Comments about ‘Charles Krauthammer: Enforcement, then legalization, is best answer’

Right on, Charles.

Securing the border is a red herring. If the border is secured (whatever that means) and all illegals get the green light (card), then the border suddenly gets unsecured for some reason, do all the green cards get canceled? No.

Furthermore, the border is only half the problem. About 40 percent of illegals come on legal visas but don't go home when the visa expires. That's the big problem that is being totally ignored and not being solved. The only solution to that problem is to stop issuing visas... at least stop issuing them to Hispanics since they seem to be the biggest violators. Besides which, we have enough Hispanics now... 11 million illegals and counting. We need to concentrate on allowing migrations from other countries. There's plenty out there wanting to come to the US for a better life.

Securing the border will not solve the problem on it's own. We must also enforce laws if they get past. Interior enforcement works better as a deterrent.

Crossing a fence is difficult, enforcing our laws when people are first caught, will remove the profit from coming here illegally. E-verify, and removing access to freebee's, deportation when caught, and a wall to impede.

Government has known for years how to stop them. I don't believe for a second that laws will be enforced. We have had seven amnesties, none ended with enforcement. Even the 1996 reform that banned people coming here illegally for 10 years, if caught here illegally for one year, was waived by Obama.

Obama has given waivers to family members, and to students brought here illegally (3-4 million). Let America show it's compassion by allowing them to work towards citizenship, but not allow them to sponsor family (children-spouses exempt) one citizenship is received. The first generation children and spouse should not be allowed to sponsor extended family either.

Then deport the rest. Show America that our government is willing to do whats right.

After seven amnesties they are still calling for compassion?

Where is the compassion for the honest immigrant? For America's 20 million workers looking for full time help. I don't hear cries for compassion for those who break other laws. Is that because they don't supply cheap labor for dishonest business.

Dead wrong. Open the borders. Immigrants are a net economic plus.

Here's what would solve illegal immigration overnight:

Actually prosecute those who hire illegally.

Problem solved

Liberals have always favored amnesty for illegals for two reasons - 1) compassion, which is fine but illogical, otherwise why have a border at all? Just open the gates to all the world's poor and see how long we remain a prosperous nation.

The second and more cynical reason is votes - they know these are people more likely to vote for the party of generous social services (free K-12 education being the largest).

And this is why I fear we will never be able to pass an immigration bill that turns off the magnet of attraction for illegal immigrants. The Democrats have no reason to pass anything other than amnesty (and a de facto continuation of illegal immigration), because either way they win.

Either the Republicans cave (because apparently they too want the votes) and the Democrats win, or the Republicans stop it and the Democrats win (because the election of 2012 will become the result of a future as far as the eye can see).

Eric Samuelsen

If they are a net plus, why don't they solve the problems in their old country.

As far as illegal aliens, they are a new loss. Studies after studies have proved that they take more than the give. And they hurt our countries poor and middle class by depressing our wages.

Open border movement propaganda. Amnesty solves nothing. It does make it hard for those granted it to keep their jobs. They work because they are cheap labor, easily replaced by new illegal aliens once they become citizens. Seven amnesties have shown us that Draconian amnesty hurts them in the long run.

11-20 million new people will flood our already overburdened social services and Obama care. So far 8 Senators and Obama have hated an article a day. That seems overkill. It's getting far more coverage than our poor, or the fiscal problems of our country.

@Tyler D:
"And this is why I fear we will never be able to pass an immigration bill that turns off the magnet of attraction for illegal immigrants."

You got that right. It's too late. Hispanics have grown in population to the point where they have political clout and can decide elections. That's how Obama got elected. The consequence going forward is dire. The Congress will have to pass amnesty legislation to garner the Hispanic vote which means more will flood in... either over the porous border or via overstaying visas. And since we how have Obamacare these new 'citizens' will overwhelm that program. We are on a path to becoming an non nation... and worse.

It's too bad that Reagan, et. al., didn't see this fiasco coming back in the day when the Simpson-Mazzoli bill gave 1.5 million illegals amnesty in '68. They soulda knowed that all it meant was more and more illegals flooding in over the years. Now we have 11 million seeking the same treatment... Next time around we will see maybe 50 million. Good-bye America.

We are taught to love one another, but the Bible teaches us that enforcing the law is an act of love. Giving 11 million people rewards for breaking the law, is not love. It's telling them they were justified in breaking our laws, and encouraging millions in other countries to follow in their footsteps. That will only encourage people to come here illegally and start living in the shadows.

I know people in construction, and housekeeping that could not compete with companies using illegal immigration. We don't love our neighbor, when we allow people to illegally take their livelihood away. Nothing breaks up a family more than money problems.

We need to deport those here illegally using e-verify, strong business penalties, and removing entitlements. Otherwise we face the same problem in the future.

Had your taxes done lately? They told me the government will not be accepting them for a few more weeks. Last year many fraudulent claims were made, using false social security numbers, addresses, etc. This year they are finally trying to clean up the mess. We have created a mess with immigration, and it will only get bigger without enforcement.

wrz

"Hispanics have grown in population to the point where they have political clout and can decide elections. That's how Obama got elected."

That's how Bush got elected too, remember?

You will soon be the minority, and other will force their will on you, as you have on them for years. I can only hope they are more compassionate. When times are good no one complains because things they want to spend money on get done quickly. When money gets tight we suddenly become xenophobic. Check your history it's simply repeating again.

Real Maverick, "Here's what would solve illegal immigration overnight:

Actually prosecute those who hire illegally.

Problem solved"

Why should we selectively prosecute business owning citizens only? Yet another version of liberals wanting to pick the winners and the losers.

I know liberals blame business for all the ills of the world, and I do think we should prosecute those who hire illegal immigrants, but business does not equal evil. The vast majority of business owners do NOT hire illegal immigrants, and we should have a verify system that makes it so they can truly verify who they are hiring.

Even the businesses that do hire illegal immigrants are only part of this problem. Those who come illegally or overstay their visa also need to be prosecuted. I would actually favor 30 days held in jail before they are deported, so there is some penalty for being here illegally. Then we won't have criminals claiming to be illegal just to get a free ticket out of jail to the Mexican border, as has happened. 30 days would allow law enforcement time to verify who they are holding.

Deseret News ignored my first comment. My second comment on this article was said to be "off topic or disruptive". Hmmm. I guess that is what happens when one disagrees with Obama propagandists.

To me, it is simple. I lock the doors to my home to keep unwanted people out. If they break in, I use other means to expel them. If they are friends, I invite them in.

This is my country. We should secure the borders and use all means to expel those who violate them. If they apply for entry, we can invite them to join us providing they are of good character.

Keep your compassion for those who deserve it and never assume anything.