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StumbleGUEST COLUMN:
Democrats’ immigration bill a step toward security, fairness
Sunday, June 6, 2010 | 2 a.m.
Like many in Arizona, Nevadans recognize that the immigration system is broken. The system has suffered from neglect, political opportunism and muddled messaging. But the comprehensive immigration reform proposal released in April by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., is a step in the right direction and a proposal that Nevadans can and should support.
Like the rest of the U.S., Nevada’s rich history and growth was woven by immigrants — Irish, Chinese, English, you name it — many of whom came to build the Transcontinental Railroad and work in the mines. Our journey from statehood to the present day has been shaped by the principles of limited government and equality of opportunity. In light of our wide open spaces, we hold sacred our right to bear arms and understand the importance of security and the protection of our personal borders.
In this context, Nevadans have good reason to support the Reid-Schumer-Menendez immigration reform proposal. The top reason to get behind it is that the bill will strengthen our nation’s security and secure our borders.
Arguably, the first line of defense in protecting our country is knowing who is here. The bill will require all illegal immigrants to register with the government, which is especially critical now that Mexican drug violence is spilling over into Southern Nevada.
Although many Nevadans have expressed support for Arizona’s new immigration law, what hasn’t gotten enough attention is the fact that the new legislation will not make anyone safer. On the contrary, the Arizona law is so harsh that it will encourage illegal immigrants to remain underground in the shadows when what we really need to do is get them into the light of the law. We need to know who is in our country. We need a bill that requires illegal immigrants to register.
A second weakness of the Arizona law is that it only focuses on one border. The 9/11 hijackers entered the U.S. through our airports with passports and visas — some valid, some not. The Millennium Bomber targeting LAX came into the U.S. legally from Canada, while the recent “Underwear Bomber” came through our airports.
The front line is everywhere — including the vast number of open, soft target casinos, resorts and retail shops in Southern Nevada. Focusing only on the southern border is like locking the doors and leaving the windows open. Terrorists will have no problem taking advantage of this gap in our homeland security defense system.
To protect our borders and nation effectively, we must give our Border Patrol agents the proper equipment for them to do their job. The disturbing truth is that as attempts to harm the U.S. have increased, funding for border security, fencing, infrastructure and technology has decreased in recent years. Congress needs to adequately fund our nation’s security agents so they can keep America safe and secure.
Underpinning Nevada’s values is a sense of fairness — equal opportunity to compete on a level playing field. But under the current immigration system, things haven’t been fair for a very long time. Employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants have an unfair advantage over companies that play by the rules; hard-working laborers have seen their wages plummet. That’s not fairness.
This new comprehensive immigration reform proposal is an attempt to right these wrongs and bring fairness back. Once enacted, the proposal will change the rules of the game — there will be no more free rides, no more ill-gotten gains.
First, it will require illegal immigrants to pay a fine and back taxes, secure a job, learn English and go to the end of the line to wait their turn for citizenship.
Second, it will crack down on employers who hire illegal immigrants over local Nevadans, particularly those in Southern Nevada who are struggling with a record 14 percent unemployment rate. This means that as our local businesses try to keep their doors open in the current economic environment, those who try to get ahead by breaking the law will be punished.
This new Senate proposal is a step in the right direction to change our broken immigration system. By requiring illegal immigrants to register with the government and protecting all of our borders and ports of entry, it will make America safer. It also restores fairness by sending strong signals to those here and those thinking about coming here that the rules of the game have changed. In short, the proposal would be good for Nevada and good for America.
Nancy E. Brune, former director of policy at the UNLV’s Institute for Security Studies, works on issues of national security at Sandia National Laboratories and teaches American politics at the College of Southern Nevada.
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How about we put a reciprocal law in place. That way we can treat these criminals the way we would be treated if we broke their country's laws. Its only fair as the progressives would say.
This is proof for Nevadan citizens that we have a senator that is spending more of his time for the illegal immigrant who has broken federal laws to become a citizen, then the time that should be spent on arressting and deporting the illegals who have taken jobs here in Nevada that our unemployed American citizens need.
We don't need immigration reform, we don't need to be catering to these federal law breakers. Citizens have been screaming for years for the Federal governments help, for nothing, there has been no response. We have laws that are not being enforced, we call ICE with a showing of no response.
Nancy E. Brune carries some pretty important credentials for herself but is lacking 1 important one, being a true american citizen.
When it is plain enough to see and understand that Nevada has Approx. 250,000 citizens unemployed and approx. 250,000 illegals in our state, The obvious is clear enough it slaps the citizens in the face with reality, round-up and deport the illegals and put our citizens back to work.
