Posted on 06/23/2007 6:03:52 PM PDT by Man50D
President Bush today offered the promise of a future permanent ban on illegal aliens in the United States – if the U.S. Senate moves forward with a compromise "comprehensive" immigration reform package that was killed earlier.
"Right now, our laws are ineffective and insufficient. For example, crossing the border illegally carries weak penalties. In addition, participation in illegal gangs is not enough to bar admission into our country," he said on his weekly radio address.
"And when we cannot get other countries to accept the return of their citizens who are dangerous criminals, in most cases our government can only detain these aliens for six months before releasing them into society," he said.
"This is unacceptable. The bill before the Senate addresses these problems. Under this bill, those caught crossing illegally will be permanently barred from returning to the United States on a work or tourist visa.
"Under this bill, anyone known to have taken part in illegal gang activity can be denied admission to our country. And under the bill, we will be able to detain aliens who are dangerous criminals until another country accepts their return," he said.
However, it also grants legal status to the estimated 12-20 million illegal aliens already within the United States, and that has generated considerable opposition among Republicans and even some Democrats.
As WND has reported, Bush has visited Capitol Hill in his efforts to revive the plan that died in the Senate when supporters could not muster the votes to put it on a fast-track.
Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., at the time criticized the proposal for unfairly burdening taxpayers, failing to secure the nation's borders and guaranteeing amnesty for illegal aliens.
Even though the plan is being resurrected, the issue of amnesty still is generating a firestorm for the White House.
As WND reported, White House spokesman Tony Snow ran into a little more than he perhaps was expecting when he appeared on the Laura Ingraham show, as she relentlessly asked the American public's No. 1 question: What is the U.S. government doing to stop the invasion from Mexico?
"Sixty-nine percent of Americans, 85 percent of the GOP, 55 percent of the Democrats want the border enforced," said Ingraham. "Does that affect you guys, or do you guys just blow it off?"
Snow repeated, several times, the Bush administration's talking points on the issue – how the failed comprehensive immigration reform bill would secure the borders, require illegal aliens to pay a fine and require them to "keep their noses clean," and learn English.
But Ingraham, who worked as a speechwriter for two years in the Reagan administration and later served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas before launching "The Laura Ingraham Show" in 2001, wasn't letting him off the hook.
"Eight-five of the GOP doesn't like what the White House is doing on this," she said. "You're talking the base of this party."
"Tony, why don't people believe you?" she asked. "The majority of your party, people who voted for President Bush … They see the conservative coalition dissolving before their eyes."
Bush said he understands there are concerns – especially about the federal government's ability to secure the border.
"So this bill puts the enforcement tools in place first. And it means more Border Patrol agents, more fencing, more infrared cameras and other technologies at the border. It also requires an employee-verification system based on government-issued, tamper-proof identification cards that will help employers ensure that the workers they hire are legal," he said.
He cited plans for $4.4 billion "for these border security and worksite enforcement efforts."
But he also said it also will be necessary for the country to have "an orderly path for foreign workers to enter our country."
But the concerns about amnesty were unlikely to be allayed as he continued: "Under this bill, these workers [already in the United States] will be given an opportunity to get right with the law. This is not amnesty. There will be penalties for those who come out of the shadows. If they pass a strict background check, pay a fine, hold a job, maintain a clean criminal record, and eventually learn English, they will qualify for and maintain a Z visa," he said.
"The status quo is unacceptable," he said. "We must summon the political courage to move forward with a comprehensive reform bill."
The fragile compromise is due to be reviewed again in the Senate as early as next week.
When it failed earlier, Eagle Forum, a leading pro-family organization founded by Phyllis Schlafly, praised the "tireless efforts" of the American people in voicing their opposition and successfully defeating S. 1348, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007.
"It became obvious that the longer the Senate debated the so-called comprehensive immigration bill, the more the grassroots opposition increased," said Schlafly.
"The United States Senate finally listened to the overwhelming opposition to this amnesty bill," said Eagle Forum Executive Director Jessica Echard. "With calls running hundreds to one opposed, there was no question that we don't want new laws. We simply want our immigration laws, which already exist, enforced."
Amnesty ping!
Just say NO to Illegal Alien Amnesty!! Keep calling!! It’s NOT OVER!!
U.S. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121
U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121
White House comments: (202) 456-1111
Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep
Find your US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
George....I don’t hate you bro....but I am tired of ya.
Your voice grates on me.
I have lost my faith in you even though you still do good things on occasion like stem cells.
Thank You
But really...just leave immigration alone. You are not the man for that job. Let the campaign begin and hopefully if you don’t keep stirring the pot, we can win and get someone in on 1-20-09 who knows how to serve those who voted for him and remain loyal to his base.
Thanks now. I know....coulda been worse if we had voted for Al or John...small comfort but true.
Have fun raking in those millions giving speeches.
And how long will that ban remain the law? And how rigorously will it be enforced?
Don’t believe it for a moment.
There is a lot I like about all this strong talk, however, it is just that; strong talk. And even if they back up all this talk with action, it still legalizes probably 20 million illegals and allows them to bring in tens of millions more family members.
“There will be penalties for those who come out of the shadows.”
And THAT is the reason why we cannot do anything but DEPORT illegal aliens. From what I’ve seen, the vast majority of them do not want to be American citizens anyway. Why should they step forward to start PAYING TAXES, FINES, and be forced to leave the country to re-register?! Doesn’t ANYONE on Capital Hill have a lick of sense?
