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Monday, May 21, 2007
Pearson: Send 12 million back, but a few at a time
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Since last Wednesday, members of the Republican right has been rather forceful about what it doesn’t like about the immigration reform package now before the U.S. Senate.
But details about what it would take to make them happy have been rather scarce.
State Sen. Chip Pearson (R-Dawsonville) sent out a letter today, laying out what he wants. He’s trying to point Georgia’s congressional delegation to a tougher approach, one that would actually require illegal immigrants to step foot off U.S. soil before they’re granted job permits.
Pearson was the sponsor of S.R. 646, a resolution adopted by the state Senate this spring on illegal immigration. The measure was also the basis of the resolution adopted by the state Republican convention this weekend.
Pearson concedes that foreign workers are essential to the nation’s economy. For that reason, he would see them deported in shifts.
“Not all illegal immigrants shall be deported at the same time but instead groups of immigrants shall be deported in phases as determined by the agency having jurisdiction over such proceedings and in such a manner as will be just and which shall not adversely impact the nation’s economy,” he writes.
How to do that? Perhaps the military or by private contract, Pearson said.
If he can’t interest U.S. Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson in his ideas, Pearson said he hoped members of Georgia’s House delegation would take up his fight.
Click on the jump to see a complete copy of the letter he’s passing around.
May 21, 2007
Dear,
It is long past time for this country to adopt a comprehensive immigration and border security plan. Left unchecked or left to mere piecemeal responses, the illegal immigration crisis is likely to cause irreversible and devastating effects on this nation. Motivated by the grave concerns many members of the Georgia General Assembly have regarding the illegal immigration crisis, I send this letter in hope that you might give our proposed plan serious consideration. This letter sets forth a brief summary our idea for a comprehensive federal plan for combating illegal immigration.
The plan has been referred to as the Federal Immigrant Registration and Employment plan. The plan began with three primary components or guiding principles which we strongly believe any such plan should adhere to. First and foremost, the nation’s borders must be secured. Little may be accomplished until adequate resources are provided for the security of our borders. Increased efforts, including increased resources, personnel, and funding, are paramount to controlling the borders of the United States. Greater deterrents at the borders are the only means by which the tremendous influx of persons illegally entering this country may be lowered.
The second key component is the acknowledgment that legal immigration is essential to the nation’s economy. Legitimate needs of businesses and industries must be recognized, evaluated, and met. At the same time, employers who flagrantly break immigration laws or mistreat illegal foreign workers should not be rewarded.
Finally, amnesty provisions or expedited citizenship should be avoided as these only promote a culture of disrespect for U.S. immigration laws and the basic principles of this great nation. While a pledge to deny amnesty is important, it is equally important that any immigration plan treat people fairly and equitably. Some positive benefit may be warranted for those illegal aliens who are willing to come forward now in an effort to comply with legal immigration requirements.
In keeping with these three major components, the Federal Immigrant Registration and Employment Plan would include the following specific actions:
Increase personnel, funding, and equipment for the purpose of securing the borders of the United States of America.
Establish a date certain upon which anyone over 18 years of age currently residing in the United States illegally shall register as an illegal alien with designated federal authorities. The time allowed for illegal immigrants currently residing in this country to register shall be open for a period of time not to exceed 90 days.
The registration form shall require such information as is determined necessary by the designated federal agency or department but shall include information regarding the illegal alien’s current residence, years of residence, country of origin, and current employer, if any.
Following the period of time allowed for registration, the designated government agency shall commence deportation proceedings against illegal immigrants who properly registered. The deportation process shall require such persons to return to their country of origin; provided, however, if such illegal immigrant wishes to reside in the United States, they may apply for a work visa, work permit, or similar authorization for temporary lawful entry into the country for purposes of employment. If such applicant provides a written statement from an employer that such person is or will be employed with such employer and the services of the nonresident immigrant are needed for the operation of the employer’s business, then the applicant shall be given priority consideration for authorized re-entry into the country. Upon the submission of an approved application and employer statement, such person seeking lawful admission into this country shall be given first priority for any work visa, work permit, or similar authorization for temporary lawful entry into the United States. First priority shall mean that the applicant will be given priority status over any other similar application for admission. In addition, the priority ranking shall be based on the time of registration, with the person who first registered having priority over anyone who shall have registered later.
