Some Lesser Known Tidbits of Immigration Reform

Here are some of the less talked about tidbits from Amnesty Bill II :

TECHNOLOGICAL ASSETS.

Authorizes the procurement of additional unnammed aerial vehicles, cameras, poles, sensors, and other technologies… Oh, but doing so is subject to the availablity of appropriations (and we know how well the Senate follows through with appropriations after authorizing something). Think Secure Fence Act of 2006, people.

PORTS OF ENTRY.

This section does not call for more security at our ports of entry, nor does it require anything except the construction of additional ports of entry along the internation land borders and making necessary improvements to the existing ones.

DEATHS AT UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER.

Defined to collect statistics relating to deaths occurring at the border, including cause of death and number of deaths, analyze trends from year to year and recommend actions to reduce deaths. Remember the talking points from Fat Teddy. We will be searching for the terrorists, not the landscapers…

LESS RESTRICTIVE DETENTION FACILITIES.

To facilitate the construction or use of secure but less restrictive detention facilities for the purpose of long-term detention where detainees are held longer than 72 hours. Because, you know, we wouldn't want to be too restrictive…

ILLEGAL ENTRY.

They actually felt the need to define what constitutes illegal entry into the United States. Of course, each definition begins with "knowingly", such as:

( A ) knowingly enters or crosses the border into the United States at any time or place other than as designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security;

( B ) knowingly eludes examination or inspection by an immigration officer (including failing to stop at the command of such officer), or a customs or agriculture inspection at a port of entry; or

( C ) knowingly enters or crosses the border to the United States by means of a knowingly false or misleading representation or the knowing concealment of a material fact (including such representation or concealment in the context of arrival, reporting, entry, or clearance requirements of the customs laws, immigration laws, agriculture laws, or shipping laws).

You can rest assured, every person caught crossing the border under this section will claim to be doing it as a member of Congress err unknowingly.

ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION.

Because those less restrictive detention measures described above may still be too harsh or restrictive.

PROTECTING IMMIGRANTS FROM CONVICTED SEX OFFENDERS.

Yes, you read that correctly. Too bad they can't protect our own children from convicted sex offenders.

VOLUNTARY ADVANCED VERIFICATION PROGRAM TO COMBAT IDENTITY THEFT.

To establish and make available a voluntary program allowing employers to submit and verify an employee's fingerprints for purposes of determining the identity and work authorization of the employee. What good is a "voluntary" system? If employers who are currently hiring illegal immigrants wants to comply with the law "voluntarily", they would already be doing so, wouldn't they?

BILATERAL EFFORTS WITH MEXICO TO REDUCE MIGRATION PRESSURES AND COSTS.

Don't get excited people, not our pressures and costs. It's all about Mexico, baby. From increasing access for poor and under served populations in Mexico to the financial services sector to enhancing Mexican efforts to strengthen governance at all levels, it's all about Mexico. Where is the bilateral part of this section?

PAYMENT OF PENALTIES AND USE OF PENALTIES COLLECTED.

Up to 80% of the penalties ($1,000, or $4,000) can be paid through an installment payment plan. I wonder if Congress plans to authorize the "Comprehensive Immigration Collection Agency Reform Act" when 12-20 million people decide they no longer want to pay $5 per week?

DELAY OF FINES AND FEES.

Those illegal immigrants who entered the United States as children will have six years and six months or until they reach the age of 24, whichever is later, to pay their share of fines and fees.

SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR ELDERLY IMMIGRANTS.

All immigrants who fill out applications for naturalization will be required to have an understanding of the English language. Well, except those people who are over 75 years of age at the time of their filing, and who can express, in English or their native tongue, that they understand the oath. Enforcement. Consistency. Equality. Cough.

STUDY OF WARTIME TREATMENT OF CERTAIN PEOPLE

This section is known as the "Wartime Treatment Study Act".

(1) During World War II, the United States Government deemed as 'enemy aliens' more than 600,000 Italian-born and 300,000 German-born United States resident aliens and their families and required them to carry Certificates of Identification and limited their travel and personal property rights. At that time, these groups were the 2 largest foreign-born groups in the United States.

…

(5) The wartime policies of the United States Government were devastating to the Italian American and German American communities, individuals, and their families. The detrimental effects are still being experienced.

…

(7) The United States Government should conduct an independent review to fully assess and acknowledge these actions. Congress has previously reviewed the United States Government's wartime treatment of Japanese Americans through the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. An independent review of the treatment of German Americans and Italian Americans and of Jewish refugees fleeing persecution and genocide has not yet been undertaken.

I can sum up this section is one word. Reparations. Why is this part of immigration reform in 2007?

There is so much more that I could post but I highly recommend that everyone, including President Bush, read the whole thing.