Posted on 10/10/2006 10:45:57 PM PDT by Ol' Sparky
Legalization for aliens a 'must,' Bush announces
President keeps status talks going while entrance laws remain unenforced
Posted: October 11, 2006
© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com
President Bush says that part of the solution to illegal immigration "must" include a way for those already in the United States but without legal authorization to be given that status.
"We will conduct this debate on immigration in a way that is respectful to our heritage," he said at a recent White House event honoring Hispanic Heritage Month. "We are a nation of law, and we will enforce our law.
"But at the same time, we must remember that in order to secure our borders, in order to make sure we fulfill our heritage, immigration reform must be comprehensive in nature. We must understand that you can't kick 12 million people out of your country; that we must figure out a way to say to those that if you're lawful and if you've contributed to the United States of America, there is a way for you to eventually earn citizenship."
The issue of "amnesty" to illegals already in the country remains one of the hottest issues in the debate over illegal immigration. There are many who believe that the border laws need to be enforced first, to dry up to gusher of illegal aliens moving into the United States, and then those who are here can be addressed.
One of those groups is Americans for Legal Immigration, where spokesman William Gheen told WND that without a solid enforcement of border access, there's no point in having other laws.
"That's where it comes down," he said. "For any law to be a deterrent, the punishment must be greater than the rewards. Illegal aliens never will be able to pay for illegally immigrating. They must leave. That's the only punishment we have that's greater than the crime."
"Just imagine, if bank robbers were caught and told they must give back 75 percent of the money!"
Bush said "automatic amnesty" isn't the goal.
"But everybody in our land understands these people must be treated with respect and dignity. There are citizenship lines for people from our neighborhood. People ought to be given a chance to get at the back of the citizenship line and have a chance."
"And so I assure my friends here that I will – we will enforce the border as people expect us to do. But as we do so, we'll do so in a humane way, in a way that honors that great tradition of the United States of America, one nation under God," Bush said.
Congress approved and Bush signed a bill just a week ago creating a plan for the construction of a 700-mile wall that would effectively halt illegal immigration through the border between the United States and Mexico, but as WND reported bloggers immediately pointed out that a separate bill to actually begin funding the project hasn't been signed into law yet.
And Texas Sen. John Cornyn, in a related WND story said he doubts whether it ever will be built.
Gheen told WND that it has the appearance of a "sham discussion." There's a lot of talk and some voting on building the facilities needed to control border crossings, but even before all those plans are final, the discussion turns to amnesty.
In fact, he said some unofficial indicators are that illegal immigration has spiked since Bush started talking about amnesty.
Bush has backed a Senate plan to give longtime illegal aliens an opportunity for citizenship, but not allow that same open door for short-term arrivals in the United States.
The fence plan has stirred some international feelings, with Mexican officials sending a diplomatic protest to Bush over the effort, and threatening to take the issue to the United Nations.
Mexican officials have expressed doubt, too, whether the fence ever will be completed, but Congressman Duncan Hunter, who penned last year's provisions as part of an immigration enforcement effort, said the law states the wall "shall" be built.
One participant in a weblog said the plan just doesn't make sense.
"Dear Mr. President," he wrote. "You need to give a blanket pardon to all criminals that break our laws. Or, enforce our laws. You shouldn't pick and choose which laws are OK to violate."
In an earlier radio program, Bush suggested resolving the status of those already in the U.S. this way:
"They should not be given an automatic path to citizenship. This is amnesty, and I oppose it. Amnesty would be unfair to those who are here lawfully, and it would invite further waves of illegal immigration. We will find a rational middle ground between automatic citizenship for illegal immigrants and mass deportations of people who've been living here for many years with jobs, families, and deep roots in our country," he said then.
Do you really think that's politically practical?
At beast, 50-50 right now support deportation. And a lot of that support is soft, it'd dissolve under the media barage.
I give up.
Buenos noches, amigo.
Buenos noches, America.
"Do you really think that's politically practical? "
How many of those poor illegals will vote democrat? 70% maybe. Kiss every purple state behind if we legalize them, and thats for generations. Look at the 2000 and 2004 electoral maps and votes a couple states like Florida, and New Mexico getting hundreds of thousands of illegal votes will turn it.
Why doesn't Bush just make commercials for the democrats? This can't help the Republicans...
Ping!
Nope--just following in Reagan's footsteps.
I'm as much for deportation as anyone but you're absolutely correct--people simply can't say so on FR because we're tired of being labelled as someone who's FOR illegal immigration just because we recognize reality.
The folks disagreeing with you refuse to imagine what it'd be like to round up and ship out 12 million people, with 24/7 news coverage that's like the Elian Gonsalez affair X 12 million--crying mothers and children being rounded up by US military men with machine guns.
Flame away, head-in-the-sand types.
We MUST build a wall/fence network. We MUST enforce the laws on the books--particularly those punishing companies that hire illegals. But we also MUST acknowledge reality.
What is wrong with this man? Why on earth is he pulling this country into the gutter?
Supporting an amnesty IS following in Reagan's footsteps. Didn't you know that?
Wanna see the border get shut down toot sweet?
Start a movement so that they can get elected regardless of citizenship status.
If all those fine and upstanding men and women in Washington thought THEIR JOBS were at risk, the wall would be up in a week!
One reason Bush is so low in the polls and Republicans up for election are running away from him -- aside from his reckless spending and creation of huge new entitlements --is that they know full well that his "comprehensive" immigration plan is nothing but AMNESTY!
His failure to secure our borders has brought us economic, social, and cultural chaos. Further, in an age of international terrorism this has amounted to criminal negligence.
If some terrorists walk across the border with the millions of other illegals and mass massacre Americans he should and will be impeached.
The "we can't deport 12 million illegals" argument, is simply to get everyone to say that we must ergo, then give them a path to citizenship.
Problem one, is there are 40 to 50 million here, not 12 million.
Problem two, is most of them are not going to give a good damn. No one is forcing them to do anything now....why should they even show up to apply for citizenship.
Problem three, is the mere mention by the president of amnesty, invites untold more millions here. All they need do is be here to eventually get citizenship.
Problem four, is that the INS can't even keep track of overstayed visas. There is no way in hell they will be able to keep track of this train wreck.
I am beginning to wonder if this issue is so dear to him that he would try and throw this election to the democrats so his amnesty bill can pass. These comments will only demoralize law and order Republicans with less than a month before the election.
"Why doesn't Bush just make commercials for the democrats?"
What do you think this is?
He is certainly playing in the Democrats hands, because the media loves running these articles, hoping to suppress Republican votes.
ping
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