Considering Immigration

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RedState:

Considering Immigration

 

By: Erick Erickson (Diary) | April 2nd, 2013 at 03:30 AM |

David Addington of the Heritage Foundation published a Backgrounder on immigration late last week while I was on vacation. As Congress picks back up the issue, it is worth noting that Addington provides probably the most detailed definition of “amnesty” that I have seen.

 

The term “amnesty” is often used loosely with reference to aliens unlawfully in the United States. Sometimes it refers to converting the status of an alien from unlawful to lawful, either without conditions or on a condition such as a payment of a fee to the government. Sometimes it refers to granting lawful authority for an alien unlawfully in the U.S. to remain in the U.S., become a lawful permanent resident, or even acquire citizenship by naturalization, either without conditions or on a condition such as payment of a fee to the government or performance of particular types of work for specified periods. Amnesty comes in many forms, but in all its variations, it discourages respect for the law, treats law-breaking aliens better than law-following aliens, and encourages future unlawful immigration into the United States.