RIDGE IS WRONG

Washington Times ^ | 12/12/03 | Editors

[DoctorMichael]

We disagree with Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge's remarks on Wednesday supporting the legalization of millions of illegal immigrants now living in the United States. Speaking at a town hall meeting in Miami Wednesday, Mr. Ridge declared that the government "had to come to grips with the presence of 8 million to 12 million illegals" now in the country, in order "to afford them some kind of legal status some way." While Mr. Ridge said he was not advocating the granting of citizenship to this group, history suggests that legalization is often a first step in that direction. The idea of legalization is not new for the Bush administration; it was seriously considering granting permanent residency for illegals right before the September 11 attacks. Late Wednesday, Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security, said that Mr. Ridge's remarks simply reflected the congressional debate on immigration, and that the administration had not taken a firm policy stance on the matter. But even a soft policy stance would be unacceptable.

[DoctorMichael]

Gotta go to my Friday morning meeting............Talk amongst yourselves.

[FierceDraka]

You know, if they give these ILLEGALS any kind of amnesty, it says to me that our laws are absolutely meaningless, or are only enforced on a selective basis.

Sounds like sure sign of the ever more visible rise of tyranny in the US.

[AmericanInTokyo]

In responding to the recent White House's TRIAL BALLOON to Conservatives on this one, we need to accompany our organized outcry with such articles as this one from Northern Virginia/D.C. suburbs (this week):

Gangs threat: 'Extreme' By Jon Echtenkamp 12/09/2003

Northern Virginians can expect a rising tide of violent crimes committed by street gangs that have established "a major hub" in this area, as more gang members – possibly numbering in the thousands – may flock here from Central America, according to a recently issued FBI report. The report specifically focuses on the rise of the most notorious of the gangs known to operate in this area, Mara Salvatrucha 13, or MS-13. The gang, with roots in El Salvador and Los Angeles, established a foothold in this region in the early 1990s and has been responsible for untold violent crimes over the years. The FBI estimates that some 3,000 MS-13 members and 30 MS-13 cliques are operating in the Washington, D.C., area, primarily in the prosperous Northern Virginia suburbs. "The greater Washington, D.C., area, and specifically northern Virginia, is now a major hub of MS-13 gang activity," the report says. "Violent crime associated with continued expansion of MS-13 is most predictable." The report serves as a wake-up call, even as federal, state and local law enforcement officials are implementing a broad array of programs to combat the rapid growth of gangs here. In language that is all the more startling because it comes from the FBI, the report notes that MS-13 groups "pose a serious threat in the United States and abroad due to their propensity for extreme random acts of violence and involvement in myriad criminal activities." Those crimes include shootings, rape, armed robberies, theft, car theft, drug dealing, and assaults with bats, knives, machetes or other weapons, the report says.

"Dear Mr. Ridge, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Rove: Does your "amnesty" include these thousands of illegal aliens who are no more than domestic terror paramilitaries now, operating in your neighbors' backyards and streets and schoolyards in suburban Washington D.C.?"

[NoClones]

its yet another liberal policy that has surfaced:

doing whats expedient because doing the right thing is inconvenient

[luvmysuv]

If Presidente Bush thinks this is the way to gain votes, I'm afraid he's wrong. Ridge and his superiors are going to watch the US being annexed into a third world country, not the other way around.

[dwilli]

The sad truth is that the illegal immigration has gotten so out of hand, it is too late to correct the situation.

Where does the government get the funding and manpower to
correct the problem?

The day is coming when Spanish will be the primary language
spoken and taught in this country.

[gcruse]

Tyranny? You overspeak.
About once a generation we grant amnesty to the illegals who have made it here since the last amnesty. Until we get control of the borders, which is to say when the federal government becomes better rather than bigger (that is, never), it will remain up to Mexicans to stop coming rather than for us to keep them out.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

At least the Democrats in the 1960s passes a law on immigration when they gave away our heritage.

