Citizenship Redux

Isn't it interesting that soon after the Republicans took a pounding in the 2012 election from non-white immigrants, that the issue of providing a "path to citizenship" is back on the table.

I predict that both Dems and Republicans will sign on to any measure that increases the pool of their potential voters.  So the end result might be that neither side benefits.  Even though some voters may be taken in for a while by the Republican's support of a citizenship measure, eventually, they will be seen as the same white man's party that they have been in recent memory.

There is an interesting aspect of the current proposed legislation that I wonder about.  I think we can all agree that any person born here can automatically be a citizen if they wish.  Those minors who were brought here by their parents who crossed the border illegally are a grey case.  Perhaps they could be given citizenship under certain conditions. 

The case that I puzzle about the most is those adults who immigrated illegally.  Why should they be allowed to become citizens under any arrangement?  Why not restrict them to permanent residence, like so many others with "green cards."  Why should they have the same outcome, including the right to vote, as someone who waited the requisite time and followed all the rules?  I think not.