When it is plain enough to see and understand that unemployment benefits have run out for thousands of Nevadans but Harry Reid has made it possible for illegal immigrants to collecton bebefits that where to be provided for citizens only the obvious is clear enough again round up the illegals and deport, only this time send the illegals favorite senator with them.
We don't need to "produce" more citizens when there are millions without jobs.If the greencard and work visa card would be handed out properly to immigrants these two cards would be idle until all americans who want to work get back to work and then if there were people needed to fill a job position, the Greencard program and the Work Visa card program would help employers.
As with our immgration laws not being upheld, these two programs have been misused to benefit the businesses.
The illegals in our state should be deported along with their favorite U.S. Senator Harry Reid. We might as well send Nancy Brune packing with them as she could teach these federal lawbreakers issues on national security and American Politics.
We need leaders and teachers in our country that put the citizens #1 on their agenda.
Mexico and every other country in central and south America needs to stop being a 3rd world country' And grow-up and start living in the 21st century.
I stopped reading this silly article at the sentence ..The bill will require all illegal immigrants to register with the government"
Illegal immigrants walk freely across the border. Why should they register?
If they don't register, who is going to check to see if they did or didn't?
The Arizona Police? Are the police going to ask if a person is a legal registered immigrant?
Is that asking for papers? Right Now..If the police ask for papers at a traffice stop..that is tantamount to abuse, and morally equivalent to sending the person to Aushwitz..
So..to enforce your required registration..it would require a law like Arizona's..and how do you enforce that?
Illegals do not want "reform." They want to do exactly what they are doing..which is exactly as they please..
Even if you ask them politely, say "pretty please" ....obey our law..any law..
The illegals would spit on your registrations
Incumbents are no longer running on solid ground, as the omens testify . Blanche Lincoln has a grade of (D-) at NumbersUSA website. Mostly generated by Liberal extremists our country is under attack, by millions of foreign nationals who are stealing jobs and bleeding the welfare system in most areas of the country. Steve Poizner has promised to accelerate the removal of illegal aliens from California and return benefits to the legitimate people of the state.Whitman justifies giving illegal aliens--AMNESTY--which will further bankrupt the State? Finally, the state of Arizona realized by being a border state was being literary drained of hard come money from taxpayers. Seeing the insanity of open border lobbyists, corporate welfare and lawmakers genuflecting to ethnocentrisms organizations, who seem to have immense power. Among the politicians we placed in power, they have now proved they are anti-sovereignty and need to be succeeded by new US political soldiers who will fight for the American people. ALL PRO-AMNESTY, ANTI-SOVEREIGNTY LAWMAKERS MUST BE DUMPED?
None of the reactive attitude is about racial profiling, but about the bottom line of removing the illegal immigrant families who taxpayers are forced to support. If Americans-legal residents don't fight back, we will be looking at massive overpopulation driven by "Chain Migration" In addition once President Obama's is ready to force throgh another Amnesty, millions more desperate illegal aliens, will be ready to reach our soil. WE NEED THE PRESIDENT TO DEPLOY THE MILITARY TO HALT THIS ILLEGAL ALIEN OCCUPATION PLACING THEM AT THE BORDER. NOT 1200 BUT 6000 AT LEAST? WE PUT MORE TROOPS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES, THAN AROUND OUR BORDER TO PROTECT AMERICANS? Obama should enforce the 1986 Simpson/ Mazzoli bill, that will stop violations of our laws. NumbersUSA has over a million members who are anti-Amnesty and slowing population growth, they also perceive that illegal immigration is draining our economy of welfare entitlements for Americans and residents. NUMBERSUSA has immigration records of Anti-American legislators to eject.
WATCH FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS VOTING?
THOSE WHO SUPPORT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION SHOULD BE REMOVED ON JUNE 8 & NOVEMBER.
Through the American people have been adamantly promised that the border remains unsealed. This is far from the truth? The 2006 Secure border fence was cut back in secret meetings in Washington. The 2006 Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations bill that gutted the 2006 Secure Fence Act that would have constructed the first 854 miles of the U.S-Mexico border. An amendment submitted by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-TX, and co-sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn, (R-TX), for the Department of Homeland Security 2008 budget was aimed at gutting the already-approved H.R. 6061 Secure Fence Act. Sen. Hutchison in the summer 2006 had drafted S.Amdt. 2466 to H.R. 2368 (the DHS appropriations bill). "The Hutchison amendment gave DHS virtually total discretion over how and where the fence is built," Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) the principle draftee of the law, stated, " By eliminating the double fence requirement, the Democratic Congress is going to make it easier for drug and human smugglers to cross our Southern land ," The double fence never WAS, instead we have the single fence line and even that fence is compromised, by wide areas of nothing but old barbed wire.
