Saturday, May 20, 2006
Another Card
amba over at Donklephant has the latest on the state of the immigration reform legislation.
We all knew this was going to be ugly, and by following the links in amba's post you can see just how ugly it is.
Also in the post is Senator Feinstein's Orange Card Program amendment. If passed, this program would replace the current three tier S. 2611 bill currently on the slab, which at the very least is confusing and far too long winded; and some would argue not very feasible for the future direction of this country.
As I have mentioned before I think the issue that both houses should be focusing on is expediting and simplifying the process which leads to naturalization.
Feinstein's new amendment, while not really addressing the issue of time, does seem to simplify the process a little by adding a very black and white first step towards Permanent Residency. Here is the current legislation for obtaining a Green Card if you wish to see the process.
And while the standards enumerated in Feinstein's amendment may seem high to some, we are talking about taking illegal immigrants, and making them legal citizens. I only advocate attempting to shorten the time frame an immigrant must endure while trying to become a citizen, not lowering our standards.
One should hope that the standards be set extremely high. We should not let just anyone into this country without exercising the strictest possible scrutiny; as these people will ultimately have all of the same rights and liberties a citizen holds. There is nothing wrong with that notion as long as these immigrants can show they are worthy of the privilege, for that is precisely what it is, a privilege.
Whether the Orange Card is the solution to the legalization process or not, I am somewhat excited to see that it is being debated.
We all knew this was going to be ugly, and by following the links in amba's post you can see just how ugly it is.
Also in the post is Senator Feinstein's Orange Card Program amendment. If passed, this program would replace the current three tier S. 2611 bill currently on the slab, which at the very least is confusing and far too long winded; and some would argue not very feasible for the future direction of this country.
As I have mentioned before I think the issue that both houses should be focusing on is expediting and simplifying the process which leads to naturalization.
Feinstein's new amendment, while not really addressing the issue of time, does seem to simplify the process a little by adding a very black and white first step towards Permanent Residency. Here is the current legislation for obtaining a Green Card if you wish to see the process.
And while the standards enumerated in Feinstein's amendment may seem high to some, we are talking about taking illegal immigrants, and making them legal citizens. I only advocate attempting to shorten the time frame an immigrant must endure while trying to become a citizen, not lowering our standards.
One should hope that the standards be set extremely high. We should not let just anyone into this country without exercising the strictest possible scrutiny; as these people will ultimately have all of the same rights and liberties a citizen holds. There is nothing wrong with that notion as long as these immigrants can show they are worthy of the privilege, for that is precisely what it is, a privilege.
Whether the Orange Card is the solution to the legalization process or not, I am somewhat excited to see that it is being debated.
