Wall Street Journal (Opinion)
By Karl Rove
June 5, 2013
As
the Senate takes up immigration reform next week, Republicans must
consider the impressions they will create by what they say, the changes
they propose and their votes on the final product.
There
is growing public support for providing a pathway to citizenship for
those now in the country illegally. A February CBS/New York Times poll
found 56% supported a pathway to citizenship for illegals, up from 38%
in December 2007. Just 20% now say they should leave the country. An
April Associated Press poll found 63% support a pathway, up from 50% in
August 2010.
Support
for a pathway has grown most among Republicans. A January AP-GfK poll
found 53% of Republicans now support it—up from 31% in 2010. (A
Quinnipiac poll last week found support among Republicans at 39%.)
Leading
Senate Republicans (including Jeff Flake, Rand Paul and Marco Rubio)
support a pathway to citizenship, but only if the border is first
secured. Even Republican senators publicly arguing against a pathway
recognize it is in their interest to play down that issue and focus
instead on possible weaknesses in the bill's border-security provisions
or adverse economic impact.
Since
immigration reform was last considered in 2007, Americans have become
more insistent on securing the border while also becoming more
supportive of a path to citizenship and more immigration of high-skilled
workers.
Border
security is likely to dominate next week's Senate debate. Republicans
don't trust the administration to impartially determine if the border
has been secured. This is important because the bill's path to citizenship doesn't open until the border has been secured.
One
proposal would have Congress vote each year on whether the border is
secure, but that is not workable. It could result in subjective,
politically driven decisions by Congress. Who doesn't think if Democrats
controlled Congress as they did in 2009 and 2010 that the border would
be deemed secure, even if it wasn't?
Better
to have clear, verifiable metrics such as Mr. Rubio's proposal for 90%
of all incoming illegals to be apprehended. A set of standards won't be
easy to arrive at, but it is something Republicans should champion.
It
is also important that Republicans avoid calling a pathway to citizenship "amnesty." Amnesty is the forgiveness of wrongdoing without
penalty, something President Ronald Reagan advocated and signed into law
with the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act. The law essentially
told those here illegally that if they had arrived in the U.S. prior to
1982 and wanted to become citizens, simply raise your right hand.
The
current Senate bill has plenty of penalties and hurdles for those here
illegally who seek citizenship. They must, for example, establish that
they have been here since Dec. 31, 2011, and, in a provision likely to
be toughened, prove their good moral character (e.g. no more than three
misdemeanors and no felonies). They must pay $2,000 in fines: $500 when
they surface, $500 if they want to remain in America after six years,
and $1,000 when finally eligible to apply for a green card, as well as
other processing charges to be determined. They must pay taxes
and—unlike the 2.7 million illegals granted amnesty after the 1986
reforms—are barred from receiving any federal benefits, including
welfare and ObamaCare.
To
renew their temporary status after six years, those still waiting to
become citizens must prove they've been steadily employed, paid all
taxes, and aren't on welfare. Before they get a green card, they must
pass a test demonstrating their knowledge of English. And they must
stand at the back of the line behind everyone who's already waiting
patiently and legally to immigrate here.
During
last year's election, Hispanics considered jobs, the economy and health
care as more important than immigration reform. Not now: The March 5,
2013, Latino Decisions Poll found that 58% of Hispanics believe
immigration reform is one of the most important issues the president and
Congress should address, followed by create more jobs/fix the economy
at 38%, education reform/schools at 19%, and health care at 15%.
A
January Latino Decisions survey suggested that 42% of Hispanics would
vote Republican or be more likely to if the GOP "took a lead role" in
passing comprehensive reform with a path to citizenship. American
Enterprise Institute President Arthur Brooks pointed out on these pages
that over half of unregistered Hispanics are self-identified
conservatives, much higher than those already registered to vote.
Immigration
reform is now a gateway issue: Many Hispanics won't be open to
Republicans until it is resolved, which could take the rest of the year.
But there is little doubt next week's Senate deliberations will shape
for some time to come the Hispanic community's perceptions of the GOP.
Mr.
Rove, a former deputy chief of staff to President George W. Bush,
helped organize the political action committee American Crossroads.
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
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