Kerry: Citizenship For Anyone In US For Five Years

Democrat Primary Debate ^ | Sep 4, 2003 | John Kerry

[Hon]

Question: Would you support legalizing undocumented immigrants in this country?

Kerry: Absolutely. I supported and was prepared to vote for amnesty from 1986. And it is essential to have immigration reform. Anyone who has been in this country for five or six years, who's paid their taxes, who has stayed out of trouble, ought to be able to translate into an American citizenship immediately, not waiting.

Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico Sep 4, 2003

[Hon]

An issue that seems important to many around here.

[longtermmemmory]

if true he is insane.

[KantianBurke]

Delay would ensure any such plan as being DOA!

[NautiNurse]

Five or six years should make the patient sandfly-swatting terrorists very, very happy.

[A2J]

I guess that covers members of Al Queda as well, eh Kerry?

I must say though, that there's little difference between he and Bush on this one.

[DBrow]

Maybe he is angling for the Libertarian voters- a big step toward open borders.

[KellyAdmirer]

I suppose that would be the new immigration rule, get in and stay in for five years and you're a citizen? Pretty mad thinking, but something I would expect from Kerry.

[gubamyster]

ping

[Blood of Tyrants]

However, we have seen that if the president so chooses, he just orders the INS and border patrol to ignore the problems with illegal immigration and to not do their jobs.

[bushsupporter30]

the "little difference" is that illegals DO NOT automatically get citiznership. It takes 10-12 years for someone who is illegal to probably even apply for citiznership and they could be rejected on these grounds...

[Blood of Tyrants]

P.S. And if there is one thing government employees don't have to be told to do twice, it's to take it easy and not work too hard.

[bushsupporter30]

If you had put "Bush says this" immidiately we would have all the Bush bashers in full force and this post would have already been over 200 threads by now. I cannot believe that people would actually vote for someone like Kerry or third party.

[RLK]

Question: Would you support legalizing undocumented immigrants in this country? Kerry: Absolutely.

---------------------------

Bush is working toward the same thing, although a little more slyly. What's the difference? People here will try to manufacture a difference to support Bush, but the goals are the same.

[Sabertooth]

Anyone who has been in this country for five or six years, who's paid their taxes, who has stayed out of trouble, ought to be able to translate into an American citizenship immediately, not waiting.

See how reasonable the Bush Amnesty is?

Under President Bush, Illegals would have to wait at least eight more years before receiving the ultimate reward for their lawbreaking:

U.S. Citizenship.

[EllaMinnow]

It's much more than a "manufactured" difference.

[bushsupporter30]

Since Prez Reagan's amnesty, INS's funding has gone up from around few hundred million to billion plus, and illegal immigration hasnt gone down. When did the president order INS and border patrol to ignore their jobs? Last I heard, we are still catching them in droves and turning them around. What else do you propose to do?

[Hon]

Democrats embrace amnesty for illegals

By Stephen Dinan
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

All eight of the Democratic presidential contenders at Thursday's debate embraced amnesty for illegal aliens now in the United States, pushing the issue onto the national stage for the presidential contest.

In a debate specifically designed to showcase the candidates for Hispanic voters who were increasingly intrigued by President Bush's outreach in 2000 and 2001, the Democrats went on record in support of amnesty, a high-profile issue in that community.

"If you had told me three years ago that every Democratic presidential candidate would be aggressively promoting legalization and comprehensive reform, I would have said 'No way,' " said Frank Sharry, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, which has called for such reform.

All of the candidates agreed that a form of amnesty is necessary for some or all of the estimated 9 million illegal immigrants living and working in the United States already.

"I believe we have to change it. It's a matter of human rights, a matter of civil right, a matter of fairness to Americans. It's essential to have immigration reform," said Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, who said he wants instant citizenship for those who have lived in the United States for about five years...

Thursday's debate was held in Albuquerque as a nod to New Mexico and neighboring Arizona, both of which have large Hispanic populations and hold early primaries next year. The debate, meant to give Democratic Hispanic voters exposure to the candidates, will be translated into Spanish and telecast on Univision today...

Several observers said Mr. Kerry, Mr. Lieberman and Sen. Bob Graham of Florida showed the best grasp of issues surrounding immigrants.

Mr. Kerry expressed outrage at the difficulty many immigrants have in sending earnings back to their home countries, and said the government should "be sensible" about the matricula consular identification cards issued by the Mexican government to its citizens, including illegals, living in the United States.

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030906-120054-6125r.htm

[Nea Wood]

Yeah, who cares if they jumped the line ahead of all the legal immigrants, some of whom have been waiting patiently for years? Come on in! Come one, come all, stick it out for five years and you get citizenship! Let's take in the whole world! After all, we have no right to control who comes in to this country, or how many come in. Let the immigrants decide how many come in, not us! Why, everybody on the planet has the right to be an American citizen!

Has the world gone insane?

[junta]

Why wait five years that seems dicriminatory to me.

[Sabertooth]

It takes 10-12 years for someone who is illegal to probably even apply for citiznership and they could be rejected on these grounds..

Source?

And why should Illegals be legalized and given citizenship,
in any time frame?