>>>But see, this is the issue: I don't agree with you. So, with that in mind, I stand by my solution. It may not happen, but I believe it can. If I say it can't from the start, it won't. I'm not doing that.
>>>
>>
>>FWIW, I heard on the radio today that there are now about 6,000 INS agents, roughly triple what they're used to be. So if we set those agents only to the problem of getting the estimated 12 million illegals out of the country, that's 2,000 per agent. What's a reasonable amount of time for an agent to spend on an individual, finding them, getting the order, attending a hearing, etc., etc. Surely a minimum of 10 hours (which is think is way too short) a piece? So, let's see. That's 4 per agent per week (assuming 40 hour work week), if all goes well. 2000/4 = 500, so if every individual can be handled in 10 hours, with the current staff, that would be a mere 500 weeks to deport the illegals who are here with the current staff.
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>>And that's only if we take them off handling the borders or any other responsibilities.
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>>Of course, we could increase the number of agents, but how much are you willing to spend on this? Pure economics is why most people, including folks at the INS, don't think deporting them all is feasible.
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>>Tamar
>
>So, do you read all the messages or only respond to those that really irk you?

Those aren't mutually exclusive, of course. Typically, in a thread I'm interested in, I read all the messages. Sometimes, when a subthread wanders to something I don't care about, I skip that subthread.

I respond when I think I have something to say. And yeah, messages that irk me are more likely to provoke a response.

>> I mentioned to Alan that there is something in-between. I believe that we should do something and it should not be some half-assed amnesty where we let everyone who is here stay. There is something that can work. You seem to think that they are all so good hearted and have these families that they need to support. I live in a primarily hispanic neighborhood and I can tell you most assurdly they are not.

Even an in-between solution isn't going to be able to be applied universally, unless we spend a lot more money on people to apply it.

That said, I agree that this issue is neither black nor white. There are illegals here who should be deported because they are dangerous criminals. My suspicion is that such people are a very small group.

I think legal immigration to this country should be much easier. If you're not a criminal and you have some means of support, you should be able to come here. No quotas, no limits. (Keep in mind that those limits contributed to the death in millions of civilians in WWII.)

As for those who are here illegally, but otherwise living productive lives (by which I mean working or getting educated, staying out of serious legal trouble--I wouldn't holding parking tickets or jaywalking or other minor infractions against anyone, etc.), I think we should provide them a path to legal residence and citizenship.

Tamar