September 19, 2007

Mitt Romney releases immigration policy document (er, kinda)

Mitt Romney has released a momentous 70-page tome called "Strategy for a Stronger America" (link). It consists of ten sections about his various proposals. In rather large print, with lots of pictures. No footnotes for him!

The immigration section includes the following quote:

"We must reform the current immigration laws so we can secure our borders, implement a mandatory biometrically-enabled and tamperproof documentation and employment-verification system, and increase legal immigration into America."

That pretty clearly sounds like a national ID card for everyone, and even the PDF isn't internally consistent:

Issue a biometrically-enabled and tamperproof card to non-citizens and create a national database for non-citizens so employers can easily verify their legal status in this country.

It's a relief it would (at least according to the second statement) be just for non-citizens. However, as with Rudy Giuliani he's database-mad and as with Rudy's plan even if it only started with non-citizens it would eventually become a national ID for everyone, including citizens.

And, we get three one-paragraph-only sections that, while they probably have their own issues, aren't as problematic:

Secure The Border.
Punish Sanctuary Cities.
Encourage Legal Immigration.

The "Improve Interior Enforcement" section raises a bit of a red flag, perhaps with reason:

Provide resources to enforce immigration laws throughout the nation, and crackdown on employers who continue to hire illegals with stiffer fines and penalties.

Somehow the "continue" part has me a bit worried: after what? After Romney is elected? Or, after a "guest" worker program or after an amnesty?

Wait, what was I thinking? He's against amnesty!

Reject Amnesty. Do not give amnesty or any special pathway to those who have come to this country illegally.

The problems with that statement are discussed at the link, as is a question you can ask Romney to find out exactly where he stands. We know the MSM isn't going to ask, so it's up to us to do it.

Posted to Immigration2007b at September 19, 2007 03:22 PM