Well, it looks like we’re finally going to have a substantive immigration discussion.  Unfortunately, immigration is one of many issues the right always handles poorly. Whether it’s lack of information, general ignorance of immigration laws or what, I really can’t say, nor do I care to speculate.  The immigration issue is a big one, not just in terms of political capital, but in the nuances of the laws themselves.  Interestingly, it’s also the one issue where Republicans and Democrats agree on most contentions.

Depending on which estimates you consult, there are approximately 11 million illegal immigrants currently residing in the U.S.; some suggest anywhere from 7 – 20 million.  Regardless of which figure you choose, the fact remains: there’s a very sizable population of people living outside our legal barriers but inside our legal borders. And this is where the right, at large, loses their ever-lovin’ minds.

For being the party of limited government, the party that reveres the federalistic musings of Jefferson, and the party that constantly criticizes federal government overreach, our only suggestion for handling millions of illegal immigrants requires massive government intervention; massive government intervention that would encroach on the lives of private citizens to an extent we’ve never seen.  So let’s entertain this idea for a moment.

Supposing we did “round ‘em up and send ‘em home,” we would need a police force large enough to scour all fifty states.  This law enforcement troop would have to track people down, because we don’t know where they are, well, most of them anyway. It’s reasonable to assume that not everyone would go willingly, so there would likely be casualties or at the very least, violent encounters.  And if intel was less than accurate (and we all know the government would never make a mistake), we could expect collateral damage, but I suppose a few wrongfully busted doors is nothing and no one will be upset about having their Super Bowl party busted up, Christmas Vacation style because of government error.

I’m not arguing we should toss out the rule of law. I’m not making the case that allowing further illegal immigration is acceptable, what I am saying is that “sending them home” is not only impractical, it’s completely contrary to everything we claim we believe.  Unless we want a government expansive enough to round up what equates to the entire population of Pennsylvania, we need to provide practical solutions.  We can debate the merits of Rubio’s ideas, come up with new ones, whatever, but let’s leave the intellectual inconsistency and nanny statism to the left.  If we expect to win the war of ideas, we have to have good ones.

Follow Kemberlee Kaye on Twitter 




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276 comments
Daniel Quinn
Daniel Quinn

To K. K. it's 50 million, 50 million, 50 million, 50 million, 50 million, what don't you understand ?

keyesforpres
keyesforpres

What is it you don't get Kaylee? You don't round them all up, but you do start aggressively deporting and many will leave on their own.

No one is saying we get every single one. The goal is to greatly reduce their numbers.

See: Operation Wetback.

Laurel
Laurel

I don't see rounding them all up and sending them home either but the condescension and derision in the tone of this piece is absolutely insulting and just plain ridiculous. Enforce current laws and most will go home and/or get caught committing a crime and get sent home.

If the author wanted to be helpful she would write an enforcement first piece and what constitutes enforcement.

I'm a bit surprised RS posted this.

Conniption Fitz
Conniption Fitz

"It’s not Amnesty. It’s Amnesty 2.0. [...] a brilliant plan to add 12 million illegal aliens to the voting rolls so that the Republican Party will never be able to win a national election and Texas becomes the new California." http://frontpagemag.com/2013/dgreenfield/your-guide-to-the-new-amnesty-talking-points/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=your-guide-to-the-new-amnesty-talking-points

Quit calling them illegal immigrants, aliens - they are Certified Democrat Voters.

12 MILLION of them - paid for by YOU!

drivingchickidee
drivingchickidee

You don't have to round them up and send them home. All you have to do is enforce current laws. If employers knew they would actually be held accountable for hiring illegals, they would not hire them. If all 50 states refused to grant illegals entitlements, and they could not find a job, we would not have to send the home. They would go home. They might even apply for legal immigration.

Valerie
Valerie

RUBBISH! It is *not* "inconsistent"...it is merely NOT LIBERTARIAN LOCK-STEP PURITY/CHAOS which, despite the author's pleadings, is all that she is promoting.

Valerie
Valerie

What nonsense. It is not "inconsistent"...it is merely *not* libertarian/chaos, which is - in the final analysis - all that the author calls for, in spite of her denials.

Chester Simms
Chester Simms

The point of all this kerfuffle is that the Republicans want a slice of the Hispanic vote. To achieve this, they want to follow the Democrat playbook.

And so there's a gang of this and a gang of that. Why is it, that when there's a "gang" of any kind, it is always followed by a "bang." Feel free to supply your own contexts here.

ryanomaniac
ryanomaniac

So capitulate. Why don't we do that with all laws? There is already so much cocaine on the street so don't throw those drug dealers in jail...that would just be irrational right?