I'll never forget that 15,000 quota for Shri Lanka and 1500 for Ireland.

At least these illegal immigrants are mainly Christians.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

It is bad policy to even consider the idea, but I really think this is the one issue where the Republicans in Congress will not give in to Bush.

It's political suicide for them to grant massive amnesty and voting rights to those who will naturally vote for democrats, nevermind the negative impact it would have on the country.

[putupon]

I'm afraid this isn't Ridge, it's coming from the top. Jorge has been trying to give everyone who speaks Espanol citizenship since his inaugeration. Nine Eleven put it on hold, but it looks like he's back at it.

"Mi Casa Blanca es su Casa Blanca, mi país es su país, mi dinero de ciudadano es su dinero de ciudadano, mis trabajos de ciudadano son su ciudadano, mi mejor amigo.">

[skeeter]

The sad truth is that the illegal immigration has gotten so out of hand, it is too late to correct the situation.

If the political will were there, the problem could be resolved in a few short weeks.

But thats one big 'if'.

[Hoosier-Daddy]

If possible, the government should be sued for breach of contract for leaving our borders open and our nation vulnerable. There is absolutely no reason to keep these yahoos in power if they're going to abdicate the basic responsibility of government to protect its citizen from foreign powers, something it is absolutely not doing now. Mr. Ridge has decided, over two years after 9-11, to visit our southern border. Mr. Ridge, and Mr. Bush, what the hell have you been doing over the past two years that was more important than protecting our borders from foreign infiltration?

[Ribeye]

"I'm afraid this isn't Ridge, it's coming from the top. Jorge has been trying to give everyone who speaks Espanol citizenship since his inaugeration. Nine Eleven put it on hold, but it looks like he's back at it."


Exactamundo.

Neither party will ever do anything about illegal immigration, especially from Mexico. They will continue to encourage it.

And you are going to pay for it.

Eventually they will all have SS#'s, drivers licenses, social services galore and a Social Security check when they retire.

This is their reward for coming here illegally and having a half dozen anchor babies they can't afford. This is their reward for breaking our laws, depressing wages, decaying the cities, choking the public school systems, over burdening the hospitals and turning the US into Norte Mexico.

Ever been to Mexico or South America? Notice how clean and orderly it is? How non-corrupt the govt is? How well educated everyone is? The US will be just like Mexico!

Get used to it and embrace the idea. Otherwise you will be labeled a racist xenophobe.

Fox is GW's buddy. And he's our pal too. He can't be all bad.

[TLI]

Even if there were no significant terrorist threat to the American homeland, there would still be compelling reasons to oppose mass legalization. The U.S. government cannot abandon the position that as a sovereign nation, we have the right and the duty to protect our borders.

That "compelling reason" would be in the form of the government being "overhauled" at a level not seen in about 240 years.

[lelio]

Thought of another reason for Ridge's announcement (which probably came from Bush): a lot of 'job creation' has been done by the hiring of illegal aliens. Are they counted in job growth figures?

What'll be really funny is if illegal/legal aliens count in job growth figures -- but don't count in unemployment ones as they can't collect unemployment.

[DoctorMichael]

"....absolutely no reason to keep these yahoos in power if they're going to abdicate the basic responsibility of government to protect its citizen from foreign powers...."

I'm VERY disappointed in these statements. The same should go for Tenent.

[dwilli]

It is not a matter of political will but political
suicide to head off the problem. There is nobody in
either party who would offend the Spanish-speaking
part of our society. This battle was lost decades ago.

[.cnI redruM]

Ridge is very wrong. I'd like to see Bush demand either a) an explanation or b) a letter of resignation.

[Dane]

The day is coming when Spanish will be the primary language spoken and taught in this country.

People in the US said the same thing 200 years ago about German and you don't hear Guten Tag as the greeting on the telephone.

Sometimes I don't get your alls hysterics. English is the world language, specifically because of it's ease to accept foreign words.

Heck the french are worried about franglais, and Espanophiles are worried about spanglish.