Devil in the details

The Field Poll on immigration presents Californians as sympathetic to the plight of workers who came into the United States illegally. It also makes them look hard-nosed. The poll found that 70 percent of California voters want Congress to strengthen border security, while 80 percent would allow the 12 million illegal immigrants to stay in the U.S. and apply for citizenship – provided that they have a job, have learned English and paid back taxes. Whoa! So what exactly do they mean by having a job? Does being a day laborer count? Or must it be a steady job with a regular paycheck? And does having learned English mean being fluent in it? Or is it all right if they only have basic conversational skills? Oh, and on the back taxes thing – how on earth can that be enforced, considering that so many illegal immigrants work for cash? I don’t mean to be a wise guy here (well, maybe just a little bit), but the suggested requirements being thrown around are not exactly realistic. Too bad the political elements of the debate are likely to overtake the economic realities.