Here's Immigration Reform I Can Live With

If Republicans want to "reform" immigration laws so bad, I have an idea. Instead of virtually giving immunity and a pathway to citizenship to every single illegal alien in the country, why not first see just who really wants to become a United States citizen, and who is here just to take advantage of American generosity. Give public notice to illegal aliens and visa over-stayers residing in this country that if they do not voluntarily deport themselves by the end of this year, they will forever be barred from becoming a US Citizen or legal permanent resident. If an illegal alien or visa over-stayer is caught in the country beginning next year, not only will they be deported, but they can never legally return. Now, if an illegal alien or over-stayer really, really, really, wants to become a citizen like so many Democrats claim, then this is the ultimate incentive for them to go home and apply for citizenship the old fashioned way: legally. Both the immigration reform act Ronald Reagan signed into law and the one carved out by the so-called gang of eight are actually different forms of the same thing: amnesty. In fact, the most recent version of amnesty for illegals is in essence a form of extortion. The government won't prosecute you if you pay it a $2,000 fine, pay back taxes, get and hold a job (good luck with that one), and in your spare time learn conversational English. But, if you have been convicted of a "serious" felony or more than three misdemeanor convictions, you're outta here! (Who the hell ever came up with those criteria? I guess only being arrested and convicted three times for sneaking across the border, misdemeanor assault on your wife, or drunk driving is the new measure of good citizenship. And who would determine what a serious felony is, the IRS?) If illegals knew they could never apply for citizenship if caught in the country starting next year, serious US citizen wannabes would self-deport themselves and their families in droves to apply for citizenship at the US embassies in their nations' capital cities and get in the back of the line. They wouldn't have to pay back taxes, get a job, or pay a fine. Once they become legal residents they can either achieve the American dream they allegedly seek, or go or the welfare rolls like the Boston Marathon bombers did. In the meantime while all the illegals and over-stayers are waiting in line for citizenship, we can bolster the border by building a state of the art fence along the entire southern border and round up illegal aliens who are only here for jobs and all the freebees and have no intention of giving up their Mexican citizenship. Republicans need to be advised that voting for this bill in its current form is not going to win over the Hispanic vote. It will only add future voters to the Democrat rolls, as evidence by Hispanics voting overwhelming for President Obama last November despite him breaking his promise to pass immigration reform in his first term, and his Justice Department allowing assault weapons to be smuggled into Mexico resulting in hundreds of Mexican Nationals deaths at the hands of drug lords. These new voters will in all likelihood vote for Democrats because it's hard for Republicans to compete with Santa Clause. In the unlikely event the current version of so-called comprehensive immigration reform becomes law, it has a provision that does not allow these new citizens to vote for 13-years. Once becoming law, that provision will immediately be challenged by liberals like Sen. Chuck Schumer who will argue that it's unfair to prevent these new immigrates from voting and participating in democracy for such a long time. Fortunately, conservative Representatives in the House will most likely not agree to the Senate version of the bill, and gridlock will prevent the measure from becoming law. At least, I hope so.