No. Enforce our borders, end birthright citizenship, punish illegal employers, and QUIT JAILING BORDER PATROL AGENTS WHO ARE DOING THEIR JOBS!
I liked him better when he was a drunk.
Sheesh, the man had 6.5 years, plus a major attack on the United States, to get this FRIKKIN thing fixed.
Who out there believes him NOW, at this point??
IMHO, the man is heading for a support rate into the high tens, slipping from his current 23% approval rating.
I have never seen a president able to piss off such a wide variety of the American people. Except perhaps Nixon. That is what lies and imcompetence will get you I suppose.
Bush is lying again.
Or what? You will deport them?! LOL!!!
Why don’t we let those boarder patrol agents out of jail Mr. President
“And when we cannot get other countries to accept the return of their citizens who are dangerous criminals, in most cases our government can only detain these aliens for six months before releasing them into society,” he said.
Hey GW try this.strap a parachute on their backs,fly em over Mehico and KICK EM OUT ,ya donkey !!!
Jorge Bush: Plan has permanent ban for illegals
believe that and he has great swamp land in florida and a bridge in brooklyn for sale!!!!
Well .. that “promise” has been offered and stated and promised over and over again. I believe Teddy (glub,glub) has been the offeror at least 7-8 times .. each time with a new plan.
It’s no longer believable! Especially when even this new promise is PROMISED AS A FUTURE EVENT!!
Give me a break! I am not stupid!
“
“Under this bill, anyone known to have taken part in illegal gang activity can be denied admission to our country. And under the bill, we will be able to detain aliens who are dangerous criminals until another country accepts their return,” he said.”
Ok, we can’t get other countrys to take them back, they don’t want to build the fence to keep them out, near as I can tell the plan is to house half of Mexico’s population in our prisons forever?
Message to Jorge - Enforce the Law as it stands now. Don’t try to deflect attention about new red herrings.
Bush has certainly lost me. He’s become a blithering, tongue-tied buffoon.
Still payiung taxpayers $ to detain these illegals and then the waiting game for the countries to take back their criminals? That could go on for years.
Six months in a Federal pen and deportation just for being here illegally. Repeat offenses can bring two years in the Federal pen and deportation. If our laws were really being enforced and first time offenders were spending six months in prison before deportation, we wouldn't have the problem we have now. We don't need more laws, just faithfulness of government officials to enforce the laws we have.
But he also said it also will be necessary for the country to have “an orderly path for foreign workers to enter our country.”
Um - don’t we already have one? I think it’s called LEGAL immigration.
Errrr..excuse me El Presidente W.....why do we need THIS BILL to enforce the existing laws to deal with this? And what ever became of the Secure Fence Act of 2006? All talk and no action from you DC elitists... Americans just don't trust or believe the vacuous windbags anymore on Capital Hill.
Travis,
Did you check this out? Teddy Kennedy sings... en Espanol! [Not a fake; it was on a Spanish radion station recntly] - http://tinyurl.com/39zryg
No, Tony I'm sorry. Instead, our politicians must summon up the political courage to do what is right.
If they are still capable of perceiving it...
Otherwise, they will have to be replaced.
Horse hockey.
Sincerely,
Samwise Gamgee, former RNC donor
I’ll pay you Tuesday for a burger today. Shove it, Bush. Who do you think we are?
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I doubt that will happen. Is it happening for Poppy Bush now?
Grow up.
Even Trent Lott said that we need new laws because “””THEY””” cannot enforce the current laws.
Well, I’ll be damned. Do you job!
We don’t need any more stinking laws!
Get a life.
and eventually learn English, they will qualify for and maintain a Z visa,”
They don’t get the Z until they learn English? That’s wrong there.
It’s far worse than just legalizing the ones who are here illegally.
It will establish a routine where if somebody who has no papers or proof of citizenship SHOULD happen to get stopped or for some reason looked at by law enforcement, as soon as LE finds they have no “identity”, they will just let them slide.
From now and forevermore any aliens in our country, no matter if they’ve been here twenty years or if they come next year or the year after, will have no fear of anything having to do with Visa requirements or anything else for that metter.
And LE will get so tired of the BS they will just turn their heads.
And we, AMERICANS, will be the ones who are most threatened by the outcome.
Did you know President Bush when he “was a drunk”?
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Of course.
LOL.
Liars.
It is fully time for George W. Bush to leave D.C. and move back to Crawford and let a man take the job that knows that the crap he is doing. He certainly has totally lost touch with Americans, America, working people, conservatives and everyone who is simply sick and tired of his crap. Count me one who now wishes I had had someone else to vote for besides a Marxist’s dimocrat and a RINO lying pretend to be republican.
deport 12 million illegals in the next 3 years. Thats doable.
Build a fence from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific.
This country has 300 million people in it, we don’t need immigrants we need to focus on our OWN.
We need VP Cheney to take over ....he has a bad heart but at least he has courage. George can’t even be counted on to protect our troops from the Iranian terrorists.
...Isn't that the truth! ....just enforce the laws, we have on the books! ...if anything, make them stronger them.....
B S!
Whoot! Dere it is! One of the many reasons for term limits, which will never pass no matter how many times it's brought up in congress.
It's nice that term limits are actually built into the election system, but we have way too many citizens with what they think are bigger issues on their plates to bother with voting responsibly.
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