Fred Thompson on Immigration

Fred Thompson's official immigration-reduction stance sets new bar for detailed vision. IN A TREND OF INCREASINGLY DETAILED EXCELLENT POLICY PROMISES BY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES -- THOMPSON HAS SET A NEW HIGH STANDARD, by Roy Beck of Numbers USA

When Fred Thompson came out with a detailed immigration policy this fall, I knew it was very good but was too busy leading the fight against amnesties in the Senate to give thorough attention.

Reading Thompson's full proposed immigration policy this afternoon, I am blown away by its depth, its breadth and at how it would so fundamentally change Americans' future for the better.

As a Senator from Tennessee in the 1990s, Thompson had a mixed record on immigration. I've studied that record and believe it reflects the problem that we saw even in some of this year's Senate heroes who also were mediocre in the 1990s -- most of them just weren't paying much attention to this issue in the 1990s (just like a lot of you have only become active on this during the last couple of years).

NumbersUSA always gives ample credit to politicians who turn from bad or mediocre records and decide to become our champions. But less-than-stellar past records require us to look for signs of sincerity and assurance that they will follow through on their promises.

With Thompson, we will be watching closely for these signs. One strong point for him is that he finished his Senate career with an A-minus performance in 01/02 term after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. And since coming out with his official stance, he has not been equivocating when asked about immigration in media appearances or in strong immigration ads.

KEY PARTS OF THE THOMPSON IMMIGRATION PLAN

You can read the full Thompson immigration plan at:

http://www.fred08.com/virtual/Immigration.aspx

I hope many of you will send messages of reinforcement to the Thompson campaign (as we've asked you to do for other candidates when they do positive things). Here is a link to the websitehttp://www.fred08.com/index.aspx

THE THOMPSON PLAN

END CHAIN MIGRATION!

I don't find any other presidential website that explicitly has the end of chain migration as a goal. I have maintained since my first books in the mid-1990s that ending Chain Migration is the single most effective action for reducing negative immigration impacts. Chain Migration breeds all kinds of illegal immigration among extended family who feel they have an entitlement to immigrate and don't wait their turn. Chain Migration multiplies the harm of every immigration action by allowing each new immigrant and refugee to eventually import huge extended families and eventually whole villages.

Thompson would restrict immigrants and refugees to bringing in their spouse and minor children. No more adult siblings, adult children or parents. Hence, no more nephews, nieces, in-laws, aunts, uncles and cousins -- unless they earn the right on their own merits. Everybody could come to visit on carefully controlled visitor visas. But if people want to live with their entire extended families, they'll need to continue to live where their extended family lives.

ELIMINATE THE VISA LOTTERY.

Since 1990, this ridiculous program gives away the opportunity for U.S. citizenship to some 50,000 people a year based on totally random luck of the draw, with no regard to the national interest, the immigrant's skills, education or humanitarian claim.

Inadvertently, the lottery rules are set up so that people from terrorist sponsoring countries are a disproportionate percentage of the winners.

The lottery is a breeder of illegal immigration as it gives false hopes to tens of millions of people around the world who play the lottery each year, many of whom eventually decide to speed up their dream by moving illegally to the U.S. and waiting to win the lottery here.

(weakness) No Explicit Goal of Numerical Reduction.

Although eliminating Chain Migration and the Visa Lottery would reduce future legal and illegal immigration by 5-8 million per decade, it would do so only if Congress and the President abstain from increasing other categories of immigration. Thompson has left this issue unanswered. I can find Tom Tancredo as the only candidate who actually promises total immigration reductions. Tancredo urges that legal immigration be reduced from its current 1 million a year to 250,000 a year, which is near our traditional average before the last three decades of abuse.

NO AMNESTY.

Thompson seems to rule out any kind of amnesty that would allow illegal aliens to remain in the United States.

ATTRITION THROUGH ENFORCEMENT.

Thompson promotes that very term. His goal is to drive as many illegal aliens as possible to voluntarily leave the country because magnets have been removed and the chances of being arrested and deported have been increased. He does not accept that we are stuck with the 12-20 million illegal aliens.

MANDATORY USE OF E-VERIFY BY ALL BUSINESSES TO KEEP ILLEGAL ALIENS OUT OF U.S. JOBS.

DENY TAX DEDUCTION TO EMPLOYERS FOR THE WAGES THEY PAY TO ILLEGAL ALIENS.

The IRS already knows all the employees who are working without valid Social Security numbers. This provision would simply authorize the IRS to disallow deductions for wages paid to those particular employees, thus increasing the costs of hiring illegals.

FINISH BUILDING THE 854--MILE WALL ON THE MEXICAN BORDER AS AUTHORIZED BY 2006 LAW.

RIGOROUS ENTRY/EXIT TRACKING OF LEGAL VISITORS.

"Complete the implementation of a system to track visa entrants and exits, as has been required by federal law for more than ten years, and connect it to the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC), in order to curb visa overstays and permit more effective enforcement."

