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Ridge: Give illegal entrants 'status'
The Miami Herald ^ | MICHAEL VASQUEZ

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.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aliens; culturewar; government; illegal; illegalimmigration; illegalmexians; illegals; immigrantlist; immigration; immigrationstatus; invasion; multiculturism; republicanturncoats; rewardingcrime; tomridge
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To: Klickitat
How about that? He's bought off the greedy geezers with our money, and now it looks like he's going to pander to the illegals next.

It's a darn good thing we have a republican house, senate, and president to keep such lunacy from happening.

No. Wait...

41 posted on 12/10/2003 8:21:10 AM PST by zeugma (If you eat a live toad first thing in the morning, nothing worse will happen all day.)
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To: Klickitat
''I'm not saying make them citizens,'' Ridge said. ``They violated our laws to get here. You don't reward that kind of conduct.''

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.

42 posted on 12/10/2003 8:46:05 AM PST by af_vet_rr
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To: Klickitat; FairOpinion; FoxFang; FITZ; moehoward; Nea Wood; Joe Hadenuf; sangoo; ...
Bite it Tom!
43 posted on 12/10/2003 8:54:08 AM PST by JustPiper (Teach the Children to fight Liberalism ! They will be voting in 2008 !!!)
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To: *immigrant_list; A Navy Vet; Lion Den Dan; Free the USA; Libertarianize the GOP; madfly; B4Ranch; ..
ping
44 posted on 12/10/2003 9:29:34 AM PST by gubamyster
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To: Klickitat
Ridge is officially an idiot.

45 posted on 12/10/2003 9:35:15 AM PST by Bikers4Bush
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To: Klickitat; gubamyster
''I'm not saying make them citizens,'' Ridge said. ``They violated our laws to get here. You don't reward that kind of conduct.''

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?

46 posted on 12/10/2003 9:37:19 AM PST by Jeff Head
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To: Klickitat
Ridge also urged the end of special screening for Islamic fith columnists immigrating to the U.S. to help undermine our Bill of Rights.

Ridge is a MEATHEAD. All meat - no brains.

The next thing you know, he will be suggesting a color coding system for illegal aliens - Arabs red, Mexicans orange, etc.

Ridge is a meathead who couldn't even deliver his own state to Bush in 2000. He is also an anti-gun nut.

When I saw Bush appoint Ridge, Powell, and Whitman to important posts in his administration, I KNEW we were in trouble.
47 posted on 12/10/2003 10:26:15 AM PST by ZULU
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To: Klickitat
''I'm not saying make them citizens,'' Ridge said.

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.

48 posted on 12/10/2003 10:26:32 AM PST by Nea Wood
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To: Savage Beast
(1) The Bush Administration should announce that beginning on a given date U.S. immigration policy will be strictly enforced. Enforcement should begin as announced.

(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.

49 posted on 12/10/2003 10:43:00 AM PST by conserv13
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To: Klickitat
and should be given ``some kind of legal status.''

I believe the legal status he is looking for is CRIMINAL INVADER.

50 posted on 12/10/2003 10:44:40 AM PST by TLI (...........ITINERIS IMPENDEO VALHALLA..........)
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To: Sabertooth
All the more disingenuous when Ridge just met at Fort Huachuca a few days ago to watch the unmanned drones survey the border. What a stab in the back of the border efforts.
51 posted on 12/10/2003 11:59:35 AM PST by flamefront (To the victor go the oils. No oil or oil-money for islamofascist weapons of mass annihilation.)
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To: Klickitat
Hey Mr. Ridge, look what happened when Gray Davis sided
with Illegals-HE GOT HIS A__ KICKED OUT OF OFFICE! The
same thing will happen to you.
52 posted on 12/10/2003 12:55:34 PM PST by jragan2001
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To: Klickitat
Michael Savage has a poll on his website concerning this
proposal by Mr. Traitor himself (Tom Ridge). Sounds
like Mr. Savage will be on fire tonight on his show!
53 posted on 12/10/2003 12:58:52 PM PST by jragan2001
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To: Klickitat
Naming Ridge to head Homeland Security is akin to naming Jimmy Carter to be Sec. of Defense.
54 posted on 12/10/2003 12:58:56 PM PST by Mr. Mojo
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To: Klickitat
And people say Republicans are different than Democrats.

Not lately.
55 posted on 12/10/2003 1:00:58 PM PST by DeathAngel
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To: Klickitat
Just keep telling yourself, "this is a conservative, Republican administration and a Republican controlled Congress." You decide whether to laugh or cry.
56 posted on 12/10/2003 1:01:47 PM PST by jaime1959
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To: Klickitat
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.''

AAGGGGGGGG!

Ridge you idiot.

57 posted on 12/10/2003 1:01:57 PM PST by Joe Hadenuf (I failed anger management class, they decided to give me a passing grade anyway)
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To: Klickitat
Recall Ridge, and anyone else that's supports this moron.
58 posted on 12/10/2003 1:03:28 PM PST by Joe Hadenuf (I failed anger management class, they decided to give me a passing grade anyway)
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To: Joe Hadenuf
That would include the President.
59 posted on 12/10/2003 1:04:20 PM PST by Mr. Mojo
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To: Reaganwuzthebest
Ridge is as bad Zeigler, might be time for him to leave soon, the open borders CATO Institute is calling.


I'll only support open borders if the rest of CATO's agenda is enacted- end public education, medicare, medicaid, minimum wage and social security.
60 posted on 12/10/2003 1:04:45 PM PST by Fast 1975
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