Free Republic

<p>President Bush plans to kick off his reelection year by proposing a program that would make it easier for immigrants to work legally in the United States, in what would constitute the most significant changes to immigration law in 18 years, Republican officials said yesterday. Lobbyists working with the White House said Bush is developing a plan that would allow immigrants to cross the border legally if jobs are waiting for them. The sources said the administration also wants to provide a way for some undocumented workers in the United States to move toward legal status. Bush will try to make the plan more palatable to conservatives by including stricter entry controls, including increased use of technology at the border and steps toward better enforcement of current visa restrictions and reporting requirements, sources said.</p>

Bush Set to Propose Sweeping Immigration Reform in 2004... program would 'make it easier for immigrants to work legally in the United States'... most significant changes to immigration law in 18 years

o the Editor:Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge's ambitious plan to grant the estimated 8 million to 10 million undocumented immigrants some sort of legal status ("New Hope on Immigration," editorial, Dec. 15) is a necessary step forward in preserving our national security and a new hope for undocumented immigrants who live, work and pay taxes but suffer the humiliation of being the scapegoat every time our nation finds itself in a political and economic crisis.Let's hope that this plan becomes a bipartisan effort between members of Congress and immigrant rights activists to develop a good immigration policy that will safeguard...

Cornyn's focus set on the border By Tricia Cortez Times staff writer In his first year as a U.S. Senator, John Cornyn has taken a key interest in the border, a fast-growing and often misunderstood region that is vital to the state of Texas and the rest of the country. Cornyn, the former Texas attorney general, has focused much of his time and energy on identifying the problems and interests of the Tex-Mex border. While he brings a new perspective and understanding of these pressing but long-neglected issues to Congress, Cornyn said it is a constant struggle educating his colleagues...

'Multispeak' Obscures Debate Over Migrants Ridge and Bush have a disagreement on policy for undocumented immigrants, or do they? By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Times Staff Writer WASHINGTON — In less than a week, the Bush administration has sent out what at first appear to be conflicting signals over how to deal with an estimated 8 million to 11 million illegal immigrants, mainly Latinos. Answering questions at a south Florida town hall meeting last week, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said granting undocumented immigrants some form of legal status would make sense. But at his news conference Monday, President Bush asked to...

-----36 U.S. Representatives call DHS Sec. Ridge on the carpet for his pro-amnesty comments ====================================================== Congratulations to all of you on your faxes and phone calls to Members of Congress to sign the letter of protest against Department of Homeland Security Sec. Ridge for his pro-amnesty statements last week.{ATTACHED BELOW}The first version of the letter went out today with 36 signatures! That is really impressive -- especially with nearly all Members of Congress out of town. Hats off to the staff of Rep. Kind (R-IA) for pulling this together in a short time. As more Members contact King's office to...

<p>President Bush yesterday ruled out granting "blanket amnesty" to as many as 12 million immigrants illegally in the United States, but said he supports a policy that benefits American business owners and immigrant job seekers.</p> <p>"We need to have an immigration policy that helps match any willing employer with any willing employee," Mr. Bush said in a news conference yesterday.</p>

The Bush administration nearly reached agreement with the Vicente Fox government to give legal status to millions of Mexicans illegally in America, but Sept. 11 brought it to a halt. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Tuesday it's time for a legal status short of citizenship for 8 to 12 million illegal immigrants from various countries. The government would legalize the status of those already in the country on a one-time basis, he said. ''Then, as a country, you make a decision that from this day forward, this is the process of entry, and if you violate that process of...

George Bush, the Republican Congress and Democratic politicians are playing political games with illegal immigration. And it could cost you and your family your lives. By now, you know how craven politicians are when it comes up to grabbing Hispanic votes. They cynically believe that minority voters in border states are going to like them a lot more if they reward Mexicans for breaking American laws. We have told you about how California, and maybe even your state, wants to give illegal immigrants their own driver's licenses. And even that crass move makes us all less safe in those post-9/11...

ithout more detail, it was hard to determine, exactly, what Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge meant when he called for an ambitious plan to give millions of illegal immigrants some kind of legal status. But his candid comments in Miami last Tuesday, which apparently caught the White House off guard, offer the first hopeful sign since the World Trade Center attack that the Bush Administration is returning to immigration reform.For over two years now, the White House has been virtually silent about how to relieve an immigration mess that has been building for nearly 20 years. Because the 9/11 terrorists...

