Don’t ignore felonies of illegal immigrants

So Ruben Navarrette Jr. thinks Newt Gingrich’s plan for “legality” for longtime illegal aliens is a great idea (“Gingrich deserves credit for a good, bold idea,” Nov. 30).

I think it’s a terrible idea.

It says in effect, if illegal aliens have cheated and committed fraud for 25 years, they get to stay here, but if illegal aliens have done the same for only two or three years they must go home. Huh?

How much would the citizen review boards cost that decide each case? Who will sit on these boards? What is acceptable proof of applicants’ statements?

Illegal aliens use stolen or counterfeit Social Security numbers, which is a federal felony. Is this to be overlooked?

Did the alien ever complete an I-9 form for employment? Did he/she provide false information on it? Another federal felony.

Did the illegals misuse Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) to collect “Earned Income Tax Credit,” a federal program that pays billions to low-income families?

I think we need to take a closer look at Newt’s “good, bold idea” — and at the man proposing it.