Meanwhile, something may get done about illegal immigration

[Onkel Neal]

Obama Hints He May Be Open to Immigration Deal With GOP
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/01/us/obama-hints-he-may-be-open-to-immigration-deal-with-gop.html?_r=0

President Obama signaled in an interview broadcast Friday that he might accept an immigration deal that does not include a special pathway to citizenship for those in the country illegally, possibly meeting Republicans in the middle on an issue that has divided them for years.

Mr. Obama and other Democrats have long insisted that legislation overhauling the immigration system include a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants who pay fines and back taxes and meet other conditions. Activists and many Democrats have called that nonnegotiable.

Speaker John A. Boehner and other House Republicans on Thursday released a statement of principles on immigration that would not include the citizenship pathway but would allow such immigrants legal status.

Of course, getting "legal status" is just a step before we see the same protests that those with legal status are "second class citizens" and they should get citizenship.

Man, I would hate to be a law-abiding immigrant who has followed our laws and gone through the work to become a citizen. They must feel cheated. We are rewarding the wrong thing here.

[Armistead]

Latinos made up 10% of the electorate, but that 10% plays a big role in a few key states. The Dems want these votes and the GOP doesn't want to ignore them, but must fear their base.

It is what it is, before we do anything we should seal the border shut with our military, border guard, whatever. We are at war with Mexico due to drugs, illegals, gangs, crime, etc....

[Tchocky]

The border patrol got additional funding and staffing that they didn't even want.

This isn't about border security.

Neal - yes, it sucks for those who followed the rules. Speaking as an outsider who's considered working in the US, ye don't make it easy to legally immigrate. At all.

This is one of those strange issues where most people are in agreement, and yet nothing gets done. So here's hoping

[Wolferz]

It's like everything else the legislators touch. Top heavy, over complicated and inefficient rules, procedures and red tape. Oh, the red tape.:-?

If you try to suggest ways to improve the whole process through streamlined common sense language, you get the thousand yard stare and the sound of grinding gears.:88)

[vienna]

[QUOTE=Armistead;2170036]Latinos made up 10% of the electorate, but that 10% plays a big role in a few key states. The Dems want these votes and the GOP doesn't want to ignore them, but must fear their base.
QUOTE]


The Latinos may represent 10% of the electorate, but they are also one of the lowest segements in voter turnout. Their influence far exceeds their electoral clout. It is more a case of the squeaky wheel. In addition, a very large portion of the Latinos who do vote are more assimilated into the American culture; those who are native born are not as closely tied to their "roots" and are not as keen on Latino "hot button" issues; and those who are naturalized have gone throught the long process of legalization and are not terribly sympathetic to the calls for wholesale amnesty. Add to this the more natural inclination to be more conservative or middle-of-the-road on a lot of issues (abortion, gay marriage, etc.) and the Latinos, aside from their financial contributions to campaigns really do not elevate the Dems much over the GOP...


<O>

[AVGWarhawk]

Man, I would hate to be a law-abiding immigrant who has followed our laws and gone through the work to become a citizen. They must feel cheated. We are rewarding the wrong thing here.

I agree but we do not hear their voice of discontent.