Homeland security chief endorses legalizing undocumented immigrants

South Florida Sun-Sentinel | Posted December 10 2003 | Tanya Weinberg

[patriotUSA]

Homeland security chief endorses legalizing undocumented immigrants

Homeland 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 for Excellence in Government, which aims to develop homeland security recommendations for various levels of government and the public. Business and community leaders, students and others had the chance to ask Ridge and state and local officials about topics that included cybersecurity, airport security, cargo inspection and immigration.

A man who identified himself as Miguel Arroyo, of Aventura, asked Ridge whether he supported immigration legalization and whether he thought it would benefit national security.

Ridge said he thinks the body politic is about ready to address the issue of the illegal immigrants, who he said contribute to communities and Social Security and pay taxes. He referred to a growing number of bills that would grant residency to some of those living here illegally. He said one of these, which would require all illegal immigrants to leave the country before applying for residency, is "not workable."

"I'm not saying make them citizens, because they violated the law to get here," he said. "So you don't reward that type of conduct by turning over a citizenship certificate. You determine how you can legalize their presence, then, as a country, you make a decision that from this day forward, from this day forward, this is the process of entry, and if you violate that process of entry we have the resources to cope with it."

At the town hall meeting and at a morning meeting with Gov. Jeb Bush, Ridge praised Florida's level of security preparedness. This year Florida is spending $403 million on homeland security. Most comes from the $29.4 billion in federal money for domestic security programs.

At the morning meeting, Bush told a national security advisory council that the state has improved coordination between law enforcement and emergency personnel and heightened security at seaports.

"In the event of a disaster, a terrorist attack of any kind, ... today we are better trained, better equipped, better coordinated," Bush said.

The town hall audience of about 300 was asked "Do you feel safer than you did a year ago?" Fifty-two percent said yes, 28 percent said no, and 20 percent said unchanged.

Staff Writer Christy McKerney contributed to this report.

Tanya Weinberg can be reached at tweinberg@sun-sentinel.com or 305-810-5029. Email story Print story

Copyright © 2003, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

[elli1]

Makes sense to me.

[AgThorn]

So .... other than acknowledging the problem and saying that it does not make sense to just "export" every non-citizen, nor does it make sense to give them all citizens without fixing the problem ... what is the fix?

I am so tired of politicians saying a lot of nothing.

All they want to talk about is the "happy stuff", i.e. "can't go to any extreme", "guest workers are needed", blah blah blah ... rather than give a simple 3 to 4 step plan to enforce our existing borders and laws. Enough of the wimpy speeches and "non-answers", let's get on with it!!

[OneTimeLurker]

I don't expect Ridge would go out on a limb with this stuff. Must be admin. policy. Maybe an August suprise is in the works?

[mabelkitty]

Export first, then let's see if we need more workers.

[funkywbr]

1st CLEAR out ALL of the Illegals and then start again else we are just being given another line.

And President Bush, thank you for signing CFR and what you did to freedom of speech today, NOT!!!!!!!!!!!

[chachacha]

The Republicans are no better then the Dems. They want those VOTES.

[thoughtomator]

We already have an immigration policy. As head of the DHS, Tom Ridge should not be confused about this issue - he should be at the head of the line demanding the resources to enforce the law.

If Secretary Ridge does not understand this, it is his duty to resign his post.

[sixmil]

"I'm not saying make them citizens, because they violated the law to get here," he said. "So you don't reward that type of conduct by turning over a citizenship certificate. You determine how you can legalize their presence, then, as a country, you make a decision that from this day forward, from this day forward, this is the process of entry, and if you violate that process of entry we have the resources to cope with it."

If I didn't know better, I would swear that this was straight out of "1984".

[Tax Slave]

The republicans have become what the democrats were in the 50's and 60's. The democrats have become elite socialists that want to rule us for our own good.
There is not anyone left to vote for,only against.

[joesnuffy]

whose side is he on anyway?

[RicocheT]

Dear Tom Ridge, SHUT UP !

Illegals need deportation papers, not a free green card.

[Area51]

"...then, as a country, you make a decision that from this day forward, from this day forward, this is the process of entry, and if you violate that process of entry we have the resources to cope with it."

Yeah, like Electing lieing scum RINOS that are willing to grant amnesty every 10 or 15 years to BUY VOTES!

Got ROPE?

[Robe]

He basically says...

"We have to get organized and stop procrastinating... we'll start tomorrow "

[jimt]

This is nothing short of apalling. Our "homeland security" chief wants to legalize ILLEGAL ALIENS who are bankrupting our welfare systems ?

[patriotUSA]

That's what I'm thinking. Ridge wouldn't say this without authorization from Bush. What we have here is a trial balloon. Heavy negative response is needed so that the White House hears it loud and clear.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

Hey! its not so bad. Somebody has to pay for SS and Medicare prescription benefits...why not the illegals?

More illegals...more money...more votes...more social programs. That's the current Republican party platform ain't it? Oh well...there's some kind of strategery going on that I'm not aware of, that makes this all understandable. It just hasnt revealed itself yet. After all the alternative is much worse.

/sarcasm

[joesnuffy]

If I didn't know better, I would swear that this was straight out of "1984".

,p> Welcome to Oceania

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[angkor]

from this day forward, from this day forward, this is the process of entry

And this time ... ummmm ... errr.... this time ... umm... I really mean it! Yeah, really!