On immigration and promises from the Gang of Eight: Remember 1986

"We used the word 'legalization,' and everybody fell asleep lightly for a while, and we were able to do legalization." -- Former Wyoming Sen. Alan K. Simpson, co-sponsor of the "one-time" 1986 amnesty for illegal aliens, to NPR in 2010.

For conservatives, there can be no more effective reminder that the current attempt to legalize 11 million to 20 million illegal aliens is a shameless, calculated and deceptive scam than the rallying cry "Remember 1986!"

The liberal media seldom begins a news report on another legalization that's "not amnesty" without stating that "the Republican party has taken a second look at its immigration stand since the 2012 election ... " This is in hope that obedient GOP voters will succumb to the endless false assertions that if granted citizenship, these grateful, low-wage, entitlement-dependent workers would vote for small-government, low-tax Republican candidates...

Don't like the legal and accurate term "illegal alien?" "Undocumented Democrat" is just as descriptive.

The legalization of 1986 only served to increase illegal immigration. Because the false promises of future border security, future enforcement of temporary visa holder departures and future workplace enforcement never happened.

The legalization of 1986 is in large part the reason for the crushing crisis today...

One of the current "Trust us, we mean it this time, no really!" promises on legalization-again is future nationwide implementation of the E-Verify system. In about five years. After legalization. "We promise!"...

Americans should heed Gang of Eight member Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on "Meet the Press" earlier this month: "We've come to a basic agreement, which is that first, people will be legalized ... then, we will make sure the border is secure," he said. With a straight face.

The American people put down an amnesty attempt last in 2007. Ask yourself: If they were at all sincere, why didn't the same people who were selling legalization then dedicate themselves to making the promises become reality before the 2013 legalization promise campaign?

Remember 1986.

D.A. King is president of the Georgia-based Dustin Inman Society.