The Patriot Post® · GOP Floats Immigration Reform

On Thursday, the GOP released their Standards for Immigration Reform, and the standards themselves are pretty much on target. But the devil is always in the details.

The Republican proposal begins by dividing up a comprehensive approach into as many as eight separate proposals, starting with border security but also with granting “probationary” legal status to illegals. Before beginning any such discussion, however, the important question is this: Can Barack Obama be trusted to enforce the laws? The obvious answer is no, and therein lies our primary criticism.

In laying out the principles, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) said, “We want to make sure that we write a law that [Obama] can’t avoid.” Good luck with that. Obama and his infamous pen are quite adept at avoiding or writing law. Recall that Obama unilaterally enacted the DREAM Act – rejected by Congress multiple times – by granting de facto amnesty to the children of illegal aliens. (That element is part of the GOP proposal, too.) Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson also says that illegals have “earned the right to be citizens.” When such is the prevailing attitude of the executive branch, what then?

Well, Ryan says the GOP’s thinking isn’t actually all that different: “If … you satisfy the terms of your probation, you’re not on welfare, you pay a fine, you learn English and civics, and the border’s been secured and interior enforcement independently verified, then you can get a regular work permit.”

But we’ve seen this movie before. All of those things were part of the 1986 amnesty, too. How did that work out? Ryan says that the estimated 11 million illegals here won’t be “preferenced over people who did follow the laws.” But does anyone believe that Congress would revoke legal status once it’s granted? Republicans are obviously desperate to win more Latino votes, so there’s no way they’ll revoke anything later. And Democrats… Need we say more?

None of this is to say some reforms aren’t needed, or that there aren’t good reforms in the GOP’s proposal. The legal immigration process is far too cumbersome and bureaucratic, making crossing the border illegally an attractive alternative. The Republican proposal for expanding the visa and work-permit system would alleviate pressure on the border, though enforcing existing law will always remain key. Furthermore, the GOP acknowledges U.S. economic interests – we should seek and keep the best and brightest, not just focus on every immigrant’s mom, uncle and second cousin.

But it’s hard to trust Republicans to keep their eye on the ball and work toward smart reforms without caving to Democrat demands on amnesty – all for an issue that almost no one but Democrats finds important right now. Dividing the GOP over it in this election year seems especially ill-advised.