let's see ... you assume that the "enemy" behaves as you would.
bad guess. . the cartels would continue to send felons to
the official crossings, with fake IDs, and many with questionable
records would still sneak in. . felons here does not equal felons there. -- j
.

That's silly. As soon as you legalize immigration for all but convicted felons, those now legalized will enter at the official border crossings, leaving only the felons to hunt for along thousands of miles of border.

Trying to secure that border first would be like trying to defend the Great Wall of China. Its builders knew better than to ever try.

I got so many speeding tickets with that car that they suspended my license for 6 months. Couldn't help it. With all that power and the Chrysler cushy suspension, it was like you were on a flying carpet floating above the ground. Help!

my sister's guy has one of those. . it can pull about 6 Gs from a stoplight!!! -- j
.

'89 Camaro?
I still dream of my '69 Charger with the 440 engine. Damn, I still miss that car.

there's an '89 camaro in the basement -- not mine, dammit --
with a tire gone flat, which I tried to inflate with my monster
air tank. . nope. . gap at the bead;;; wouldn't seat. -- j
.

Sounds like my '53 Ford. It was time to run to the hospital for the birth of my 2nd son. Flat tire! Not one, but two. Only one spare. Had to call my in-laws (ugh) to drive us.

in order to "legalize immigration for all but convicted felons,"
we would first have to catch ALL of those trying to come in, to filter them.
this requires securing the border. -- j
.

wonderful analogy or simile -- like trying to inflate a tire
whose bead isn't seated on the wheel !!! -- j
.

This is a difficult problem...30 mil at last count?
However, they did break the law...there should be some penalty...don't you? Have not most of us been made to pay for our mistakes, our transgressions? I did and became better for it.
They have to own up to it, they would have to become 'American' and speak and read our language. No bennies, no automatic citizenship and no voting...a life in name only so to speak. If they chose to get back in line then that would be a different story. I am not prepared to pay for the cost, (at union wages) to catch them and send them back otherwise.

Some of this is already the law, and should simply be enforced (and like gun laws, that's the place to start, not by passing more, needless laws).

Legal immigrants today are required to have an American citizen or legal resident "sponsor" them. The sponsor is supposed to be held financially responsible if the person he sponsored commits serious crimes or goes on the dole. If the sponsor is not a citizen by birth he can also lose his own right to live here for failure to meet this responsibility.

But trying to "secure the border" makes NO sense, for two good reasons. First, half of all illegal immigrants enter legally and just overstay their visas. No amount of border security is going to help against them.

And second, so long as a huge number of people are forbidden to cross the border, thus giving the border patrol/ICE an impossible job, there is no way for those officials to effectively keep dangerous people such as terrorists out. Legalize immigration for all but convicted felons, and you reduce that job to one that can actually be done.

First, the borders should be made secure. Then, the (legal) immigrants should be given a medical
exam, to make sure they don't bring in any conta-
gious diseases. Also, a foreigner should not be al-
lowed in who is likely to become a public charge.
Then, they should not be given welfare benefits.
(Until after becoming citizens, and having paid
in for a certain length of time). Then, the entry
process should be streamlined; I understand
that there is a lot of unnecessary red tape. Then,
the welfare state should be eliminated anyhow,
including for the native-born American citizens.

Secure the border, secure the border, secure the border. Nothing makes sense until that is done. Once the border is secure and only legals can enter, then it is possible to deal with illegals. Until then, it's like trying to blow up a balloon with a hole in it.

Ok, here is another case of the media taking bits and pieces, and everyone repeats the half truth.

Trump said in a recent interview specifically they should ALL have to leave this country period, BUT those who have been here and NOT committed crimes can apply and get an expedited VISA and path then re-enter the country LEGALLY!!

He also said AFTER the border is sealed.

Obama claims the illegals are good because they do the jobs that most Americans don't want to do. When questioned on exactly what jobs they were the only real answer he could come up with was "Vote Democrat"!

why not give immigrants access to come to the USA. There is a small charge to cover basic medical insurance in case they get sick here to pay for immediate care and return to their country. Otherwise, there are NO freebie entitlements. they dont become citizens in any special way, and this includes their kids if born here. If they want to work, thats OK- pay a fee for a work card. Doesnt give them minimum wage or other entitlements in the workplace. This would have to be carefully figured out of course. That way we in the USA get whatever benefit they might bring; they get basic rights and the ability to make as much money as they are wroth to employers. I think an approach like this is far better than modifying our "path to citizenship" that Obama wants.

Step one " We need a border at the border"
Step two, when the masterminds have some credibility after successfully executing step one for an extend time we can deal with those still here.

The article cited was based on Trump's comments on Tuesday. Demonstrating he is a moving target on this and a number of other issues, Trump stated last evening (Wednesday) that as president he would lead an effort to identify, arrest and deport the approximately 11 million people currently in the U.S. illegally. When quizzed on how he would go about this task, Trump said only that he would get it done.

Not to mention the billion upon billions of OUR money that gets floated over seas for God knows why....

I think until we shut off the free ride of entitlements in this country we are screwed from all directions. Illegal immigrants, our own moochers, no incentive to be responsible for your own existence and subsequent lake of morality, to the economic collapse that is looming. All tied to entitlements.

someone marked you down to 0, William; I fixed it.

we Must Stop ILLegal immigration, restore our nation's sovereignty
and consider changing immigration laws -- gradually if at all.......

those who want immigration reform, these days, want to EXcept
those here, buying their D votes as a result, and pave the way
for single-party control of the U.S. . IMHO. -- j
.

I think you must stop illegal immigration and control which of the millions who would like to come to the U.S. are allowed to do so -- and that includes people who would have to take an airplane.

Once you have a more rational immigration system then, and only then, (REALLY ONLY THEN) can we discuss the people why have been here the longest.

I will point out that the people who demand a "comprehensive" approach mean amnesty and then kicking the can.

sounds like those pacific island states might have a sense of fiscal propriety!!! -- j
.

More exactly-
For Australia, there was a way to get permanent residency with a business investment of over $500,000. I'm not up to date but the rumors are that there was poor checking and money came in then went out a week later. The purpose was to get the resident's rate on university fees for the children. -good business sense maybe but not really value adding.
Yes migration rules are strict, there is a points system using qualifications, skills, age, health, business experience etc. Opinion is that it works ok in general.

The real problem is refugees. The green/left want no controls.
Australia takes 25 refugees per one thousand of population,
compare the US taking 14 per thousand.
The US, Canada and Australia resettle more than 90 per cent of the world's refugees.
Many are minorities escaping persecution, often well skilled, who want to work.
Unfortunately, many are not, and bring with them culture and beliefs inimical to civilization.

To survive, a nation must control its intake.
Leaving this decision to those who turn up in boats or border crossings, or giving the decision to some UN agency, leads to disaster.

Buying citizenship- I recall this can be done in one or two of the Pacific island micro states, your money gets you citizenship, but nothing else as there is no welfare, subsidized education, health care, pensions. ...

Yes! , a voice of reason here in the vast wilderness!!! -- j
.