is not only necessary for the survival of our nation but it is paramount.
At least now we have something we can all wrap our arms around and push. And I know that there will be some that will not like this particular plank of the platform because they feel that it is not strong enough but I respectfully disagree with them.
The very first thing we must do is to secure our border, and once this is done we need to find a way to deal with all the illegal immigrants that are here. Rounding everybody up and shipping them back, while it may be the thing that some want to do because these illegal immigrants broke our laws, it is just not plausible. And of course we all know from history that amnesty will not work so we have to find something else that will. It is my opinion that this is a great plank I will be proud to support it and I trust that you will also.
Let’s continue to fight for border security, sensible immigration and build bridges into the Hispanic and immigrant communities.
4:30 pm
Bill, if you did a little research on the immigration issue, you would find that we have a “temporary worker program” as part of our federal laws, called a “visa”. Anyone comming into the US legally (whether to work or visit) must have some sort of visa. As far as the “work visas that you feel we are desperately in need of (especially for lower wage workers), we have the following: H2A is for agricultural workers. The initial term is for 1 year, but can be extended up to a maximum of 3 years. The law requires the employer to pay certain fees (visa application fee, consulate interview fee, FINGERPRINTING, visa issuance – which has been eliminated for workers coming from Mexico – and the filing fee). Employers must provide 3 low cost meals a day (which can be charged back to the worker) or provide fee cooking facilities, provide free housing, free workers compensation insurance and take out taxes. The worker can also bring their spouse and kids over, but they cannot work, the employer must prove there are no American workers to fill the position and must pay the prevailing wage. The H2B visa, which is a non-agricultural visa. The cap for H2B workers is 66,000 per year (which is the government’s fiscal year) and the employer must be able to prove there are no American workers to fill the position, pay fees, pay the prevailing wage, take out taxes and provide workers compensation insurance. The workers must be fingerprinted. The term for this visa is also 1 year, but can be extended to 3 years. Again, they can bring their spouse and kids over, but they are not allowed work in the US. There are other work visas that I will be more than happy to go into if you would like.
Last year, the US admitted 1.67 million immigrants LEGALLY into this country, half of which don’t work (spouses, kids students) and then course we have millions of refugees that have been legally admitted into this country. What I want to know from you, is just how many temporary workers or full time foreign workers do we need in this country?
The motivating factor for Norm Adams and friends is greed. It has nothing to do with swaying the hispanic vote to the Republicans or out of the goodness of their hearts. Even the democrat and libertarian platforms have a secure the borders provision in their platforms, which neither party is serious about and neither is Norm Adams. In 1986, when Reagan signed IRCA (Immigration Reform and Control Act), there was provision to close the border, which didn’t happen. There were also penalties for US employers hiring illegal aliens, which of course is not being enforced, except in extraordinary circumstances. IRCA legalized 2.7 million over a ten year period (however, the last IRCA application was not processes until about 3 years ago), at a cost to the American people of cost to $1 billion. Of course the American people were promised it would be self funding. Five years after IRCA was signed the pro-amnesty forces were pushing for another amnesty and they won’t let up until they get it.
What Norm and friends, the Chambers of Commerce throughout the US, big business, the churces and certain politicians want is amnesty, which they call Comprehensive Immigration Reform. They each have their own agenda for wanting amnesty. In spite of the the fact that these groups would like you to believe this is a hispanic issue, there are illegals in this country from 100 countries. And lest we forget, 18 of the 19 9/11 hi-jackers were here illegally. In 2009 Hosni Smadi an illegal from Jordan (working in a restaurant) planned on blowing up a buiding in Dallas, 3 of the “Ft. Dix Six” who planned on blowing up Ft. Dix in New Jersey came through out southern border illegally. A couple of years ago, an illegal from Somalia who is a member of the terrorist group El-Shabab, brought in hundreds of illegals from Samolia who were also members of El-Shabab
12:15 pm
Janet, I do not disagree with much of what you said except for which he save on Norman Adams I have met with him and talk with them extensively and have found him strong man of faith that fights hard for what he believes. ( think many look at people that have money and just assume that everything they do is for cash)
but what you say about the immigration that we already have is true. We currently have on the books ways to legally immigrate into this country, and we have temporary work visas that are designed for those illegal immigrants to work here legally.
now we all know that these rules are not being enforced and they are not being followed and now we have millions of illegal immigrants here in this nation.
Now the right thing to do would be to deport all those who entered this nation illegally. But this will not happen it is not realistic.
what do you do with those who really illegally that of married American citizens and have children to we start breaking up families?
the new Texas plank is a workable solution ( if anyone else has a better solution please come forward and let’s discuss it)
In the Texas solution to have secure the borders, and I know and you know that this can be done and should be done.
Modernizing the US social security card to work cannot be duplicated so easily to help ensure the security of our Social Security system.
Stopping birthright citizenship no more anchor babies.
Then of course the work permit program or visas. Must have a complete criminal background check, they must prove that they can afford their own health care insurance, ( not look to me and you for a handout) they waive the right to all public assistance, and they must be proficient in English.
Know what part of this do you find wrong? I see nothing in this blank of monetary value to Norman Adams. All I see is a simple, workable, fair and honest way to help work towards solving argue illegal immigration problem.
