While the audience of Sen. John McCain’s staged town hall meeting watched as victims of Tucson’s tragic 2011 shooting were acknowledged by the Arizona Senator, there was someone who was noticeably absent. Some asked themselves where was Sue Krentz, the wife of rancher Rob Krentz, who was shot on his own property by an illegal border crosser in the spring of 2010. And what about the families of border agents Brian Terry and Nicholas Ivie? McCain’s staged appearance featuring some of the January 8, 2011 victims, who offered their support for McCain’s gun control position, rang hollow to those who rely on their guns for protection all along the border.
Those questions are resonating back to the heads of communities all across the country. Story after story of disenfranchised voters being disgruntled with their representatives is being repeated, and it appears that someone is finally listening…
The Republican National Committee’s 168 members are reportedly supporting a resolution which rejects a “path to citizenship” of convenience for those who currently reside in this country illegally. In addition, the RNC is also offering an outline offering alternative methods in reforming the current immigration system which varies from the ‘Gang of Eight’ approach obsessively supported by McCain, Senator Jeff Flake, also of Arizona, and a minority of GOP members in the Republican Senate Caucus.
In the outline, the RNC places priority on border security at the top by calling for a double layered fence to be completed which is overwhelmingly supported by a majority of Americans. The public also favors an immediate update to immigration policy in order to allow for a more reasonable flow of legal immigration which would be determined by the needs of the economy in America. This would also allow those already residing in the country illegally a path to legal residence. The plan stops short of providing citizenship; however, it aims to ‘regularize’ individuals while opening up new immigration based on merit.
The vote on the measure took place on Friday; however, very little has been reported about it.
RNC RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF SECURE BORDERS, ECONOMIC GROWTH, PROSPERITY AND NATIONAL IMMIGRATION POLICY REFORM
WHEREAS, legal immigration is beneficial to America and far exceeds immigration to any other country in the world; and
WHEREAS, a majority of Americans have consistently stated in polls and demonstrated in elections over the past decade they want border security and immigration reform; and
WHEREAS, in an age of global terrorism, drug cartels, human trafficking, and criminal gangs, the presence of millions of unidentified persons in our country poses a grave national security risk to the safety and sovereignty of the United States, and
WHEREAS, the 2012 Platform of the Republican Party recognizes the important economic and cultural contributions that legal immigrants continue to make to our nation and that illegal immigration discredits legal immigration, undermines the sovereignty of the United States and the rule of law and reduces the safety of the citizens. The best deterrent to illegal immigration is a well-functioning program for legal immigration, which we do not have; and
WHEREAS, Americans recognize that for many of those seeking entry in our country, the lack of respect for the rule of law in their country of origin has meant economic exploitation and political oppression; and
WHEREAS, Americans continue to support the mandatory employer use of the S.A.V.E. program prior to the granting of any State or Federal government entitlements or IRS refunds, and we insist upon enforcement in workplace through the E- verify system so that jobs are made available only to legal workers; and
WHEREAS, a majority of Americans support legal immigration and oppose any form of amnesty that would propose a pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens; and
WHEREAS, America’s current immigration system is premised upon obsolete public policy, outdated technology and should be replaced with a merit system utilizing the newest technology that focuses on the needs of United States employers and matches the economic and cultural attributes that each immigrant possesses to those needs; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Republican National Committee calls upon both Democrat and Republican members of Congress and the President to immediately authorize and complete construction of the double fence along our southern border that was approved in 2006 and is still not completed and sufficient law enforcement or military personnel to patrol; and create an effective means of enforcement for legal visitors who have not followed the terms of their entry into the country; and step up the penalty for illegally entering the United States from misdemeanor to felony; and, be it further
RESOLVED, that the Republican National Committee calls upon the President and Congress to implement immigration reform during the 2013 session based upon a merit system that emphasizes the economic contribution of each working immigrant can add to our nation; and, be it further
RESOLVED, that the Republican National Committee calls upon the President and Congress to create a new class of work permit that allows illegal immigrants who were brought into our country as minor children, and who have not violated any other laws of the U.S. to come forward and register and be allowed to remain and work in the U. S. This new class of legal worker permit holders will not result in an application for citizenship or to petition citizenship for family members. The work permit will require renewal every five (5) years and will require proof of employment or attendance in school during that period; and, be it finally committee calls in the President and Congress to create a new work permit
RESOLVED, that the Republican National program that will allow foreign nationals who are currently n the country and have not violated any other laws of the U.S. to come forward and register and be allowed to remain and work n the U.S. The work permit will not result in application for citizenship nor any family members entering the U.S. and will require renewal every two years upon proof of continuous employment with no more than (2) months per two (2) year period unemployed or convicted of a crime.