Fred Thompson releases good-sounding immigration plan (attrition)

Posted Tue, Oct 23, 2007 at 8:56 am

Fred Thompson - someone who I don't entirely trust and who in fact doesn't appear to be exactly energetic - has released an immigration plan that actually sounds acceptable (link). First he says he's against amnesty, but aren't they all. But, the surprising bit is that he appears to actually mean it:

Attrition through Enforcement. Reduce the number of illegal aliens through increased enforcement against unauthorized alien workers and their employers. Without illegal employment opportunities available, fewer illegal aliens will attempt to enter the country, and many of those illegally in the country now likely will return home. Self-deportation can also be maximized by stepping up the enforcement levels of other existing immigration laws. This course of action offers a reasonable alternative to the false choices currently proposed to deal with the 12 million or more aliens already in the U.S. illegally: either arrest and deport them all, or give them all amnesty.

Whether he actually means that is another matter. At the least, he's put something more detailed than Mitt Romney out there, and unlike Rudy Giuliani he doesn't appear to favor an amnesty. It will be interesting to see whether the GOP and Dem candidates try to change their plans in some way or how they try to attack it.

WAS IT COORDINATED? UPDATE: Both the Democratic National Committee ("DNC", link) and Rudy Giuliani (link) have taken remarkably similar swipes at Thompson's plan. Neither discuss anything about the plan itself, only pointing out his spotty Senate record.

Tags: 
rudy giuliani
attrition

Comments

Mary (not verified)

Tue, 10/23/2007 - 18:50

That might win him my vote!

amanda (not verified)

Tue, 10/23/2007 - 21:46

To actually articulate the mass deportation straw man is a cut above--several cuts. The 'Improving the Legal Immigration Process ' section actually doesn't just say increase legal immigration, i.e., merely changing the label. There is nothing about increasing legal immigration. Based on just what is written, there would appear to be no increase in total immigration (which is unheard of). Now, is this just a website outline or what Fred strongly believes? Will he start saying this stuff in public speeches? If he does, that will convince a lot more people than just a web site issue outline. A good start though which should be applauded. Let's hear more, Fred.

Fred Dawes (not verified)

Wed, 10/24/2007 - 01:31

Look Guys what old Fred Thompson is telling you is the same line bush told you in fact Fred THOMPSON IS JUST LIKE Bush, don't be fooled Fred Thompson is a one world guy. Fred Thompson family is almost all from Mexico, Check out his real live story.

honchocho (not verified)

Wed, 10/24/2007 - 03:45

Freddie is a CFR, one world government guy. One of his main campaign people is former Senator Spencer Abrams an open border nut. Fred is right,don't trust him.

mary (not verified)

Wed, 10/24/2007 - 13:26

Frankly I don't think I trust ANYONE any more!! Except maybe Jeff Sessions! I wish he would run!

Fred Dawes (not verified)

Wed, 10/24/2007 - 22:49

mary Sessions is backing Ron Paul.

Fred Dawes (not verified)

Wed, 10/24/2007 - 22:53

My Brother is backing Ron Paul my brother lives in Moscow and the old line reds hate Ron Paul. Listen to what Ron Is telling you or face the third world war and a massive race war here before the attack start from china.

amanda (not verified)

Thu, 10/25/2007 - 00:08

Don't trust Fred but be glad for this new immigration position. It helps the larger cause to get that policy out there and talked about. Why? How many of the public who are open to CIR/amnesty think the only alternative is mass deportation because it's drummed into their heads as the only enforcement option? The more people become aware of the attrition strategy alternative, the fewer who will settle for CIR/amnesty. The Rasmussen polls gave attrition as a choice and people like it. It eats out of amnesty's support. The higher profile attrition becomes the more ridiculous it will be for pollsters to offer only mass deportation or amnesty and the open borders legislators won't be able to cite 'widespread support for amnesty' from those slanted poll results.

mary (not verified)

Thu, 10/25/2007 - 01:00

Really? Sessions is backing Ron Paul.??..WOW that's interesting....well anyway I LOVE JEFF SESSIONS!!

Fred Dawes (not verified)

Thu, 10/25/2007 - 02:08

if all happen's the way i hope Ron Paul will win, but don't think this will happen. yes amanda is right but wrong about the real political position old Mexico city Fred Thompson is heading in.

Tanstaafl (not verified)

Thu, 10/25/2007 - 03:05

The sad truth is either one of those guys would die of a "heart attack" before they made any substantial changes in immigration. And Tancredo would die too. They just might have a harder time making it look like an accident.