Op-ed:
Clearing Up the Pathway Debate
By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / Right Side Patriots on
americanpbn.com/
The Republican candidates have discussed many issues during this ongoing
primary season but none has been more contentious than the issue of
immigration. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are at each others throats over
who supported and didn't support what; Donald Trump talks about Mexico
footing the bill for the very wall that will 'supposedly' keep Mexicans
out of our country; and Jeb Bush (who recently dropped out of the race)
said that those coming here illegally are doing so out of an act of
love. But nothing is more contentious than the two pathways we hear so
much about...one a 'Pathway to Citizenship' and the other a 'Pathway to
Legal Status.'
A 'Pathway to Citizenship' whether some like it or not is a vastly
different animal than a 'Pathway to Legal Status'...and
both are different than what came to be known as 'blanket amnesty.' So
now it's time for some truth, and let's start with 'blanket amnesty' and
get that out of the way as no candidate running is now or has ever been
for 'blanket amnesty.' And that includes Florida Senator Marco Rubio who
constantly comes up against naysayers for his being part of the
bi-partisan group known as the Gang of Eight...the very group who wrote
the first draft of the 'Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and
Immigration Modernization Act of 2013'...commonly called 'Comprehensive
Immigration Reform' (CIR)...the very bill many erroneously believe would
grant immediate amnesty to 11+ million people who crossed our borders
illegally, but nothing could be further from the truth.
The Gang of Eight...four Democrat and four Republican senators*... had good
intentions no matter what some say as they at least tried to 'fix' a
system that was and still is broken...broken beyond merely saying that
enforcing the laws currently on the books will fix it. The CIR bill as proposed basically called for citizenship for illegal aliens already in the U.S.
contingent upon certain border security and visa tracking improvements; called for
reducing current visa backlogs and fast tracking permanent residence for
U.S. university immigrant graduates; wanted to expand and improve our
current employment verification system; as well as wanting to improve work visa options
for low-skilled workers.
And the truth is that Marco Rubio was indeed part of the Gang of Eight, but
while the Democrats in the 'gang' wanted to grant all the illegals
access to citizenship (hence the term 'blanket amnesty'), Rubio wanted
the illegals...or what the politically correct love to call 'undocumented
immigrants'...to have lived in the U.S. for five years with no arrests
during that time period in order to be eligible. However, when Rubio saw
that our border was not going to sealed first before any reform of our
immigration laws took place...a touch point he insisted upon...he did the
right thing and voted against the very bill he helped to co-author. And
whether some like it or not that took courage to go against the very
men he had worked so hard and so long with.
And into this discourse came Ted Cruz, who while slamming Rubio for his
part in the Gang of Eight, must also take responsibility for his part in
it as he proposed an amendment to the CIR bill that would have set in
place a path to citizenship for those currently in this country
illegally. And Cruz’s amendment would have left in place the bill’s
provisions providing legal status for those here illegally. And while Ted
Cruz is now making excuses for what he did, and is saying that the words spoken are not
what he meant, the fact is he did what he did and said what he said...just like Rubio was part
of the Gang of Eight.
But let me insert a word of recommendation here to both men...stop
attacking each other! Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz have more similarities in
policy than they do differences (and to see those similarities please
refer to my Right Side Patriots partner and friend Craig Andresen's article at
http://www.thenationalpatriot.com/2016/0...),
and they need to focus their combined strength and political savvy to
knock Trump out of the race. This always should have been a two man race
not a media generated anointment of a Democrat now dressed in
Republican clothing. And by the way...neither man supports 'blanket
amnesty' nor amnesty...period.
Now as to the prime differences between a 'Pathway to Citizenship' and a
'Pathway to Legal Status'...which is what presidential candidate Marco Rubio is
proposing. First, it must be understood that no matter what bloviator
Donald Trump wants, 11+ million people will not be deported as the
courts will (rightfully) never allow it. Second, the border must be
sealed before any legal status is given to anyone; and third, it must be understood that the critical
and all-important difference between citizenship and legal status is that only citizens can vote and serve on
juries....legal residents cannot and will never be able to. In other words, no
matter how many now illegals would eventually become legal
residents...and know that they will no matter how and when the current
laws are amended...their gaining legal status as residents in no way would
give them the right to vote in any U.S. election nor does it give the
Democratic voting rolls a boost simply because residents are not
citizens.
And gaining citizenship would be no easy task in what Marco Rubio is
proposing as the currently illegal person who would gain only legal resident status would have to wait a minimum of 10+ years before
even beginning the process to apply for citizenship...as opposed to the current five year
wait...coupled with their having to show good moral character; that they
can speak, read, and write English; hold a job; and have committed no
criminal offense. With that it must also be understood that granting
legal resident status under the Rubio proposal will not give the
illegal petitioner 'probationary legal status' during the time it would
take to pass background checks...all they would get is a work permit...and most importantly they will under no
conditions receive any federal benefits, and must pay a hefty fine for
coming here illegally.
