The Plan That Should Have Been

The White House's new plan for immigration reform is out, and the usual suspects are, once again, up in arms.

LOS ANGELES - Organizers expect several thousand people at an immigrant rights rally on Saturday, saying many illegal immigrants are angry about a White House plan that would grant them work visas but require them to return home and pay hefty fines to become legal U.S. residents.

Immigrant rights advocates say many of the area's illegal immigrants feel betrayed by President Bush, who they had long considered an ally.

"People are really upset," said Juan Jose Gutierrez, president of Los Angeles-based Latino Movement USA, one of several organizers of Saturday's rally. "For years, the president spoke in no uncertain terms about supporting immigration reform ... then this kind of plan comes out and people are so frustrated."

The White House's draft plan, leaked last week, calls for a new "Z" visa that would allow illegal immigrant workers to apply for three-year work permits. They would be renewable indefinitely, but would cost $3,500 each time.

To get a permit and become legal permanent residents, illegal immigrants would have to return to their home country, apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate to re-enter legally and pay a $10,000 fine.

Well, it's either worth leaving your home country to come to the USA, or it isn't.  What's the cost-benefit analysis on being able to stay a legal resident in the country at, oh, say $15-20/hr in a legitimate manufacturing job vs. being forced to leave due to your illegal status to return to a land with no job for you, or perhaps one at $1.50/hr?  Because that's really the choice here.  You're not going to get majority support of the American people for full amnesty, which was really what the Senate bill that passed last year was, in disguise.

The plan is far more conservative than the one passed by the Senate last year with bipartisan backing and support from President Bush. That plan would have allowed many of the country's estimated 12 million illegal immigrants to stay in the United States, work and apply to become legal residents after learning English, pay small fines and back taxes and clear a background check.

Is there a high fee for the visa?  Sure.  Is it worth coming?  I'll bet the people desperate for work here will pay it gladly.  And they'll feel good about it, because they'll be welcome.

4/8/07 1330: So, you don't think the protests will convince Americans to support amnesty?  Well, think again.

And when I talk to leadership, I just say there’s no trust with the American people after what happened in 1986. Nobody believes that the enforcement is going to come, so show that you’re going to have some enforcement. Show that you’re going to protect the borders, and then we’ll talk about how we take care of the rest of the issue. It’s a huge, massive, massive problem.

Comments

[Assistant Village Idiot]

The usual suspects indeed. The MSM need to quote someone from an organization gives exaggerated weight to the views of activists, rather than average folk. This of course moves the views of average folk in the direction of the activists. Nowhere is this more true than with the various Hispanic/Latino groups.