Health & Fitness
Compromise Isn't Possible On Immigration
The American people wan't enforcement first of immigration laws before discussing citizenship. You can't have both in the same bill.
Americans don't want an immigration law that is enforced with the same intensity as Iowa's fireworks law. We've got security concerns and also are aware of the drugs being moved across the border.
Legislating means compromise, which appears, at first glance, to mandate that any immigration bill feature measures that secure the border while also providing a path to citizenship for illegals already in the country.
But I don't think compromise legislation will ever win the support of the American people. After passage of such a bill, many of us suspect that the "pathway" will be implemented while the security measures will be delayed as our government officials talk about the difficulty of actually securing the border.
The American people have made clear that they want enforcement first before talking about citizenship. That's why any bill dealing with immigration will need to deal ONLY with border security and its implementation.
After voters are assured that security is being implemented, THEN a citizenship pathway bill can be passed.
Securing the border can be achieved: here's three big ideas. And here's the NPR story on the triple-fence referenced in the first link.