Deportation proceedings of registered illegal immigrants shall be implemented in a fair and equitable manner as prescribed by the appropriate federal agency, and such proceedings shall be conducted over an extended period of time, not to exceed two years. Not all illegal immigrants shall be deported at the same time but instead groups of immigrants shall be deported in phases as determined by the agency having jurisdiction over such proceedings and in such a manner as will be just and which shall not adversely impact the nation’s economy.
Where any registrant is granted a work visa, work permit, or similar authorization for temporary entry into the United States, the authorization shall be for a two-year period as long as the authorized immigrant remains employed. Such temporary authorized entry shall be automatically extended for an additional two years where the registrant submits an updated application accompanied by a letter from his or her employer certifying that his or her services continue to be needed for the successful operation of the employer’s business. If at any time during the four years that admission is authorized under this specially authorized work visa the registered immigrant becomes unemployed for more than 60 days, the authorization shall be withdrawn automatically and the immigrant shall be deemed an illegal immigrant.
Following the expiration of the four-year temporary authorized legal entry, the registered immigrant shall be required to apply for admission into the country in the same manner and under the same conditions as any other immigrant seeking lawful admission.
Anyone 18 years of age or younger currently residing in this country illegally shall be required to register and provide such information as shall be required by the designated federal agency or department; provided, however, that persons 18 years of age or younger shall also be granted a waiver from any deportation so long as there is a lawful resident guardian with whom they may reside in this country.
Nothing contained in the Federal Immigrant Registration and Employment Plan shall be construed so as to prohibit any immigrant from lawfully entering or residing in the country in accordance with other available authorized means for lawful entry, nor shall such plan prohibit any immigrant from seeking or applying for citizenship in any manner authorized by law.
This letter provides only a basic framework of ideas upon which the working details of an effective plan might be built. Nevertheless, I believe that it is essential to the security of this nation that our leaders commit and strive towards implementation of such a plan. This is a plan of equity, not amnesty — a plan of employment, not citizenship.
I thank you for your time and consideration and will continue to hope and pray that this country will adopt and enforce a meaningful comprehensive immigration and border security plan.
Sincerely,
Sen. Chip Pearson
State Senate, District 51
Sonny Perdue and the prodigal son
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This interview of state Rep. Larry O’Neal (R-Bonaire), conducted by Travis Fain, appears today in the Macon Telegraph.
The article includes a curious exchange with O’Neal, who is chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, a resident of Gov. Sonny Perdue’s home town — but also, so far as we know, several years older than the governor.
In politics, relationships are shaped by power — not age.
TELEGRAPH: Take us to that last day. You voted against the governor on the budget veto override. What was that like?
O’NEAL: Speaking just for me, that’s one of the toughest votes I’ve ever made in my entire life. I have, almost, unconditional respect for Sonny Perdue and have since he’s been in office. And he’s a great friend and, I think, an outstanding governor. … But I thought that the House version was a responsible budget. I think the separation of powers is important.
TELEGRAPH: Have you talked with the governor since?
O’NEAL: Yes. … It went well. Again, he has not looked at this as a personal vendetta at all with me. He’s a very forgiving individual. But he let me know in no uncertain terms he was disappointed. … It was almost like a good father would say, “I don’t expect you to be perfect, son. I’ll forgive you, but I want you to know I’m not happy with it.”
Blogwatch: A talkie from last week’s Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Video blogger Grayson Hurst Daughters has posted moving (and talking, too!) pictures from Thursday night’s Democratic fund-raiser featuring John Edwards. See her work here.
Best shot: A group pan of Atlanta’s ancient — er, old — media, as recorded by new media. Best observation: Bloggers peopled the event in numbers rivaling those of lobbyists.
While we’re at it, we’ll also note that we didn’t see any blogging effort at the state Republican convention that matched Daughters in ambition. And we thought Republicans were supposed to have all the tekkies in their camp.