The--REAL--fence was a TWO FENCES, the second , a high 15 foot fence that you usually see around a prison compound and at its peak razor wire. Majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has been the poisoner of any immigration enforcement, with Pelosi and a large grab bag of Dem-Liberals following the pack. Beginning now is the--BEGINNING OF THE GREAT PURGE--in California the--SANCTUARY STATE-- that has defied1986 federal immigration laws in both Los Angeles, San Francisco and other different refuge states, counties and cities. Incumbents are now on the run finally as taxpayers can distinguish who is supporting the settlement of illegal aliens and lawmakers who are fighting for the rights of--ALL--Americans. Not necessarily because of the health care law already passed, but because illegal immigration is the forerunner and highly volatile owing to the those rooted here are not an asset.It is however a hundred billion dollar Ponzi welfare scheme on all IRS payees. PRESIDENT OBAMA HEALTH CARE WOULD COST LESS, THAN WHAT WE PAY OUT TO SUPPORT FOREIGN LABORERS AND FAMILIES ANNUALLY.
Another hack writer for the LV Sun. No Nancy, it is NOT a step in the right direction. Having lived in Las Vegas 20 years, I believe most Nevadans WON'T support it nor should they. What makes you think your open-borders Liberal opinion is more than just that; an opinion? You're wrong Nancy. Just horribly wrong.
Illegal immigrants will be required to register? Why would they do that?
The illegals don't want reform except for the Dream Act and AG Jobs..
The current systems works perfectly for them now..
Why would they register? Why would they want to? Pay taxes, have a driver's licence, buy insurance..not qualify for benefits?
Why would they want all the burdens of American citizens when they have it all for free?
ANY ANSWER?
Why would illegals register? What do they have to gain that they do not already have?
Right to vote? Food Stamps? Welfare? Unemployment? No Taxes?
What is it that illegals do not have or cannot do that would induce them to register?
One baby can legalize the parents after the parents have collected welfare for the child for 18 years..
What do they have to gain?
ANSWER ..THAT..
Nancy, That is so much BS it makes me want to fire you. Go live in Mexico. You cant. They are to smart(thats not easy to say about mexico) to let the country be over run with nonmexicans. Nancy your parents should be slapped for raising an antiamerican brat like you. Dumb as a box of rocks
Remember when in protest all mexican people stayed home for a day? Man driving in town and shopping ...wow it was a great day. Send them packing and our roads, schools, hospitals, electric power, etc etc...will be more than enough for AMERICANS. Get it Nancy, send them home! We dont need the dumbest of any country invading us,and us feeding them.
Let me get this straight. We are asked to support a law that tells people who have no respect for the law and have already and continue to break it that if they obey this law then we will essentially forgive and forget about breaking the law! Wow really! sounds like a bunch of smoke bein blown where the sun don't shine! We don't need new immigration laws, and the system isn't broke! It's NOT ENFORCED ! Why? because pimp politicians that care more about their pay checks and powerbase block enforcement of those laws for the sake of the hispanic vote! What we aught to do is revoke their citizenship and deport them with their illegal constituency! I know they would be singing a different tune then. Arizona is doing what is best for Arizona! The feds should be doing what is best for AMERICA, and not be worryin about Senior Calderon, and his ILLEGALLY MIGRATING, wining, law breaking,disrespectful,individuals that flood across the southern border and have the nerve to call themselves and I quote"friends and neighbors"! Let me tell ya what I expect if they want my vote, close the border and restore law and order! Enforce the laws of this country. And as for our "friends and neighbors to the south" obey the laws of this counttry and show due respect and then maybe we can talk about you taking up permanent residence here. Ok, I'm done.
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Nancy said...
"Like many in Arizona, Nevadans recognize that the immigration system is broken."
...Wrong!!! The system is fine, the problem is that the law is not being enforced. Enforce the law; build the damn fence; secure the border; deport illegal immigrants; prosecute employers who hire illegals...once we do all that, only then can we consider additional immigration reform. By the way, the term immigration reform is liberal speak for "amnesty for illegals". What I mean by immigration reform is to incorporate the 5 points I listed, then to add additional pathways for new legal immigrants.
Nancy is living amongst the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat, and the Mad Hatter.
