LIVE thread - Immigration Reform Markup 10am [Senate Judiciary]

C-span ^ | 3-27-06 | US Senate

[Txsleuth]

Thank you!!

[Txsleuth]

Now they are moving to the "guest worker program"...uh, oh.

[dennisw]

Leahy is walking garbage, but "amnesty program" is a good succinct way to describe Bush's amnesty program.

It was funny as heck to hear Lehay call it an amnesty. Half these Senators are loopy. They just wing it and could care less about principles and facts

[LibertyLee]

Hello Bahbah...since I'm listening to the hearing and listening to Sean I stopped here. And, Yes, I do have unkind words about Doris Meissner. She was a Dem political Hack who allowed Algore to manipulate the INS load to take all the work away from green card to get folks naturalized for the 1996 election. As a result of that order, my wife's first (conditional) green card (a fiancee has to get a conditional green card for 2 years and then reapply for the permanent green card to prove the marriage is not a sham). As a result of that order, she actually was in danger of going "out of status" without a visa and without a green card until I got my congresscritter to push INS into getting the two year green card out. This delayed a trip she needed to make to see her sick father because you can't travel without a "parole" while under visa until that green card comes. So, Yeah, I had unkind words towards Doris Meissner because she allowed herself to be used that way.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"To keep the promise of America, we must enforce the laws of America."
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060325.html

LA County
http://da.co.la.ca.us/cpys/act.htm
A.C.T., or Abolish Chronic Truancy, places prosecutors in elementary schools to work with administrators, teachers, parents and students to intervene at the very beginning of the truancy cycle. Prosecutors inform parents that it is their legal responsibility to ensure their children attend school and that education is as essential as food, clothing, and shelter in a child’s life. If there are problems interfering with the ability of the child to go to school, prosecutors attempt to find community resources to help overcome those problems. If the child continues to be truant, the prosecutor can take legal action, prosecuting the student, the parent, or both.

A.C.T. intervenes at the elementary-school age for a number of reasons:

School Districts Participating in A.C.T.

Baldwin Park
Covina Valley
Downey
El Monte
Garvey
Hawthorne
Lancaster
Lawndale
Little Lake
Long Beach
Los Angeles
Los Nietos
Montebello
Mountain View
Norwalk
Palmdale
Paramount
Pasadena
Pomona
Rosemead
San Gabriel
West Covina
Whittier
Whittier City


Truant behavior is not as ingrained at this age as it will later become.
The parent of the elementary school-aged child still has control over the child and can, therefore, be held accountable.
If intervention occurs later in the child’s life, he will have fallen so far behind academically as a result of truancy that getting the pupil back in school will be a matter of winning the battle having already lost the war.
While prosecution can result from A.C.T. intervention, the focus of the program is not to punish parents and students, but to get truants off the streets and back in the classrooms.

[dagnabbit]

"One thing the temporary worker program would not do is provide < amnesty to those who are in our country illegally."

Sorry el Presidente Jorge, but you don't write the dictionary. So you can say that your legalization of illegals somehow isn't "amnesty" all you want, but it doesn't make it so.

And you can promise some future President will possess the fortitude you lack, and actually enforce a "temporary" time limit, but that doesn't mean it is ever going to happen.

In fact Mr. President, after 5 years of dereliction on this issue, you have approximately zero credibility remaining. So just shut up and sit down.

[Bahbah]

Thanks, LL, for expounding on your earlier comment. I remember that little ploy when they tried to use the INS to drum up more voters.

[LibertyLee]

One of my real problems with this debate is that these are real human beings with real families, many of whom are US citizens. While a large percentage ARE cheats in the way they arrived, another large percentage (I don't know how many) BECAME illegal because INS failed to provide a document and without a legal training or background (which I was fortunate to have) they didn't KNOW they were out of status until they were out of luck. I think any law needs to make up for the sins of the past. That's why I believe there SHOULD be some sort of discretionary path to citizenship--if you have followed the rules and fell out of status through no fault of your own, get a pass on. The discussion today should give a taste of just how complex the immigration laws are.

[Wasanother]

I think Frist plan has more merit than any of this hoopla. All these clowns on the judiciary are doing is cramming a bill with junk amendments to assure no one agrees on it in full (confuse the details and kick the can down the road) but Frist has a simple plan, pass a single bill holding the illegals accountable and build the fence, period. The guest worker program can wait till we get a handle on the flow. Can't weld the pipe until the flow is stopped.

[Bahbah]

Yes, what you said. This is basically a waste of time and our money.

[ElPatriota]

Sounds like Kennedy objects to Specter's compromise

LOL - Goshh... sounds like a scene from a horror movie! I mean look at these names: McCain, Kennedy, Specter!!.. "reforming our Immigration system/border security? - doesn't that scare you? :)

[LibertyLee]

I think Frist plan has more merit than any of this hoopla

I respectfully disagree. I think the issue of BICE reform and immigration law reform have to be addressed at the same time Border Security is addressed. If you don't, you are going to create MORE illegals because the incentives won't go away. Border Security is a key issue because of the terrorism threat; no question. We need to create Americans who WANT to be here not people who want to wave Mexican or other flags.. They fly together or neither one flies. I regret that at this point I suspect neither will pass, but I would hope both would pass.

[Wasanother]

Frist said that if something doesn't come out of committee today he will propose his bill, pronto.

[LibertyLee]

I mean look at these names: McCain, Kennedy, Specter!!

I am not sure. Brownback is in there and there are aspects of Kyl-Cornyn that are good as well...Brownback is as conservative as they come!

[Bahbah]

Frist said that if something doesn't come out of committee today he will propose his bill, pronto.

Well Specter seems hell bent on getting something out whether it makes sense or not.

[Wasanother]

I'm to the point of just get something done and enough of kicking the can down the road with confusing a bill with tunnel amendments.

[Wasanother]

They'll have to print the bill so everyone can understand in 20 different languages.

[LibertyLee]

I sort of understand...we're watching the legislative process which someone once described as watching sausage be made with all the guts, and viscera in the process. They don't usually show this on TV but almost all legislation goes through this. Unfortunately it's why the current immigration law is so complex. I fear no matter who's plan is passed it's going to be more complex.

[LibertyLee]

It will still be subject to the same amendments on the floor we're hearing here. So Frist's bill's debate will sound a lot like what we're hearing except it will be on the Senate floor.