Posted on 12/10/2003 5:18:44 AM PST by Klickitat
Ridge: Give illegal entrants 'status' A top Bush administration official suggests at a town hall meeting in Miami that illegal immigrants should be granted limited legal status. BY MICHAEL VASQUEZ mrvasquez@herald.com
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Tuesday that he believes the vast majority of illegal immigrants in the United States are not a threat to national security and should be given ``some kind of legal status.''
Ridge's comments came during a town hall meeting at Miami Dade College in response to a question from the audience about whether offering amnesty to illegal immigrants might make them easier to track and make the country safer.
While saying any changes in immigration laws would have to be approved by Congress, Ridge said he believed there was growing momentum to change the way the nation dealt with illegal immigrants.
''I'm not saying make them citizens,'' Ridge said. ``They violated our laws to get here. You don't reward that kind of conduct.''
Ridge provided no further explanation about how granting illegal immigrants limited legal status would work and what rights such a status would carry. A telephone call to a spokesperson for Ridge seeking further comment was not returned.
But the remarks by a key member of President Bush's cabinet suggests a shift in tone toward illegal immigrants.
Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Bush administration placed greater emphasis on protecting the nation's borders, enacting measures to thwart terrorists.
Efforts in Washington at reforming immigration policy essentially were put on hold. And immigrant advocates have said they perceive many of the Bush administration's national security measures to be anti-immigrant.
As a result, Ridge's comments caught some immigrant advocates off guard.
''I had no idea the [Bush administration] was seriously considering it,'' said Cheryl Little, executive director of the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center.
Little said most antiterrorist initiatives adopted by the Bush administration jeopardize national security by making illegal immigrants distrustful of authorities.
Those supporting stricter U.S. immigration policy criticized Ridge's comments. Dan Stein, executive director of the Washington-based Federation for American Immigration Reform, said granting illegal immigrants additional rights would encourage more to head for U.S. borders.
''What security objective is accomplished by encouraging further lawbreaking?'' Stein asked. `
Stein said he believed that some illegal immigrants given limited legal status would provide authorities false biographical information.
The issue of granting illegal immigrants certain rights has proven volatile. Former California Gov. Gray Davis, citing post-Sept. 11 security concerns, vetoed a bill last year that would have allowed illegal immigrants to obtain California driver's licenses. A year later, facing a tough recall campaign, Davis signed a bill with fewer security safeguards. Some voters viewed Davis's turnabout as a political ploy to please the Democratic Party's Latino wing and the controversy contributed to Davis' defeat.
It's a darn good thing we have a republican house, senate, and president to keep such lunacy from happening.
No. Wait...
You don't reward illegal conduct, except to give them some kind of status...okay, it feels like I stepped back in time to the height of Clinton's spin doctoring.
I can't see this happening but if it does...I could not honestly support the administration with my vote. Ridge's comments sound like something a liberal would spew.
He's speaking out of both sides of his mouth then. If they are here illegally and you give them legal status, just what the heck is that Mr. Ridge? A punishment?
OH, well, it's all right, then! He doesn't want to make them citizens! What a relief! (sarcasm)
What an incredible IMBECILE this man is! Most of the illegals flooding in here now probably don't want to be citizens, anyway. They are loyal to their countries of origin. They just want to leech off the U.S. taxpayers for as much as they can get. They'll have all the benefits of citizenship, anyway, if Ridge gets his way, so what do they care if they are technically "citizens" or not? With driver's licenses they can even register to vote, and chances are nobody will stop them. Ridge wants to hand over the store to line-jumping, law breaking, America-hating, leeching invaders, slapping every legal immigrant in the face. This is unbelievable.
(2) U.S. military troops should be placed along the entire length of the Mexican border to enforce its security.
(3) Amnesty and U.S. citizenship should be offered to all illegal aliens living in the U.S. who are not felons, who renounce citizenship of any other nation, and who apply for U.S. citizenship before a given date. All others should be deported.
(4) The Bush Administration should propose an amendment to the Constitution saying that birth in the U.S. does not automatically confer citizenship unless at least one parent is a U.S. citizen.
I agree with you and with 1, 2 and 3 but not 4. I wish more politicians thought like you. In fact, I think NOT implementing your points above is a threat to national security and the federal government is negligent in their duties to protect and police the borders.
I believe the legal status he is looking for is CRIMINAL INVADER.
By Michael Marizco
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
PHOENIX - A massive crackdown against coyotes - people smugglers - needs to be sustained along with more high technology tools along the U.S.-Mexico border, Homeland Security Department Secretary Tom Ridge said Wednesday.
Ridge met with Arizona law enforcement officials in Phoenix to discuss the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's recent operation against people smugglers, then flew to Fort Huachuca for a presentation of the unmanned aerial drones the agency is preparing to deploy along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Ridge said such technology could reduce illegal immigration and cut deaths among border-crossers. Many migrants die of heat exposure and in accidents while crossing the harsh Arizona desert. ...
AAGGGGGGGG!
Ridge you idiot.
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