Is the public being duped into the acceptance of comprehensive Immigration Reform?

The issue of illegal immigration dominates much of my thinking, because it relates to the economy and our National Security.

In looking into the issue, I found much that I didn't like about how the issue of illegal immigration seems to be progressing toward amnesty without conditions and without the sealing of the U.S.-Mexican border.

This blog was written after I spoke with a friend who likewise fears that action must be taken or else total amnesty will be granted to the 12+ milion illegal immigrants without sealing the border. I left the hyperlinks in for clarifiction by those who desire more details.

According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll in June of this year, 60% of those polled want their border secured before there is any talk of immigration reform. http://caffertyfile.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/30/immigration-reform-pos...

Announced in Jan. of 2009 was that 700 miles of the fence had been completed. Brakes, however, were put on the U.S. government's plan to build a "virtual fence" along the U.S..-Mexican border by Janet Napolitano, Homeland Security Secretary, in April of 2010. Napolitano cited inefficiencies and ballooning costs with SBinet, the name given to the Boeing-contracted virtual fence project. Since then all fence-building has taken a back seat. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/us/jan-june10/fence_04-0...

In speaking with a Lake Forest friend and resident of many years, he expressed great concern over the issue of illegal immigration. He is perplexed why Republicans, both state and federal, are not coming seizing the initiative, both politically and morally, to announce a sensible solution before the Obama administration's Department of Homeland Security incrementally removes all obstacles for immigration reform without a public debate.

According to a leaked DHS memo, orders might already be in place to put the wheels of Amnesty in motion by the use of Executive Fiat to by-pass the will of the American people and the Constitution. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/04/smoking-gun-amnesty-memo_n...

I did agree with my friend that it would be unrealistic to think that 12- plus million illegals could be shipped back to their home countries, but neither should the public fall for the $600 million emergency border funding legislation which the Senate passed on Friday, August 13th. It was nothing more than an election year political palliative to convince the American people that Washington, D.C. is capable of tough border security.
http://politifi.com/news/-How-much-border-security-does-600-million...

Certainly special agents charged with enforcing our nation's immigration laws have their concerns. Feeling that ICE's mission was being skewed toward supporting a goal of amnesty by refusing to allow agents to do their jobs, in June of this year all ICE union representatives signed on to an unanimous "Vote of NO Confidence" letter against their ICE leadership. http://gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2010/08/border-agents-vote-no-...

Included below is the plan shared with me:

1. The Federal Government must agree to protect the border, which is their Constitutional responsibility.

2. Instigate a two-year plan for all illegals who desire U.S. Citizenship:

*They must register to be in this plan.

*They must pay a substantial fine because they have broken the law.

*At the end of the two-year program they must show proof that they have learned basic English.rve learned basic English.

*Must show proof they have taken a basic course in American History.

*Their record must be crime-free.

3. Upon completion of the above they may apply for citizenship.

Like any plan, it is not without problems. Who would fund and conduct the basic English classes and American History classes for illegals who desire citizenship? Also, what happens to those illegals who do not wish to complete my friend's two-year plan for citizenship?

For those who are ambivalent toward the eventual outcome of immigration reform, might they consider the impact of illegal immigration here in Illinois:

*540,000 illegal immigrants live in Illinois.

*The cost is $4.6 billion dollars.

*IL taxpayers absorb most of the burden.

*Chicago is the hub in the Midwest for drug trafficking.

*Heroin abuse in Chicago and its suburbs is more extreme than anywhere else in the country.

*Criminals and terrorist from Middle Eastern countries are crossing the Mexican border.

*Our National Security is under threat.
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Enough is enough. The line has to be drawn and the invasion of American has to end!