Posted on 10/08/2015 7:38:11 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Outgoing Education Secretary Arne Duncan called on Congress to provide financial aid to illegal immigrant children.
“We have to invest more heavily in early childhood education. We have to make sure we give financial aid to our undocumented students and the fact that as a nation we have yet to do that is a travesty,” Duncan said at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute conference in Washington.
“As a nation I just think what we are doing is absolutely backwards. We cut off our nose to spite our face. Think of young people who this is their country that they have grown up in, the country they love, they have worked hard, they have gotten great grades, they’ve been community leaders, they’ve contributed and the fact that we don’t give them the chance to go to college makes no sense whatsoever,” he added.
Duncan pointed out that a number of states have “stepped up” to provide in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants and other private foundations are providing some assistance as well.
“But we are nowhere near where we need to be and as a nation we have to break through,” he said.
Duncan also called on Congress to tackle the issue of gun control given the recent shooting in Oregon.
“There’s a level that our nation has accepted that simply isn’t accepted in Australia and Canada and England and Japan and other countries. They just don’t accept it and their children grow up with a much greater sense of security,” he said.
Democratic presidential candidate Martin O’Malley said the federal government must take care of the minors who cross the border illegally.
“We must not turn our backs. We must not turn them away,” he said.
O’Malley denounced Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s position on illegal immigration.
“I don’t find it funny. I don’t find it entertaining. I find it harmful to the spirit of America,” he said.
O’Malley said Trump has “infected” the entire Republican field of candidates.
“They want to be like him,” he said.
Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore (R), a GOP presidential candidate, also said he rejects Trump’s proposal to deport illegal immigrants.
“I do not believe mass deportation is the answer,” he said. “While Republicans don’t hate people who come to this country and particularly don’t hate people in the Latino community, the way we talk to people in this country matters. The tone that we give matters.”
Gilmore vowed to remove illegal immigrants that commit crimes inside the U.S.
“No automatic amnesty for citizenship,” he said. “Get those who commit crimes no matter where they come from or who they are off the streets but with reason and compassion.”
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson told the audience that DHS does not have the resources to prosecute “every single person who is apprehended” at the southwest border.
Johnson also said there is a humanitarian aspect to dealing with the minors that cross the border. He explained that minors apprehended at the border are turned over to the Department of Health and Human Services, which places them with a family member living in the U.S. legally or illegally.
“You could put a lot of my people on the border. The governor of Texas can put a lot of his people on the border but that doesn’t address the underlying situation in these three countries and that’s what we have to make an investment in,” he said, referring to Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador.
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), who appeared on stage with Johnson, said Syrian refugees should not be treated any different than migrants who enter the U.S. illegally. He added that the federal government should focus on removing illegal immigrants who commit crimes in the U.S.
“There are bad people in our neighborhoods. There are drug dealers, there are gangbangers, there are rapists, there are murderers and the greatest impact they have is on the quality of life of the people in our neighborhoods. And we need to make sure we separate the good people, the really good hardworking people, from the ones that are doing ill in this country,” Gutierrez said.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) gave an extensive address, noting that “what we are trying very, very hard to do - you are going to see us moving very aggressively in that area – is introduce myself to the Latino community.”
“I will fight for every vote I can get in the Latino community,” the presidential candidate vowed.
“I think the Latino community is obviously deeply concerned about comprehensive immigration reform and a path toward citizenship is something I strongly support,” Sanders said. “I think the Latino community is outraged over some of the racist attacks that have been made against some Latino groups and that is unacceptable.”
Sure. Why not? Throw in food stamps, housing, medical care and an income subsidy too. Oh, and don’t forget free phones. We’re “rich” and “generous”. We can afford to support the entire freakin world.
Bill Ayers wants the job ,maybe they’ll add a bomb making course
How many countries do not have at least one college or university?
Things you reward, you get more of.
Things you punish, you get less of.
We do not need a fence as much as we need to stop providing support for those here illegally.
If someone is here illegally they should not get any government benefits other than a one way ticket home.
We have to make sure we give financial aid to our undocumented students
And since it for the most part Public Employees and Government that wants this, I propose it be paid for exclusively through a separate TAX on the Paychecks of ALL PUBLIC EMPLOYEES NATIONWIDE!
Well if that ain't a bucket of total BS.
The wall will be a visual reminder that we mean business when it comes to illegals, and that’s of importance.
Plus, it won’t cost much, any costs will be paid for by the invading country, and it will be magnificent.
For once I agree with him! All should be sent back!
Teach them were the border is.
The Selective Service Law says precisely the OPPOSITE Arne.
What next, should these illegals be able to run for public office...say, President?
Before becoming secretary of education, Duncan served as the chief executive officer of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), a position he held from June 2001 through December 2008
“O’Malley denounced Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s position on illegal immigration.
“I don’t find it funny. I don’t find it entertaining. I find it harmful to the spirit of America,” he said. “
Hey O’Malley,what spirit of America? The guy who wanted fundamental change is getting it.
He has destroyed the spirit of America.
.
Has anyone ever showed any benefit accruing from "early childhood education?"
None of my kids had any such thing. Not even kindergarten. They each started first grade at age six. One has a PhD and the other two have Masters degrees. And they had six years of childhood before getting on the school treadmill.
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