February 25, 2008
WHICH IS WHAT OPPONENTS OF IMMIGRATION MEAN WHEN THEY SAY PLAY BY THE RULES:
Legal immigrants to U.S. face endless wait: With its backlogs and bureaucracy, the immigration system is punishing for those who play by the rules. (Anne Noyes Saini, 2/26/08, The Christian Science Monitor)
Immigration has been a hot topic of late. But amid the furor over illegal immigrants, the plight of legal migrants caught in a system that is slow, erratic, and often unresponsive is largely ignored.The result: talented, hardworking people who play by the rules are trapped in limbo, and even close relatives of American citizens may wait up to a decade to enter the US.
The nativist position on immigration is the same as Bill Clinton's on abortion: it should be legal, safe and rare. Posted by Orrin Judd at February 25, 2008 7:10 PM
Thus, the de facto Mexican only immigration policy of Bush...
Why hasn't he come out in favor of loosening the rules for those trying to do things by the book?
I see no other answer than that he doesn't care about them (Poles, Ghanans, Chinese...) but loves Mexicans.
Posted by: Benny at February 25, 2008 8:05 PMUm, Benny, I don't understand your distinction.
It's just as difficult for all those groups to come here and go on the legal path to immigration. Mexicans cross the border, Poles and Irish et al come on visas which are easy to get but which expire.
They all end up being illegal, and an amnesty would apply to all.
It's not Bush who treats Mexicans differently . . .
Posted by: Jim in Chicago at February 25, 2008 9:03 PMSo, what does one call the folks who want more legal immigration at the same time that illegal immigration is made more difficult?
Posted by: Jay at February 25, 2008 11:01 PMJay:
People who believe in efficient bureaucracy? Deluded.
Posted by: oj at February 25, 2008 11:44 PMJay: RACISTS!@@@@@
JIC: It is nonsensical to compare the ease with which Mexicans and other nationalities enter and stay in the country. You and OJ live for the difficult to understand distinctions on this subject...
Posted by: Benny at February 25, 2008 11:44 PMHe's been relaxing the rules since 2001.
Posted by: oj at February 25, 2008 11:46 PMThe stay is even easier for those who enter legally and then stay illegally.
Posted by: oj at February 26, 2008 7:08 AMIt's nonsense? Please explain how Benny. If anything, it's much more difficult for Mexicans, who would seem to have a more difficult time getting visas and have to resort to sneaking over the border, then for Europeans like the Poles and Irish, who can just hop on a plane.
Posted by: Jim in Chicago at February 26, 2008 10:04 AM