Whoever wrote this story must be a Rubio fan.

Darrell Griffin
Darrell Griffin

Agree with previous posters. This lady is no conservative, and starting out by insulting us, doesn't forward her points.

In any other country, these people would be considered foreign invaders and shot. Think about that for a moment.

How did multi-culturism and immigration "reform" work out for Europe ? How are those riots working out for them ?

When are people going to realize that a great many of these people are coming here for the welfare state and benefits ? That it is a magnet ? That Republicans think they will garner more votes by being sympathetic to this, but it's just a boon for the Democrat ballot box that will insure victories for them in Red States ?

When are people going to realize that it didn't work with Reagan, because the borders were not closed ? That all it did was entice more people to break the law.

Close the border, then talk to me about what to do with the invaders who are here.

It's like spending. Show me you can be responsible with the money you have before you want more revenue. Show me you can enforce existing law, before you write new ones.

c4pfan
c4pfan

The hate for Conservatives always shines through.

Biggbear52
Biggbear52

This is an issue that really doesn't need debate. This is because the only reason it is is due to the fact that the people that want the reformation of this are the ones that are either more crooked and illegal than the illegals, or than are making serious bank by the revenue on illegal immigration.

Conniption Fitz
Conniption Fitz

It's not illegal 'immigration' it's an alien invasion.

This is a national security and an economic threat - but so are our leftist extreme irresponsible overspenders.

The security of our country is threatened from the inside and the outside....and it's all Obama and the Democrat's fault. The Democrat states and cities are in default and they are doing the same to our nation.

Democrat leftist policies and ideology are INSANE.

Cathy
Cathy

American taxpayers are "burdened" enough without these illegal aliens being allowed to violate our laws and come in the back door of America, which is also a huge security threat that our dealer leader could care less about.

Richard Drakos
Richard Drakos

So, 21 million new Democrat voters? Yeah, that's an idea we should TOTALLY get behind. Every country but the US enforces and protects it's boarders. Does anyone really think that all the Illegals will see a few Republican names and have a change of heart? All the while, we make people who want to come here legally jump through so many hoops, it's pathetic.

Philo Beddoe
Philo Beddoe

So here we have old man, borderline commie McCain and pervert, sleeps with underage prostitutes Mendenez telling us what is good for America.

John
John

as usual, gove says: "only so and so millions" . Do the math - 5,000 a day (recently, Arnold in "Last Stand" says: 12 thousand a day) by, say, 30 years, it is

..................................about 55 MILLION...

Using Arnold's number - it is 131.4 MILLION.

Just look around.

As usual, all the requirements (e.g. knowledge of English - what level?)will be WAVED

Tracy Mitchell
Tracy Mitchell

I lived in Oregon for 20 years. The immigration problem (and yes it is a problem) is so prevalent that some of the smaller towns in Oregon are essentially, Mexican. Dundee, OR is just one example. When I left in 2000, if you weren't bi-lingual, you were less likely to get a decent job. I had a friend that was going through a tough time, while she was in college, she tried to get public assistance. Being white, she had to go through so many hoops she almost gave up.

My Mexican friends never had that problem, they went in with a last name like Garcia or Hernandez and they never seemed to have any problems.

In that light, I must disagree with Kemberlee on how to address this problem. Yes, they need to go. When ILLEGAL ALIENS are taking resources, jobs and means from LEGAL Americans we are left with few alternatives.

John
John

So simple - high penalties for employing illegals - and they will self deport.

European intelligentsia waits for DECADES to get here.....

Sober_Thinking
Sober_Thinking

How about this? Implement a Fair Tax so all of them "pay their fair share". Punish businesses that hire illegals. Implement a truly secure border. When an illegal is arrested for a crime, deport them then. How about that? These are the LEAST we can do.

Your argument for a HUGE federal force is ridiculous. Let each city, county, or state deal with it. Resources can be made available at the smaller levels and it might be more effective that way.

What we on "the right" object to is allowing lawless aliens to creep into this country and cost American citizens jobs, illegals who flood emergency rooms because they have no health insurance, crimes (drunk driving, murder, theft, rape) committed by illegals, and for Obama to use them like pawns to win elections.

I understand your point... though I hate the snarky way you present it, but they must be dealt with if this country is to ever regain her sovereignty. I think some of what Rubio is proposing is positive... but seriously, those who "sneak" in this country should be dealt with. Sadly, it's too late to just kick them all out... especially since our border remains so porous. But "the right" isn't seeing ANYTHING being done and it's time for action. NOW.

Conniption Fitz
Conniption Fitz

Send them home.

Close the gates on even legal immigration until Americans have jobs again.

11,000+ New Food Stamps Issued Per Day Under Obama.

