Wednesday, January 13, 2016

TRUMP MOVES TO THE CENTER: I Support Amnesty

By Marc A. Thiessen

Trump’s supporters loved his promise this week to create a “deportation force” to remove all 11 million illegal immigrants living in America, and his repeated declaration that everyone here illegally will “have to go.”

But his supporters tend to overlook is his other promise — repeated in a recent debate — that under his immigration plan “they will come back.”

That’s right. Under Trump’s immigration plan almost all of 11 million illegal aliens (save for a small minority with criminal records) will get to return and get permanent legal status to stay here in America.

Trump supports amnesty.

On the Kelly File Thursday, Trump’s son Eric expressed frustration that the media overlooks this:

The point isn’t just deporting them, it’s deporting them and letting them back in legally. He’s been so clear about that and I know the liberal media wants to misconstrue it, but its deporting them and letting them back legally.

Eric Trump is right. His father has been crystal clear that he wants all the illegals to return and live in America.

Listen closely to what Trump is actually proposing. In an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash earlier this year, Trump explained his plan this way:

I would get people out and then have an expedited way of getting them back into the country so they can be legal…. A lot of these people are helping us … and sometimes it’s jobs a citizen of the United States doesn’t want to do. I want to move ’em out, and we’re going to move ’em back in and let them be legal.

This is a policy called “touchback” and it was first proposed in 2007 by moderate Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX). She offered a “touchback” amendment on the Senate floor that would have required illegal immigrants to return to their home countries to apply for a special “Z visa” that would allow them to reenter the United States in an expedited fashion and work here indefinitely.

Her amendment lost by a relatively close margin, 53-45. It was supported by most Republicans and even got five Democratic votes — Sens. Claire McCaskill, Max Baucus, Jon Tester, Byron Dorgan and John Rockefeller all voted for it.

The idea was considered so reasonable that in an April 22, 2007 editorial entitled “Progress on Immigration,” the New York Times declared:

It’s not ideal, but if a touchback provision is manageable and reassures people that illegal immigrants are indeed going to the back of the line, then it will be defensible.

So what Trump is proposing today — sending illegal immigrants back to their home countries and then allowing the “good ones” to return in an “expedited” fashion — was endorsed by the liberal New York Times!

In fact, the idea even got the support of — wait for it — illegal immigrants.

In 2007, the Los Angeles Times did the first telephone poll of illegal immigrants and asked whether they would go home under a “touchback” law that allowed them to return with legal status. Sixty-three percent said yes, 27% said no and 10% were undecided. If they were promised a path to citizenship when they returned, the number who said they would leave and return legally grew to 85%.

Donald Trump’s detractors were aghast at his invocation during the Fox Business debate of President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s “Operation Wetback” which forcibly removed 1.5 million illegal immigrants, and his promise the following day to establish a “deportation force” to remove the 11 million illegal immigrants living in America today.

Never mind the fact that we already have a “deportation force” – it’s called US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The fact is, Trump won’t need a “deportation force” or an “Operation Wetback” to get illegal immigrants to go home – because he has promised that they can return quickly with legal status.

The vast majority of illegal immigrants say they would voluntarily cooperate with Trump’s plan.

If anything, the “touchback” plan Trump endorses was attacked by conservatives back in 2007. In an editorial, National Review called touchback a “fraud” that gives illegal aliens “their own privileged pathway” ahead of “applicants who have complied with US immigration laws.”

That is precisely what Trump is proposing. Under his plan, illegal aliens don’t have to go to the end of the line behind those who have complied with our immigration laws. They get an “expedited way of getting them back into the country so they can be legal.” They get to cut the line and then stay in America.

So if you get past Trump’s bluster, the plan he is proposing is so liberal that it earned the support of the New York Times and the opposition of National Review.

The reason is simple: Trump’s plan is in fact a form of amnesty — you just have to leave the country briefly to get it.

So when Trump says of illegal immigrants “they all have to go,” don’t overlook the fact that under his plan almost all would be able to immediately return – and stay.

This means there is very little difference between his plan and what John Kasich and Jeb Bush are supporting.

And most of his supporters don’t even realize it.


Read more at AEI.org.
 

18 comments:

JimmyR said...

You're lying or misinformed. Trump's not going to waste time & money to kick people out and then bring them back.

directorblue said...

Yo, Jimmy - did you even bother to read the statements by DT and his son?

Apparently not. Read them.

Then tell me what you think they mean.



Tex Longhorn said...

Thiessen? Seriously? Next up, Rove, then Sununu I suppose.

Anonymous said...

Trump has said these people that will be deported will have an expedited process for reentering. I've heard him say it a number of times. Now what that becomes in reality is something we're just gonna have to wait and see, right?

But are you trying to argue that getting the illegals out isn't a yuge first step? I certainly believe that once remaining illegals see at least a few returnees, they too will be more inclined to self deport.

He's also said that he's had many, many employees from other countries that have worked here for many years but when they retire they choose to return to their own countries. What do you think he's trying to tell us here? Yeah.
MM

Martin said...

The campaign of attrition against those who support Trump is in full swing. Having failed to destroy him in the media, or to sit back and wait for him to do it himself, the Establishment will now use doubt to peel off supporters, little by little. Lies, obfuscations and mischaracterizations are but some of the devices to be employed; this piece is full of such. People who regard your trust as mutable will get in line, and it will only get worse from here.