TARGET SMUGGLERS, GANG MEMBERS AND SPEED UP DEPORTATIONS.

"Adding resources for the Department of Justice to prosecute alien smugglers, people involved in trafficking in false identification documents, and previously deported felons. ... Maximizing efforts to prosecute and convict members of criminal alien gangs, such as MS-13 and affiliated gangs. ... Implementing fully and making greater use of the expedited removal process already allowed under federal law."

ENFORCE EXISTING FEDERAL LAWS.

END SANCTUARY CITIES & BENEFITS TO ILLEGAL ALIENS.

Cut off discretionary federal grant funds "as appropriate to any community that, by law, ordinance, executive order, or other formal policy directs its public officials not to comply with the provisions of 8 USC 1373 and 8 USC 1644, which prohibit any state or local government from restricting in any way communications with the Department of Homeland Security regarding the immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of an alien in the United States."

"Deny discretionary Federal education grants as appropriate to public universities that violate federal law by offering in-state tuition rates to illegal aliens without also offering identical benefits to United States citizens, regardless of whether or not they live in the state, as required by 8 USC 1623."

"Deny discretionary Federal grants as appropriate to states and local governments that violate federal law by offering public benefits to illegal aliens, as prohibited by 8 USC 1621(a)."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Friends, these candidates are increasingly figuring out what the American people want. The Thompson plan goes far beyond platitudes and, in my opinion, shows interest and understanding of what it would actually take to bring back order into our immigration system.

I am exceedingly pleased to see this development.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things." (Philippians 4:8) (via Gina Cobb)

**This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn
more. Afterwards, email brianbonner90-at-gmail-dot-com and let us know at what level you would like to participate.**

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Comments

[James Driscoll]

All the Republican candidates and virtually everyone else is overlooking an easy and obvious solution to US immigration problems: apply to prospective citizens (immigrants) current interpretations of 14th Amendment protections against discrimination and guarantees of equal treatment before the law. To give a huge advantage to Mexican and Central American illegals over immigrants from Asia, Africa, Europe etc by strict enforcement of entry by air and lax enforcement of entry by land discriminates against Asians et al and in favor of Mexicans and some other Hispanics. Mexico with 2% of the world's population gets more than 50% of our total immigrants. Is this fair, is this equal opportunity?--obviously not. Once we accept the principle that US immigration cannot be discriminatory and no race or nationality can get preference over others, it will be necessary to stop illegal immigration just as it is necessary to stop discrimination in schools, etc. What fun it would be to watch Hillary and Obama try to defend immigration policies that clearly discriminate against African and Asian immigrants in favor of Hispanics. Pity no one asks them why they support defacto immigration discrimination.

[Tracey]

One fundamental issue I would like to see these immigration reform plans tackle is the current issues with legal immigration.

A person applying through the proper channels faces separation from their spouse and family for months, if not years. Yet someone who arrives on a tourist visa, overstays, then applies for an adjustment of status faces little penalty, no separation from family and has their residency within a few short months.

Put simply, it's faster and less stressful to get in to the US and worry about your legal status later. The current system breeds illegal immigration and until it ceases to do so, there will always be problems.

[Tancredo4prez]

I agree with Nancy! Fred sat out of the race until he had exact knowledge of the issues that concern American voters! Thompson was good at memorizing his lines as an attorney on Law & Order and that role helped him memorize Tom Tancredo's plan for fighting illegal immigration! There's certainly nothing original in F. Thompson's immigration plan! Tom Tancredo's been singlehandedly fighting illegal immigration in this country for nine years! Where was Fred's concern for illegal immigration those nine years?

[Stormwarning]

Rasta, so true. But cannot discount the role of JF Buzhardt who let everyone know about the 18 min. gap in the Nixon tapes.

But yes, as with Rudy, Fred Thompson has elephants in his closet. One of my friends continues to remind me that a candidate can't (for some reason) be hald responsible for "bad acts" of staff. I think its a flaw.

[Rastaman]

Fred Thompson was on the AG staff during the Whitewater/Nixon investigation and violated his position of confidence by feeding developments directly to Nixon. Then after Nixon was gone he claimed to be one of those who had exposed Nixon.

Thompsons number-one campaign contributor is an ex-con convicted of bilking people out of millions of dollars thru a string of phony companies and who now lives in a multimillion dollar estate on a private island. These two are old buddies.
Still think Thompson should be President? You want more of what we've had?

[Spree]

Excellent piece and his ideas are good.

I do wish he would get more positive press.

Voted for this on RCP.

[nancy sivill]

Fred's plan is a poor imitation of that of Tom Tancredo. And I doubt Fred's sincerity in implementing that plan. With Tancredo, I have no doubts--he has been talking the talk and walking the walk for the past eight years.
Where was Fred's action when he was in the senate--nothing????