300,000 new unemployment claims per week on a good week.

All because of leftist policies.

That's a disgrace.

Say no to Obama's campaign of moral and economic and political ruin and chaos.

Say NO to Obama's demagoguery, voter fraud, crony corruption, Islamist and gay propaganda.

He has been an constitutionally unqualified and illegal president from the beginning.

Every action of this administration has been in disregard of our Laws and Constitution.

John
John

all the freebies are advertised on "spanish" TV programs....Many illegals have Link Card

loaded with our money

sDee
sDee

This is pure redistribution - of current tax money and future borrowed money.

We have had city, local and fed "social workers' come to the illegal families here advising them on additional benefits. Most of the families have considerably better life styles than the average young American. Most have two cars. Decent apartment. Their kids attend public school. They know how to get medicaid and foodstamps because id is rarely asked for required. They pay no taxes, SS, medicare. They can often qualify for subsidized housing.

You are right and our government is in overdrive creating this "crisis".

John
John

so the gove's statement is clear: "F*ck Americans, get the future DNC voters".

.

I see 3rd party to be a must

wodiej
wodiej

Rubio's idea seems to be the most practical at this time. While implementing such a plan, the borders must be sealed off and guarded by military or other special forces so that not a single person can cross that border. That means building a high cement wall curved inward w high voltage barb wire across the entire top. Every mile there should be a tower w a guard in it watching 24 hours a day. Signs should be posted throughout the areas that trespassers will be prosecuted, detained and/or sent back. I hear it's quite a trip and many die making it because of lack of food or water.

sDee
sDee

Rubio's plan conveniently ignores the root of the problem: intentional lack of enforcement of: borders, immigration law, and government services.

Our 80's amnesty program only increased the flow of illegals and newly eligible family immigration. Nothing was done to new illegals who came here. Nothing was done to control the border. Nothing.

We have absolute zero evidence combined with decades of the government track record that says they will do absolutely nothing to enforce the existing laws and borders. Politicians benefit from illegal immigration problems and the "solutions".

Now, Rubio and others want to pass more laws that will be ignored. All these bastards want is to be the political sugar daddy handing out amnesty that we LEGAL citizens will have to pay for.

How many times do we have to be deceived and screwed before we stop bending over for the soap they throw on the floor?

Liz Foster
Liz Foster

"How many times do we have to be deceived?"

Just until the REPLACEMENT of the posterity of the founding stock is complete. Then we will be a third world dark hole like Brazil. Only the privileged and wealthy will be immune from the consequences. They will live in gated communities and the rest of us will live like Robert Putnam described in "Bowling Alone."

Richard
Richard

I don't get it. For what reason does Ms. Kaye thinks there's "finally going to be a substantive immigration discussion"?

It appears this new age begins with her boring round up of the obvious.

Sam R
Sam R

Kemberlee I respectfully disagree with you. We have enough law enforcement officers that if they were allowed to enforce the laws already on the books when it comes to illegal immigrants we could deport them. The first part of the process and you conveniently leave it out, is to secure the border, the second is getting rid of the anchor baby laws, then and only then we can have a discussion about the illegals that are already here.

K-Bob
K-Bob

As long as people on the right keep using the language of the left, the left will continue to own the issue.

It's not an "immigration" problem. It's an illegal alien problem.

Until that sinks in, the right won't even be in the game. Get used to the left continuing to control the issues, because clearly the right can't be bothered.

Steven G Bruno
Steven G Bruno

Our Government is corrupt!!! The Borders should have been # 1 on the to-do list. How pathetic that we don't close the Border,I think we all know why. Second, The reason Politicians wade in the money pool in DC is because the people have lost their voice. The definition of INSANITY is to do the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, hense Voting for those that only help themselves over and over again.If they don't do what you expected FIRE them.Let us use our own reserves in our country and become independent, let the rest of the countries that don't like AMERICA fend for themselves.If any of ouR leaders Violate OUR CONSTITUTION, Fire them and charge them with TREASON.

white531
white531

Going to bed. Why is her profile blocked?

TLaMana
TLaMana

All you have to do is send ICE to every single La Raza event and arrest them as they try to leave.

Stand With Arizona
Stand With Arizona

Why on Earth is the Right Scoop inviting an open borders RINO on here to present a nonsensical argument that NO ONE on the rule of law side is even suggesting? End birthright citizenship, welfare access (57% of Mexican illegals are on at least one form of welfare - 76% in Texas), employment access and the ability to send $35 billion a year of their ill-gotten gains in Western Union "remittances" back to their home countries, and you will see several million of those illegals leave BY THEMSELVES.