I'm trying to remember who used to call for immigration reform? Wasn't it, uh, George W. Bush? I yield to no one in my contempt for Bush, but I know of no one who ever detected in him the bigotry that so many of his fellow Republicans manifest, including that unfortunate hypocrite misrepresenting Arizona in the U.S. Senate. Send every illegal immigrant home or to prison? I can't wait to see all of those advocating that start paying actual wages to people. Thank you but I'll take Harry Reid and his proposal over that pretzel logic any day of the week.
No amnesty. Deport all illegals.
Support the Arizona law, and deport all illegal immigrants. Stop the bleeding at the southern border. Vote out anyone who is backing amnesty.
"The bill will require all illegal immigrants to register with the government"
Of course, all the people who broke the law will now start obeying the law and will register with the government especially the harsh criminals and perhaps the terrorists that are among them.
Also, the Federal government that now can't enforce current laws will magically start enforcing that new law.
Hmmmm....I wonder if they will enforce the new law like Arizona.
We can cleary see that Democrats have excellent and strong logical skills.
Hmmm...hmmm...good.....
Deport all illegals. Secure the borders with armed troops. Shoot the drug smugglers and gangs. Stop the infiltration of Islamic radicals.
We do not need bottom feeding hispanics and drug cartels pouring into our country bleeding our nation to death, and tramping on our property and freedoms and lives. Enough is enough!
Most troubling about this poorly written and likely unresearched article is that Ms. Brune seems totally unaware that nearly every respondent and the majority of the USA disagrees withe hers and the Democrats position on illegal immigration.
The press and our leaders totaly disregard the real world feeelings and wants of our citizens. We can vote the idiots out in November but the LVS continuing to pay clueless editorialist will not make doing so any easier.
Wake up Nancy. Read the comments your readers post and realize how out of touch you are with them. I read most and found not one agreeing with your far left position.
YOu know your in analytic hell when someone is blamed for both stealing a job and bleeding the welfare system. God man, make up your mind, are they working or not?
I would dearly love to see some hard data that shows a comparison of illegals on welfare vs the number of citizens/legal residents on welfare so we can agree that either illegas drain the system or they don't. I invite anyone who believe that illegals are a drain to click on my userid and use the link to send me that data once and for all.
"On the contrary, the Arizona law is so harsh that it will encourage illegal immigrants to remain underground in the shadows when what we really need to do is get them into the light of the law. We need to know who is in our country. We need a bill that requires illegal immigrants to register."
Ditto to what some of the others said, especially the one that called the article "silly."
This person teaches? That's silly, too.
And was formerly employed as a policy director of something? Where do I get such a ridiculous, cushy job that apparently requires no common sense?
Yes, sure, they'll all just sign up to be forced to get jobs, pay back taxes, learn English, and get in the back of the line.
"a comparison of illegals on welfare vs the number of citizens/legal residents on welfare so we can agree that either illegas drain the system or they don't."
How about education, medical care, and police/courts/jails/prisons? Those costs don't count as draining the system?
Since our government bows and scrapes to business, and worships it, and licks its behind, it refuses to do something about employment of people who are negating our labor laws. If it doesn't start doing something pretty soon, we all need to start figuring out what to do. I'd like to see somebody start listing businesses that hire illegals.
I agree with you- we needed this comprehensive reform yesterday!!
The Democrats Immigration bill offer the best solution to a complex problem!!
The Republican bill (if any) only looks to kick all immigrants out!! it's like they should kick themselves in the b.....t!! since some -or most of them- or their forebearers came with the Mayflower!!!
I agree no amnesty get rid of all illegals! They come here get on our welfare rolls and continue having kids just to get more money out of the system! I agree that if they can't prove they are here legally, get rid of them.
How about we LOCK UP the EMPLOYERS that hire illegal immigrants? Illegal immigrants wouldn't come here if people didn't hire them!
Nancy is throwing the bull here. Fact is, we don't need any new legislation to make this country safer, all we need to do is enforce the laws we already have.
As for securing the border, instead of sending feeble national guard units to do roadwork, send the 10th Mountain Division.
Broadcast on Mexican radio that the US border is now CLOSED, and tresspassers will be shot.
Oh, I know it will never happen, but it is really what we need to do.
Libs just look silly when they pitch these bills.
"The bill will require all illegal immigrants to register with the government"
OK.... right now we have millions of illegals breaking US law. By magic they are going to start obeying US law??? ....especially the really bad guys you want to know about.
OK.....right now we have laws that the government does not enforce. By magic the government is going to start enforcing similar laws?????
I suggest that you stop talking silly and come up with a real plan.
