Posted on 07/14/2005 5:10:56 PM PDT by bayourod
WASHINGTON – Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, portraying immigration changes as a vital weapon against terrorism, Wednesday pledged to tighten border security but also called on Congress to approve a guest worker program that would make it easier for foreign workers to enter the United States legally.
“We must gain full control of our borders to prevent illegal immigration and security breaches,” Chertoff said. But, he added, “control of the border will also require reducing the demand for illegal border migration” by channeling needed workers through a new legal system.
Implicit in the guest worker program would be an increase in the number of legal immigrants.
Chertoff vowed to carry his campaign for a guest worker program as well as other changes to Capitol Hill in the weeks ahead.
By linking the subject of immigration policy to the popular goal of thwarting terrorists, Chertoff sought to give new impetus to President Bush’s stalled proposal for an expanded guest worker program as well as enhanced border security.
And, by linking the guest worker plan to calls for tougher border controls, he also sought to mollify those conservative Republicans in Congress who have opposed such programs on grounds that enforcement must come first.
Immigration overhaul has been a particularly difficult issue for the Bush administration politically.
It pits many business-oriented Republicans, who favor ready access to immigrant workers, against social conservatives, who express outrage at the ease with which migrants evade U.S. laws.
Initial reaction from some congressional conservatives suggested Chertoff would not have an easy sell with Congress.
“His chances are slim to none over here,” said Rep. Thomas Tancredo, R-Colo., who founded and leads the pro-enforcement Immigration Reform Caucus in the House.
“It’s so annoying,” he said, speaking of the White House and Chertoff. “They’ve taken our rhetoric, they’re using the right words – enforcement, security. What they’re really describing is, ‘if we make everybody legal, we’ll have solved the problem of illegal immigration in this country.’ They use the right words, they just don’t do the right thing.”
Chertoff’s proposals for beefing up border controls and reshaping the agencies responsible for them might get a better reception.
“Without question, the most difficult problem the department has to face is immigration enforcement,” said Rep. Christopher Cox, R-Calif., chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security. “It’s of vital importance.
“The INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) bureaucracy that the new department inherited was roundly deemed dysfunctional,” he added. “The Homeland Security Act reconstituted the pieces of the INS in new ways, (but) the last few years have shown that the organizational changes themselves were not enough.“
Chertoff also announced plans to:
•Turn the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which deals primarily with hurricanes and other natural disasters, into a freestanding unit. It is now merged with the directorate responsible for preparedness against terrorism.
•Move the Federal Air Marshals organization, which has chafed against the buttoned-down management style of the former Secret Service officials who now run it, into the more flexible environs of the Transportation Security Administration.
•Create a position of a chief medical officer to better coordinate the department’s work with the agencies primarily responsible for security issues involving health, such as stocking vaccines and preparing to deal with bio-terrorism attacks.
Now is the time to seperate those who really care about terrorism and criminal gangs from those who are just using them as an excuse to keep out Hispanic workers.
Of course the Antis will have some nonsencical bumper sticker slogan reason not to free up the border patrol to stop terrorists and gangsters.
Earlier they were freaking out over suitcase nukes, now stopping terrorists won't be important to them.
What is wrong with keeping out illegal Hispanic workers?
first let's throw them all OUT...and make them come back thru the gates properly.
I had no idea.
Bayou we all know what this is. It is called a "back dooring". I suspect you are an expert. NO and DAMN NO. NO AMNESTY for illegals. We have means in place for legal immigration. We have all the damn "guest workers unwelcome" we need already. We won't be fooled again Bayou. We still remember Reagans failed amnesty. Slide em back home to Mexico!!!! We do not reward those who violate our laws. Sends the wrong message to the many ignorant peons down there in Mexico.
I guess that all of the ones who crossed over during the last four years are just going to pack it up and go home.
Among those who want to keep out "Hispanic workers" (also known as illegal aliens) are the 47% of Hispanic voters who voted in favor of the anti-illegal alien measure Prop 200 in Arizona last year.
Without effective border security what you are advocating would encourage another 20-30 million illegals to enter. But, then, I've never seen you advocate anything else.
They didn't vote on a guest workers program.
But what about you? Which is more important, keeping out terrorists and gansters or keeping out gardeners and babysitters?
Didn't you read the article? It's diverting attention away from terrorists and gangsters..
What part of illegal don't you understand?
Did you read the article or just post it?
“We must gain full control of our borders to prevent illegal immigration and security breaches,” Chertoff said. But, he added, “control of the border will also require reducing the demand for illegal border migration” by channeling needed workers through a new legal system.
For someone who tirelessly agitates for illegals, you don't have a very high regard for their skills and abilities. One might almost think you were a racist.
What is important to me is getting out any trespasser violating the borders of my "soverign nation". Especially those who think they have a right to be here illegally. Those are the worst kind "Bayou". The sooner they figure out that a stance against their invasion of our Southwest and West is going to be made and soon the sooner they will be packing up and heading out. Vincente needs them to boot his ass out of the "MESICAN WHITEHOUSE" thereby giving the Mexican people a chance at true Democracy. They can have their own instead of stealing ours. Good Idea HUH?
There -- all fixed now.
You probably didn't, even though it's been explained numerous times. Border guards taking gardeners in for processing aren't watching the borders.
One guard chasing two groups of border jumpers may end up chasing the babysitters instead of the MS-13s.
For years drug mules have been using laborers as decoys.
But you aren't really interested in security or crime are you?
A good example of a meaningless bumper sticker type slogan that the Antis substitute for rational thought.
You would rather punish America with terrorists, drugs and MS-13 than "reward those who violate our laws" whatever that stupid slogan means.
You are simply stating the obvious. No one comes in illegally. If you do it is under the penalty of death. We live in a serious world Bayou even if you don't. There are some very bad people who could come across our Southern border. They even look like Mexicans to some extent. Wake up dude. Come the first attack across that border and I suspect that is where it is coming from things are going to get very ugly down there. You will be amazed at how fast that border can be shut down. You will also be amazed at the shakedowns and deportations of illegal citizens already here. This is not science fiction Bayou. The war is just starting. Perhaps you should think about which side you are on. A secure USA or........
Please answer my question instead of deflecting it. Once again, what is wrong with keeping out illegal Hispanic workers?
He usually just flings 'em out there as bait.
Tancredo nailed it.
“They’ve taken our rhetoric, they’re using the right words – enforcement, security. What they’re really describing is, ‘if we make everybody legal, we’ll have solved the problem of illegal immigration in this country.’ They use the right words, they just don’t do the right thing.”
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