I look forward to hearing your solutions in the near future.
3:19 pm
Bill, this platform is not a workable solution. If you will read the Immigration Reform & Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), you will find many of the same provisions that are being proposed now. There were a number of “feel good” issues in their that was supposed to appease the American people (secure the border, penalties & fines for employers, biometric identifier, emergency medial care only). There was no intent to enforce any of these provisions. The only provision was to allow illegals to stay in this country. What did happen and what will happen again is that 2.7 million were legalized over a 10 year period and it opened the doors to the 20-30 million illegals we now have in this country (the 11 million that they quote is from 2009 and if you look at the Homeland Security reports that number has continued to increase). The solution is to truely enforce the laws that are on the books. Remove all magnets, they will self deport, it’s been proven in states like Arizona, Alabama, etc. who has passed strict state laws. Illegals have left those states – and not to the detriment of the citizens of those states. Jobs, use mandatory e-verify, which in spite of what N. Adams and friends say thay it is not effective, Homeland Security report that it has a 90% + success rate. Proof of legality should be put on the perspective employee. Put the fear of God into the employers, make them pay the fines that are in the laws. Currently the first offense is a slap on the wrist. When it becomes a pattern of violation, the fines can go up to $10,000 per illegal hired, tighten that up to include harsh penalties the first time. Redefine the National School Lunch Act, the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, to exclude illegal aliens. Repeal the laws that say we need to educate children regardless of their legal status. Enforce the provision of the laws that will provide emergenct medical care only. We already have biometric identifiers in the law. That’s how ICE knows when an illegal alien has been deported 10 times. Mandatory 287(g) and Secure Communities programs, which will enable to police to check the legal status of anyone they stop. Enforce the provisions in the law that prohibit illegal aliens from receiving any public welfare benefits. Homeland Security says we can deport 400,000 a year – why? Accelerate the deportation time instead of having illegals languishing in detention facilities at the taxpayers expense (with free medical, dental, computers, television, etc.). As far as this humanitarian concept that our current laws are splitting up families, who are the ones that are really splitting up families. Illegal aliens know that when they come into this country through the “back door” that they are in violation of our laws, they also know that there is a chance that they could be deported, so how concerned are they about family unity. And what about the 6,500 illegal minor children sitting in our state detention facilities that have been sent into this country by their parents/guardians, how concerned are they about family unity? What about some humanitarian concern for the people in this country legally, both citizens and legal residents? The influx of illegal aliens in this country has had a greater impact on the black community and our teenagers looking for work with respect to jobs (and please don’t tell me illegals only take jobs that Americans won’t do, that is patently untrue). Food & beverage industry, baby sitting, landscaping, construction, hospitality industry, these are all jobs that the black community was involved in and our teenagers to a lesser degree. The IT industry is being taken over by the southeast Asian community being brought in legally from India, at about $10,000 a year less than you can hire an American for. Read the latest stats on unemployment in the black community and among our teenagers. How about the victims of crimes perpetrated by illegal aliens. Someone with a Spanish surname will steal the identity of some else with a Spanish surname. Someone with a middle eastern surname will steal the identity of someone else with a middle eastern surname, etc. They’re not going to steal yours or mine identities. Human trafficking/smuggling? Lax enforcement or no enforcement of our laws only contribute to and encourage the practice. I would encourage you to look at the monetary costs to the taxpayers of this country. The 12,000 illegals in our state prison system last year cost Texas $2.16 billion. The Harris County Hospital District spent close to $1 billion in illegal indigent care last year. There’s much more to say, but you need to look at the people that perpetrate this travesty. Norm has a vested interest in this issue. The main forcus of his insurance company insures the construction industry, his brother has a construction company. The landscaping, food & beverage, hospitality industries all have a vested interest in this issue and all of it for selfish gain. This is only the beginning of amnesty (comprehensive immigration reform) which is really what Norm & friends and rest of them want. Do some research Bill and you’ll find I am right. How can you possible give into this travesty?
5:07 pm
This plank will not work. If e-verify is implemented properly, businesses are prosecuted for intentionally violating existing law by hiring illegals, landlords will not knowingly rent or sell property to illegals then self-deportation will result. In addition no benefits whatsoever should be given to illegals in this country (in or out of it). Fraud is rampant with many illegal criminals blatantly scamming our system with no effective effort by federal or state government to stop it. There are many unemployed Americans who would take many jobs that are farmed out to illegals for the benefit of special interests with no consideration for the law of the land. If the GOP wants our votes then earn them. This platform panders to the left and its amnesty backers.
12:20 pm
John, I love that can-do attitude. the program can work and will work if we all fight for it and if our lawmakers implement it, and if our law enforcement and forces it.
Obviously e-verify needs to be a big part of anything that we do. and this is something that should be started now before anything else even has to happen. But the fact is at this point it is not being used.
if you have an idea of how we can get e-verify in the hands of all Americans who are hiring people, and renting homes to people on all open. And once it’s being used there has to be a way to punish those who did not use it.
but this does not work against the new Texas Republican Party plank. In fact I believe it goes hand-in-hand.