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American citizenship, can still be taken, but only by those who are legal residents of the United States

Romney fails to face up to the issue of illegal immigration



When Ronald Reagan campaigned for the presidency, the American people knew where he stood on every issue. They understood that Reagan had strong convictions, and that he was clearly and consistently enunciating the policies he would follow if elected. Mitt Romney is no Ronald Reagan, but when it comes to addressing the problem of illegal immigration the American people deserve better than the candidate that the Governor has morphed into.
Romney began his campaign by stating that he was in favor of self-deportation for illegal aliens. Then as he campaigned with Marco Rubio he seemed to have switched positions in favor of Rubio’s watered down version of the Dream Act. This impression was strengthened by his refusal to state whether, if elected, he would reverse Obama’s recent decision not to deport illegal aliens under the age of thirty. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Arizona immigration law (SB1070), the Governor seems to have decided that illegal immigration is too hot a potato to deal with, and rather than risk alienating some voters by taking a position, chose to kick the ball down the field. He wrote, “Today’s decision underscores the need for a President who will lead on this critical issue and work in a bipartisan fashion to pursue a national immigration strategy.”

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The American people must be wondering if Mitt Romney has the vaguest idea about how to address the issue of illegal immigration, and beginning to think that he is just another pandering politician who will say whatever it takes to get elected. Instead of issuing the bland statement that he did, the Governor should have spoken out forthrightly and with conviction. He should have laid out the policies that he would follow if elected. It not only would have been the right thing to do; it also would have been the smart political move. For example, Romney could have released the following statement: “Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court makes it clear that immigration is the responsibility of the Federal government. Arizona tried to protect its borders because President Obama has failed to enforce our existing immigration laws. As President I will enforce those laws. On my first day in office I will direct the Department of Homeland Security to issue regulations requiring all employers to use the Department’s on-line E-Verify system to verify that each resident alien they employ has been legally admitted to the United States. Employers will be given the opportunity to request H-2A or H-2B (temporary worker) visas for each of their employees who are in the U.S. illegally. Under these visa programs, employers must demonstrate that there are not a sufficient number of American workers who are able, willing and available to do the job. They also must show that the wages and working conditions of the foreign national temporary workers will be comparable to those of similarly employed American workers. The cost of transporting the foreign national from his or her country to the United States and the return transportation cost at the completion of the employment contract must be paid for by the employer. To prevent an expansion of these temporary worker programs from becoming a shortcut to citizenship, I will press Congress to pass and the states to ratify a constitutional amendment granting American citizenship only to children of United States citizens. Aliens who were not granted H-2A or H-2B visas and any other unemployed illegal aliens would be given 90 days to leave the United States without prejudicing their opportunity to return either as temporary workers or as legal immigrants. Those who fail to do so, when apprehended, would be subject to existing criminal penalties and permanently barred from reentering the United States. I will instruct the Department of Justice to vigorously enforce our laws requiring employers to verify the eligibility of job applicants to work in the United States and requiring banks and other financial institutions to report any attempts by illegal aliens to remit funds to a foreign country. There is little incentive to enter the U.S. illegally if you can’t work here or send money home. Stopping the influx of illegal aliens will allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement working in conjunction with state and local police to devote its resources to preventing terrorists, drug smugglers, people traffickers and other criminals from crossing our borders. We are a nation of immigrants, a land of opportunity. Throughout our history people have come to the United States because they believed in the American Dream: individual liberty and the right to pursue happiness. Nothing that I have briefly outlined here today changes that. The words of Emma Lazarus that are inscribed on the Statue of Liberty still apply. The lamp beside the golden door is still lit; the door is still open, and the road to that most precious gift of all, American citizenship, can still be taken, but only by those who are legal residents of the United States.”


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Al Kaltman -- Bio and Archives

Al Kaltman is a political science professor who teaches a leadership studies course at George Washington University.  He is the author of Cigars, Whiskey and Winning: Leadership Lessons from General Ulysses S. Grant.


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