Article Published: Friday, December 12, 2003 reggie riversRidge at last redeems himselfBy Reggie Rivers I never expected to like Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge. Ever since the position was created, I've been suspicious about the organization's mission. The advent of color-coded terror alerts and duct-tape-and-plastic panics just cemented my view that Ridge and his staff were part of a shock-and-awe campaign designed to scare us into surrendering our rights. But this week, I was pleasantly surprised to read that Ridge thought that millions of illegal immigrants in the United States should be granted some form of legal status short...

<p>We disagree with Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge's remarks on Wednesday supporting the legalization of millions of illegal immigrants now living in the United States. Speaking at a town hall meeting in Miami Wednesday, Mr. Ridge declared that the government "had to come to grips with the presence of 8 million to 12 million illegals" now in the country, in order "to afford them some kind of legal status some way." While Mr. Ridge said he was not advocating the granting of citizenship to this group, history suggests that legalization is often a first step in that direction. The idea of legalization is not new for the Bush administration; it was seriously considering granting permanent residency for illegals right before the September 11 attacks. Late Wednesday, Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security, said that Mr. Ridge's remarks simply reflected the congressional debate on immigration, and that the administration had not taken a firm policy stance on the matter. But even a soft policy stance would be unacceptable.</p>

<p>The White House yesterday said a new immigration review is under way that could lead to amnesty for millions of illegal aliens living and working in the United States.</p> <p>Confirmation of the review came during a White House briefing, just two days after Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said during a town hall meeting in Miami that the government had to "afford some kind of legal status" to the 8 million to 12 million illegal aliens in the country.</p>

Tom Ridge, who is charged with securing our borders as the Secretary of Homeland Security, took it upon himself recently to solve our huge illegal alien problem - by suggesting we "legalize" eight-to- twelve million lawbreakers. Did Ridge not take an oath to defend the laws of the United States? Why are immigration laws, the lax enforcement of which was key the 9/11 attacks, somehow meaningless? Then there's this from the Arizona Republic: "U.S. and Mexican officials are discussing an agreement that would allow millions of Mexicans to go home and still collect U.S. Social Security checks." Does this not...

The prospect of millions of Mexicans receiving United States Social Security checks is moving closer to reality. The Gannett News Service reports U.S. and Mexican officials are discussing a "totalization" agreement that would transfer hundreds of millions of dollars in payments south of the border. The plan would allow documented and undocumented immigrants to return home but still collect U.S. benefits. WorldNetDaily reported the idea to merge both countries' Social Security systems was pushed late last year by Mexican President Vincente Fox as payback from President George W. Bush for failing to secure major new immigration reforms beneficial to Mexico...

<p>Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge's suggestion that 8 million to 12 million illegal aliens now in the United States be "legalized" drew harsh criticism yesterday from congressional and other opponents of such legalization.</p> <p>Rep. Tom Tancredo, Colorado Republican and chairman of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus, said Mr. Ridge should resign if he is unable or unwilling to enforce immigration laws enacted by Congress.</p>

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge's expression of support for giving legal status to immigrants drew congressional criticism Wednesday but heartened advocates. At a town hall meeting in Miami, Ridge said the country needs to "come to grips" with an estimated 8 million to 12 million illegal immigrants and "determine how you can legalize their presence." He also said during a visit to Florida on Tuesday that the immigrants should not be rewarded citizenship. Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security, said Wednesday in Miami that Ridge's comments simply reflected the debate in Congress on immigration. "Secretary Ridge addressed it...

The country needs your faxes and phone calls immediately and steadily over the next few days. Tom Ridge, the head of the new U.S. Department of Homeland Security, yesterday advocated legalizing (giving amnesty) to 8-12 million illegal aliens. Click here to read the story titled: "Homeland security chief endorses legalizing undocumented immigrants." "Click for article" This creates an immediate crisis that must be met with massive outcry -- like the outcry in August of 2001 that stopped Pres. Bush's July proposal for a massive amnesty for some 3.5 million illegal aliens from Mexico. The most important thing is shoot this...

Homeland security chief endorses legalizing undocumented immigrantsHomeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge told a Miami audience Tuesday that the country should legalize millions of undocumented immigrants living in the country. "The bottom line is, as a country we have to come to grips with the presence of 8 to 12 million illegals, afford them some kind of legal status some way, but also as a country decide what our immigration policy is and then enforce it," Ridge said at a town hall meeting at Miami-Dade Community College. The forum was the second in a national series organized by the nonprofit Council...