Also, remember that while under the existing law if you are illegally in
the U.S. you are not prohibited from getting citizenship, you just
have to go back to your home country to wait out the mandatory five years. Under
Rubio's proposal if you want to stay here, you have to wait the 10+ years, and you
have to be holding down a job during that time...meaning it would be cheaper, faster, and
easier for them to just go back to their home countries to wait out the now
10+years than it will be to go through this long drawn out process. And
people...that in no way is amnesty no matter what the naysayers claim.
And legal resident status as proposed by Rubio simply means that someone
granted said resident status has the right to live and work in
this country legally, and that they must pay any and all taxes as required
by law as they do so. But most importantly, Rubio's 'Pathway to Legal Status' changes the
current U.S. policy of legal resident's being able to petition for
immediate family members to come here and receive permanent residence, which is a
family-based system, changing it to a skills-based/merit-based system...in other
words based upon the skills the petitioner has, what they can contribute
to our economy, and most important of all, it helps to determine whether or not someone is
coming here to become an American not just live in America, but to be an
American.
A 'Pathway to Legal Status' is the right thing to do and most will
realize that when they separate the anger from the realities that most
here illegally...and I do know that their coming here illegally is a
crime in and of itself...have become hard workers and just want to live
their lives in this, the greatest nation the world has ever known. The
fault of what we currently are facing is the sole property of the Obama
administration not only because they do not enforce our current
immigration laws, but also for their allowing illegal felons to get out
of jail and meld back into the populace instead of deporting them
all...with many now returning to commit more crimes, including murder,
because Obama adamantly refuses to seal the border and allows for
'sanctuary cities' to continue to exist.
Also, we must accept the fact that part of the problems we currently
face in regards to the illegal issue is because of partisan
gridlock... gridlock which has prevented Congress from overhauling the
immigration system, and like I said at the beginning of this article,
simply enforcing the current laws won't to do it. And sadly what many
refuse to see is that by doing common sense reform...as in a 'Pathway to
Legal Status'...would bring the majority of hard-working illegals
(those who do the jobs most Americans won't do) off the economic
sidelines, and would according to many economists bring $1.5 trillion to
the nation’s cumulative GDP over 10 years, and add close to $5 billion
in additional tax revenue in just the next three years, amongst other positive things. That is a big
plus.
And if background checks are done on all the illegals currently residing in our country before
they gain legal resident status...and don't think for a minute that this
administration doesn't know who they are or where they are...will then
allow authorities to focus enforcement resources on the criminal
elements and security threats and send them packing. And a 'Pathway to
Legal Status' would expose unscrupulous employers who help bring
illegals here and would allow them to be shut down.
But the bottom line remains that no matter the anger Trump has
stirred up by his trying to lump all illegals into one pot, the fact is
that 11+ million people will not be deported and the Trumpers best get
over it. So isn't it better to do what benefits our country and
especially our economy, and try to solve this issue with clear heads,
and tangible and workable policies...I believe it is. And I surely hope
that the next crop of primary voters realize just that and vote
responsibly instead out of Trump initiated misplaced anger...anger that
should be focused on Obama, Hillary, and the Democrats...which if one
pays attention Trump doesn't do...as our country's very survival depends on
the voters hopefully doing just that.
----------------------------------------------------------
*The Gang of 8: Jeff Flake (R-A), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John McCain (R-AZ), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
The Republican candidates have discussed many issues during this ongoing
primary season but none has been more contentious than the issue of
immigration. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are at each others throats over
who supported and didn't support what; Donald Trump talks about Mexico
footing the bill for the very wall that will 'supposedly' keep Mexicans
out of our country; and Jeb Bush (who recently dropped out of the race)
said that those coming here illegally are doing so out of an act of
love. But nothing is more contentious than the two pathways we hear so
much about...one a 'Pathway to Citizenship' and the other a 'Pathway to
Legal Status.'
The Gang of Eight...four Democrat and four Republican senators*... had good
intentions no matter what some say as they at least tried to 'fix' a
system that was and still is broken...broken beyond merely saying that
enforcing the laws currently on the books will fix it. The CIR bill as proposed basically called for citizenship for illegal aliens already in the U.S.
contingent upon certain border security and visa tracking improvements; called for
reducing current visa backlogs and fast tracking permanent residence for
U.S. university immigrant graduates; wanted to expand and improve our
current employment verification system; as well as wanting to improve work visa options
for low-skilled workers.