Sadly, any program which envisions amnesty per se is flawed. The issue is fairness. Not anti-immigration, not anti-Hispanic. If Jose makes a decison to sneak across the border instead of getting in line for a legitimate visa, how can we ignore him in favor of those already here undocumented?
Any amnesty program that promotes those crafty enough to have slipped in over those who want to abide by the law is going to encounter huge resistance. Quotas may need modernized to shorten visa waits, that is fine. But to ignore the rule of law to satisy the desire of so many to ignore the law in order to get in cannot be overlooked and will not be supported, even by bedrock Democrats like me in many cases.
I think Tony is right.
The Arizona law has one thing wrong. It does nothing to those who employ illegals. They belong in jail.
Most of the above comments are right on target. What illegal immigrant will register, what liability do they have for not registering. Do they get to stay in the US taking US citizen's jobs while they wait on citizenship? No where is there a good discussion on how you will seal the border. Ms Brune has not thought through the consequences and ramifications of the Reid proposal. As such, I wonder what she is teaching at her college classes. Critical thinking is definitely not on the list of skills her students will learn.
We do not have an immigration reform problem.
We have an immigration enforcement problem.
Hey Harry, how about enforcing the law???
Annually, we spend upwards of $50Billion on welfare, food stamps, subsidized housing, Medicaid and education for illegal aliens and their families. We give them American jobs while millions of Americans are out of work.
Illegal aliens send more than $12 Billion annually back to Mexico IN CASH via Western Union. Their loyalty lies with their home country. MOney received from illegal aliens is Mexico's third highest source of income.
They're killing Americans economically, yet Harry Reid doesn't want to stop the invasion...he wants more illegal aliens to come.
Does he have a death wish for the nation?
Obama and Reid are killing our economy.
Obama is killing the national economy while Reid is killing our local economy.
Reid and the Democrats are allowing ILLEGALS to take jobs from AMERICANS
REID=OBAMA
I'm voting for Sharron Angle
Time for a change. Obama,Pelosi and Reid don't understand that when people come here without authorization, they are breaking the law. The appropriate penalty for illegal aliens is DEPORTATION. What about "illegal" don't they understand???
It's time for a change in leadership. Maybe next time we'll get elected officials who have respect for the law.
Illegals go to the end of what citizenship line, exactly? If Jose wants to feed his family and is a good person, but also believes in following the law, and so goes to the US embassy or wherever and applies for a visa, behind likely thousands of others. Meanwhile, Roberto, who has the same general qualities, chooses to slip across the border, buy illegitimate ID, etc.
Now if an amnesty type pathway is provided for those here, who would likely get first crack at citizenship? I'm betting on Roberto, and that is simply not right.
First off, there should be a sur charge on any money sent out of the country say 45% next the fence program that Reid removed fuding from should be started again. Starting Septmber first all employers must e-verify all existing employees and any new hires and all persons stopped by law enforcment must show a verifiable ID and I don't care what color you are. Finally all persons applying for welfare or schooling must prove citizenship, childrens parents must be here legaly to attend. Finally ten thousand armed and supported American troops to the Southern boder untill the fences are completed and then regular patrols to help the BP.
REID voted to confirm Eric Holder as ATTORNEY GENERAL
Obama and Reid are killing our economy.
Obama is killing the national economy while Reid is killing our local economy.
REID is going to vote for amnesty after the election
REID=OBAMA
I'm voting for Sharron Angle
Thanks to the new strict Immigration Law illegals are leaving Arizona,
but the damage what they have caused is massive. Broken state, ruined economy,
many stolen vehicles, stolen identities, broken homes, drug problems.
But they don't go home, they are moving to other states, to your state as well.
Don't let them ruin your state like they did to Arizona. (Im from Arizona.)
Push your state rep to make a change.
Google this: NUMBERSUSA.
Once you are registered, go to the "action buffet" to send FREE faxes now.
They are all typed up and ready to go, you just need to click your mouse to send.
Forward this to everyone you know.
If these comments regarding immigration are accurate, and I think they are, why in the world would any politician even mumble anything about reform? Ok, I know, Obamacare passed through Congress, why not immigration reform. If they could get Obamacare passed, they can pass anything, even if the huge majority of citizens say NO!!!
CLOSE THE BORDERS NOW!!!
A purely political piece when the situation cries for an American solution.
Close the borders - lock them down. That is the immediate issue. Anything else is a wasted discussion.
When the Obama administration finally PROTECTS America and Americans - then we can have a further discussion.
But not until then.
CLOSE THE BORDERS TIGHT RIGHT NOW MR. PRESIDENT.