"Immigration bill suffers a big setback" from the AP reports that S. 1348, the Senate comprehensive immigration reform bill, has been set aside by Majority Leader Harry Reid since the Senate failed to garner the votes to bring the bill to a full vote - saying there are other legislative priorities. The House has not planned to take up the matter until the Senate passes something. The GOP had amendments to the bill that didn't get debated and acted on, as noted by Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
This is yet another failure of the executive branch first and foremost - who has not enforced the northern and southern borders nor ports or shores - even with the horrific attack on the homeland of September 11th. In addition, there has been no move to identify who is in the country. The idea of a national identity card, which will probably be very necessary for our national security, hasn't come up - and this would be one way to start the sorting process. The ID card could be used for elections, passports and cut down on the bureaucracy.
What should happen next?
- Borders, north and south, need to be enforced, including our shores and ports.
- A national ID card needs to be devised that can be used for identification, election verifications, passports, etc..
- The employers database needs to be perfected and test driven.
- The national ID card needs to be carefully given to citizens, with biometric data included.
- Non-citizens should be forced to come forward and sorted - with those who are here illegally should be sorted with those deemed inappropriately here sent back to their home countries.
- Finally, non-citizens who qualify to stay and work should receive a biometric ID card similar to that of citizens but clearly identified as different so that appropriate restrictions can be applied.
Comments