But aside from that, Ms. Kaye is ignorant of American history, and in particular in one of the Left's favorite 'moderate' Republicans, Dwight Eisenhower. Ike in 1954 executed "Operation Wetback" and removed a staggering 1.5 million illegal aliens from the United states. To discourage illicit re-entry, buses and trains took many deportees deep within Mexican territory before releasing them. Another estimated 700,000 left voluntarily once the program began. So to say agents would have to go "door to door" and interrupt Super Bowl parties just shows a lack of education on the part of Ms./ Kaye, as well as an unfortunate immaturity.

I commend all TRS readers to this CS Monitor piece about the (very successful) operation, which resulted in a 2% downtick in U.S. unemployment 6 months after its completion: "How Eisenhower solved illegal border crossings from Mexico - http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0706/p09s01-coop.html

-John Hill

Stand with Arizona

http://standwitharizona.com

http://www.facebook.com/StandWithArizona

wodiej
wodiej

People are forgetting that the businesses, farmers, and ranchers that hire illegals are complicit in this problem. If there were no jobs, they would not be here.

John
John

"He did it quickly and decisively with only 1,075 United States Border Patrol agents – less than one-tenth of today's force" - and the border did not get longer.

It is the will to keep it open! More voters for DNC! DemosRATic senators openly encourage illegals to vote...

A reminder:

Obama won in every state that did not require a Photo ID and lost in every state that did require a Photo ID in order to vote.

white531
white531

I most sincerely agree. You have a clear understanding of the problem, quite unlike the author of this post.

sDee
sDee

Dwight Eisenhower and Congress were defending America's sovereignty and Pride. They were hell bent and determined to make America a great nation.

Hussein Obama and Congress are Post-American quisling whores who are dismantling America at the behest of their globalist pimps..

white531
white531

A sincere message to The Right Scoop. Since this woman can post absolute nonsense and get away with it, can I be allowed to do the same?

I hereby apply with all sincerity, to post absolute nonsense of the caliber and quality of the current post.

Should I be accepted to post such nonsense, I absolutely promise to post nothing of any real meaning toward a solution regarding where we find ourselves right now.

Instead, I promise to post only mindless drivel, designed to only confuse the minds of people who are already confused, so that no real solution is arrived at, respective to our current condition, on the immediate horizon.

Orangeone
Orangeone

Here's the "bi-partisan" Demorat and RINO Senators on illegal amnesty!

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/senators-reach-deal-immigration

sDee
sDee

Boehner: "We Have A Deal on Immigration"

Latin America Marxist Rep. Luis Gutierrez is happy with it.

Beginning to look like We the People have taken one up the arse again.

I saw a t-shirt today:

Our Forefathers Would Be Shooting By Now

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/boehner-immigration-deal-ready/2013/01/26/id/487506

Orangeone
Orangeone

I saw posted someone on Scoop today that Boehner has retracted that. The Senate team has a deal....it's the McCain/Kennedy plan that Heritage says will cost us $2.6 trillion.

white531
white531

Everything this woman says is totally Liberal, and yet none of you pick up on that.

This is amazing to me.

white531
white531

How does someone with such a lack of understanding of where we find ourselves right now, gain the respect of The Right Scoop to be able to post such nonsense?

sDee
sDee

Hey it's TRS's site, I am a guest and a hard headed one at that - but I have to agree with you that this is the last thing I needed to read.

Your point is important that we find ourselves in a very very bad place and now are watching both parties align to pass a law that pours gasoline on the flames while poking us in the eye and rubbing our nose in thier sh't.

These damn Republican s have retreated and retreated and given in so much we know we are at the cliff. Now is the time to dig in hard, deep and fast, not ponder the satisfaction of taking just one more step backward.

white531
white531

No Sdee, you got that wrong. The Right Scoop exists only because you and I are here.

The very minute TRS loses sight of that fact, is when it ceases to exist. You and I and all the rest who contribute here on a regular basis, are what makes this site what it is.

I give nothing but praise to The Right Scoop for what it has been able to do. Nothing even comes close.

But when you think you are the best out there, is when you are most vulnerable.

I hate to use a Disney/Pixar movie as an example, but I can think of nothing better at the moment.

Ratatouille. "Anyone can cook!"

sDee
sDee

Kemberlee Kaye (I think she was "Red" before that) is someone TRS seems to work with to post what I'd call original commentary/opinion. Maybe to provide "another side of things".

I've never been open to the "big tent" reach across the aisle crap with someone whose goal it is to control my life. Now this regime has dropped all pretense and these f'in sellout Republicans still won't stand and fight. This line of reasoning on immigration epitomizes the Republican establishment that got us here.

TRS has a good formula. Blogging is tough. I'll take this as an outlier.