And the truth is that Marco Rubio was indeed part of the Gang of Eight, but
while the Democrats in the 'gang' wanted to grant all the illegals
access to citizenship (hence the term 'blanket amnesty'), Rubio wanted
the illegals...or what the politically correct love to call 'undocumented
immigrants'...to have lived in the U.S. for five years with no arrests
during that time period in order to be eligible. However, when Rubio saw
that our border was not going to sealed first before any reform of our
immigration laws took place...a touch point he insisted upon...he did the
right thing and voted against the very bill he helped to co-author. And
whether some like it or not that took courage to go against the very
men he had worked so hard and so long with.
And into this discourse came Ted Cruz, who while slamming Rubio for his
part in the Gang of Eight, must also take responsibility for his part in
it as he proposed an amendment to the CIR bill that would have set in
place a path to citizenship for those currently in this country
illegally. And Cruz’s amendment would have left in place the bill’s
provisions providing legal status for those here illegally. And while Ted
Cruz is now making excuses for what he did, and is saying that the words spoken are not
what he meant, the fact is he did what he did and said what he said...just like Rubio was part
of the Gang of Eight.
But let me insert a word of recommendation here to both men...stop
attacking each other! Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz have more similarities in
policy than they do differences (and to see those similarities please
refer to my Right Side Patriots partner and friend Craig Andresen's article at http://www.thenationalpatriot.com/2016/0...),
and they need to focus their combined strength and political savvy to
knock Trump out of the race. This always should have been a two man race
not a media generated anointment of a Democrat now dressed in
Republican clothing. And by the way...neither man supports 'blanket
amnesty' nor amnesty...period.
Now as to the prime differences between a 'Pathway to Citizenship' and a
'Pathway to Legal Status'...which is what presidential candidate Marco Rubio is
proposing. First, it must be understood that no matter what bloviator
Donald Trump wants, 11+ million people will not be deported as the
courts will (rightfully) never allow it. Second, the border must be
sealed before any legal status is given to anyone; and third, it must be understood that the critical
and all-important difference between citizenship and legal status is that only citizens can vote and serve on
juries....legal residents cannot and will never be able to. In other words, no
matter how many now illegals would eventually become legal
residents...and know that they will no matter how and when the current
laws are amended...their gaining legal status as residents in no way would
give them the right to vote in any U.S. election nor does it give the
Democratic voting rolls a boost simply because residents are not
citizens.
And gaining citizenship would be no easy task in what Marco Rubio is
proposing as the currently illegal person who would gain only legal resident status would have to wait a minimum of 10+ years before
even beginning the process to apply for citizenship...as opposed to the current five year
wait...coupled with their having to show good moral character; that they
can speak, read, and write English; hold a job; and have committed no
criminal offense. With that it must also be understood that granting
legal resident status under the Rubio proposal will not give the
illegal petitioner 'probationary legal status' during the time it would
take to pass background checks...all they would get is a work permit...and most importantly they will under no
conditions receive any federal benefits, and must pay a hefty fine for
coming here illegally.
And legal resident status as proposed by Rubio simply means that someone
granted said resident status has the right to live and work in
this country legally, and that they must pay any and all taxes as required
by law as they do so. But most importantly, Rubio's 'Pathway to Legal Status' changes the
current U.S. policy of legal resident's being able to petition for
immediate family members to come here and receive permanent residence, which is a
family-based system, changing it to a skills-based/merit-based system...in other
words based upon the skills the petitioner has, what they can contribute
to our economy, and most important of all, it helps to determine whether or not someone is
coming here to become an American not just live in America, but to be an
American.
Also, we must accept the fact that part of the problems we currently
face in regards to the illegal issue is because of partisan
gridlock... gridlock which has prevented Congress from overhauling the
immigration system, and like I said at the beginning of this article,
simply enforcing the current laws won't to do it. And sadly what many
refuse to see is that by doing common sense reform...as in a 'Pathway to
Legal Status'...would bring the majority of hard-working illegals
(those who do the jobs most Americans won't do) off the economic
sidelines, and would according to many economists bring $1.5 trillion to
the nation’s cumulative GDP over 10 years, and add close to $5 billion
in additional tax revenue in just the next three years, amongst other positive things. That is a big
plus.
And if background checks are done on all the illegals currently residing in our country before
they gain legal resident status...and don't think for a minute that this
administration doesn't know who they are or where they are...will then
allow authorities to focus enforcement resources on the criminal
elements and security threats and send them packing. And a 'Pathway to
Legal Status' would expose unscrupulous employers who help bring
illegals here and would allow them to be shut down.