Much worse. They may even try another "imminent collapse" gambit to force the issue.

Jeb! has already declared it's his goal to be the nominee, "with or without the support of the base." Trillions are at stake. Do you think what tens of millions of Americans think will make the GOPe take Trump lying down? Not hardly. They'll spend the farm changing your mind. They DO know better; YOU just don't understand it. Yet. How wrong they are. Without the ignorance of the dumbmasses, they cannot succeed.

Does the Bible not say "My people perish through lack of knowledge?"

Anonymous said...

What a weak attempt at a filthy smear job: "supports amnesty" MY FOOT!

Here, with the GOP Establishment LITERALLY PLEDGING TO ENSURE AMNESTY (see their Spanish version of Nikki Haley's Response to the SOTU), you twist into pretzel trying to make Trump's position equal to that of, say, Marco "Gang of 8" Rubio.

You make me sick.
TRUMP 2016!

Anonymous said...

I have heard Trump say repeatedly that he wants to deport illegals, and then bring them back. How is that not Amnesty. I used to support Trump, but after listening to many more of his speeches, and the timing of when he says the things he says, I realize this guy is a complete con artist. It's too bad more people don't see it, but glad I woke up to it.

Anonymous said...

TO "Anon 11:09 AM"

"How is that not Amnesty?!"
Learn English, the meaning of the word, and you'll find out.

Yes, you ARE a TROLL.
Thanks for playing.
I'm sure !Jeb! and the GOP Establishment
have an extra cookie for you on the way out.

Anonymous said...

Cruz mentioned this about a week ago talking to a man while shaking hands. I think it will come out tonight. Touchback amnesty is indeed what Trump supports or is trying to have it both ways. These people that came here illegally should have to wait in line like everyone else. Trump has indeed mentioned that they can come back. Cruz on the other hand when confronted recently with a dreamer stood his ground. Trump is not conservative. Some great articles written by Horowitz at conservative review are worth reading. They really help clarify the different sides of Trump. Please be willing to read. Cruz isn't perfect but the Constitution is at his core. Trump has been for gun bans universal health care and touchback amnesty. Please research him a little more. His rhetoric and bluster are great. He's done some great things against the media pc culture and the establishment. But we must look at his past. Not his campaign conservative rhetoric.

Anonymous said...


If you look closely at what Trump states, you will find that illegals who return home will have to get in line behind all current legal applicants from their country. So any Mexican who leaves will have to wait 10+ years before their number comes up for a return.

One has to suspect Trump's "come back" language is a sucker play to encourage people to leave not realizing it actually means "come back in over 10 maybe 20 years". He cannot explain this publicly as that would inform the suckers of the impending trap.

Every Idiot Trump Cultfollower said...

Donald Trump's son is a moron Loser RINO liar!!!!111@!

Anonymous said...

Absolute lie and gope propaganda.

Jester said...

In 100% agreement with anonymous at 12:37 PM 3 comments up. It is surprising that anyone watching Trump can't see how he does this two step routine, always IN FAVOR of the American people. He broadcasts his actual intention to those of like mind (his base), and then offers a grey truth caveat to swat the minds of some emotional low info voters to accept him as "fair", in order to assure victory. Then when they find out he intends to be stricter than he appeared, it will be too late, but Trump never lied.

Jo said...

Yes, he might allow a few back in if they have high IQ's, graduates in stem fields, and go through the legal process, if that's what the author means by amnesty.

Unknown said...

My stand has always been to deport them all. They broke the law getting here and staying here. They have stolen our sovereignty, our borders, our jobs, our kids education, and our economy.

All previous efforts to pass amnesty has been stopped because there is no viable assurance that the border will be secured FIRST, then deport so they cannot come back.

As soon as Trump is elected there will be many who will self deport even with the idea that they could come back in they will not attempt to do it. We will have a secure border and Border Patrol and ICE will be allowed to do the jobs they are hire for under a Trump Admin. If it is practicable after we once again have control and some do come back they will be known-- and they will have vaccinations, be vetting in BOTH countries, and will not be able to ever be on welfare or on the dole ever again.

What people don't know is that there are many ways for illegals already to become legal by petitioning USCIS through a lawyer. Costs a few thousand but they have to go through the same immigration process while IN the country. Instead of coyotes they are hiring lawyers and staying in the US. What they don't do is assimilate any better than while they are illegals.

What we have to stop BEFORE we even secure the borders is to stop the chain migration for 60+ of their closest relatives. No parents, no grandparents, no aunts, no uncles, no cousins, no brothers and no sisters. Every one comes on their own or not at all!!

Unknown said...

Jimmy,jimmy,jimmy,another one that bough a car from Trump without checking under the hood.Please read his own statement. Thank you

Unknown said...

NY, I live in NY,all of you with a determine opinion in favor of Trump are buying his cars without checking under the hood,he is a great car salesman.God guide our country to elect someone with clarity and ethics .

Laurel said...

Actually Trump has said this and did so during the 2016 campaign. Reality is it's not amnesty. He is talking about illegals coming back through legally. A great many won't qualify of course. This also can be stopped by Congress forbidding any type of legalization, at least for a number of years, if one came through illegally at any time.