Gov. Walker backs citizenship pathway for illegal immigrants

[Carling]

Dead man walking for some GOP voters.  I'll need to hear his expanded thoughts on this so I don't overreact. 

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/309111-wis-gov-walker-backs-path-to-citizenship-in-immigration-reform-

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) says he supports a pathway to citizenship for immigrants living in the country illegally as part of an overhaul of the nation's immigration system.

"If people want to come here and work hard and benefit, I don't care whether they come from Mexico or Ireland or Germany or Canada or South Africa or anywhere else," Walker said Tuesday during an interview with the Daily Herald Media Editorial Board of Wisconsin. "I want them here."

Walker was then asked about the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the country illegally. The editorial board asked if he could "envision a world where with the right penalties and waiting periods and meet the requirements where those people could get citizenship?"

"Sure," Walker responded. "I mean I think it makes sense."
Walker's comments came roughly a week after the Democratic-controlled Senate passed a bipartisan immigration reform proposal that includes a pathway to citizenship.

The proposal strengthens border security along the U.S.-Mexico border by doubling the length of fencing across the border and also doubling the number of border patrol agents. Walker said he had not fully reviewed the Senate bill and has not taken a position on the legislation.

Walker's comments separate him from some conservative House lawmakers who have said they cannot support the Senate immigration reform bill because it includes a pathway to citizenship.

"Not only do they need to fix things for people already here, or find some way to do it, there's got to be a larger way to fix the system in the first place," Walker said. "Because if it wasn't so cumbersome, if there wasn't such a long wait, if it wasn't so difficult to get in, we wouldn't have the other problems that we have" of immigrants living in the country illegally.

Walker is not the only prominent Wisconsin Republican to support immigration reform. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has also called for his chamber to pass an immigration overhaul. Ryan recently said the Senate bill's enhanced border security measures make the proposal more likely to pass the House.

"I think that, that passing makes this final passage more likely," Ryan said in late June.

[mountaineer]

The editorial board asked if he could "envision a world where with the right penalties and waiting periods and meet the requirements where those people could get citizenship?"

Sounds like his "pathway to citizenship" includes playing by the rules. That's all we're asking.

[Carling]

Sounds like his "pathway to citizenship" includes playing by the rules. That's all we're asking.

That's what I want, too, but the immigration debate has become binary for the extremes on both the left and the right. 

"Full amnesty now" vs. "deport them" isn't a policy debate; it's an ideological debate.  Check out the comments at FResno.com.  The posters there aren't interested in forming workable policies.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3250940/posts

[Carling]

FYI - apparently this article is from July 2013.  Of course it's not a big deal until today.  My bad for visiting FResno.com.

[GourmetDan]

Walker was then asked about the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the country illegally. The editorial board asked if he could "envision a world where with the right penalties and waiting periods and meet the requirements where those people could get citizenship?"

"Sure," Walker responded. "I mean I think it makes sense."

The key item that is missing is controlling the number of immigrants.  What if the 11MM 'estimate' is wrong or keeps growing?

Are 20, 50, 100 million all OK with 'the right penalties and waiting periods'?

I don't think so...

[libertybele]

The key item that is missing is controlling the number of immigrants.  What if the 11MM 'estimate' is wrong or keeps growing?

Are 20, 50, 100 million all OK with 'the right penalties and waiting periods'?

I don't think so...

 

[Formerly Once-Ler]

FYI - apparently this article is from July 2013.  Of course it's not a big deal until today.  My bad for visiting FResno.com.

That is when the Senate immigration bill was passed by these Republicans

Alexander, Tenn.
Ayotte, N.H.
Chiesa, N.J.
Collins, Maine
Corker, Tenn.
Flake, Ariz.
Graham, S.C.
Hatch, Utah
Heller, Nev.
Hoeven, N.D.
Kirk, Ill.
McCain, Ariz.
Murkowski, Alaska
Rubio, Fla.

2 are running for President.

Walker was one of the first Governors to come out and support the bill that went on to languish in the House.  Boehner refused to appoint a conference committee.  He must not have thought he could work with Reid.  I'm interested to see what Boehner and McConnell can come up with.