Tom Ridge's Immigration Remarks Draw Fire

newsmax.com ^ | Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003 | NewsMax.com Wires

[VU4G10]

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 very honestly yesterday, engaged in that debate, but clearly this administration has not taken a firm policy position on that and the debate continues," Hutchinson said.

But Rep. J.D. Hayworth, R-Ariz., said it was "inconceivable to me that Secretary Ridge is speaking for the Bush administration when he unilaterally and offhandedly suggests such a radical policy reversal that is guaranteed to encounter strong opposition in Congress."

The attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, slowed talks about whether to legalize millions of illegal immigrants in the country.

Ridge's words excited immigration advocates and one of Hayworth's House colleague, Rep. Jeff Flake, who is sponsoring legislation that would give legal residency to illegal immigrants through work.

"Those who are working here illegally need to be here under a legal framework. Secretary Ridge also understands that this needs to be coupled with serious workplace enforcement," said Flake, R-Ariz.

Judy Golub, senior policy and outreach director for American Immigration Lawyers Association, said she thought it was the first time that a top administration official had made "such a clear articulation of the fact that these folks are not threats and deserve some form of legal status."

Cecilia Munoz, vice president of policy for National Council of La Raza, said Ridge's comments broke two years of silence by the administration on the legalization issue.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

One thing about Ashcroft, I think he wants to enforce immigration laws but it's not going to happen with pander bears like Tom Ridge around. Those types are more interested in their own personal careers than doing what's right for the country.

[Dane]

The illegals already here should be made to gather all their earnings and assets and leave. Criminal invaders should not be rewarded.

And if they have had a child here, that child is a US citizen. Do the parents have to leave and the child stays here.

[Leatherneck_MT]

Well, the Dems would rather kill you and take all of your possessions to distribute to the poor, while the Repbublicrats just want to increment you out of your possessions to give to the poor.

Other than that, increasingly I see no difference.

[chris1]

Have 747's at every airport. When they are filled with illegals ship them the heck out of here! These 747's should be run round the clock. I am sick of being told that I have to pay for these people.

[Kuksool]

Sent them all back. Make California's Prop. 187 into federal law.

[ought-six]

"Relatively" law abiding? They are criminals, and every day they stay in this country they compound their criminality. They showed they had contempt for this country when they broke our laws, and they continue to show contempt for our country each day they stay here. And you want to REWARD that????

You know, I can readily identify with the American Indians, especially the true nativists like Crazy Horse, who saw their country and their people being crushed by an invading (and to them, illegal and alien) horde that had nothing but contempt for their way of life. Just like this massive invasion of illegals from Mexico and the "hispanic" countries. We should fight this invasion with every fiber of our being, like Crazy Horse and others did in their time (although they waited too long), while we STILL have the numbers. When it gets to the point where we are outnumbered (and believe me, it will come to that, and soon, unless something is done about this NOW), we will have but one choice, just like the one Crazy Horse was finally faced with.

[Dane]

Land mines and a border wall are much easier than a picket line of soldiers

1500 miles at a minimum of $1,000,000 a mile, that's 1.5 billion for starters, without any maintenance costs. Also what about the Canadian border. They could catch a plane there and sneak over the northern border.

Just a question, would trying to make Mexico's economy better be an option to you?

[Dane]

"Relatively" law abiding?

Yes those who snuck over the border, but are working menial jobs.

Those who don't commit violent crimes.

[ought-six]

"Due you have an extra 2,000,000 army troops to do the job? BTW, I am surmising that you would seize their assets also."

For one thing, we wouldn't need 2,000,000 army troops, but 2,000,000 land mines would be nice. And yes, I would seize their assets.

[Willie Green]

Cecilia Munoz, vice president of policy for National Council of La Raza, said Ridge's comments broke two years of silence by the administration on the legalization issue.

Well Ridge has been preoccupied with other priorites since 9/11.
Keeping those NAFTA trucks rollin' across the border gotta come first, ya know.
Fresh produce, like Hepatitis A tainted green onions are highly perishable.
Can't interfere with the delivery schedule to our nation's restaurants and supermarkets. It'd be bad for "free" trade.

[VU4G10]

187 IS BACK!

http://www.save187.com

[BluH2o]

The head of Homeland Security should not be in support of finding a way to give legal status to illegal aliens. Not only should there be no reward of citizenship to illegal aliens, there should be no reward of any kind to anyone, who chooses to enter the US without following American law.

What is it about the term "illegal" Ridge and others don't seem to grasp? Speaking as a former Canadian, now U.S. citizen, honorably discharged from the Marine Corps (number of years ago) who took the citizenship test, and was sworn in as a U.S. citizen. Every step in the process was legal and above board ... granting illegal aliens amnesty & eventually citizenship serves only to diminish the meaning of U.S. citizenship for all, both those born here and those of us who chose to become U.S. citizens legally.

[Mr. Mojo]

GWB used Ridge to put up a trial balloon, and it was popped accordingly.

Get the message, Prez?

[ought-six]

"Yes those who snuck over the border, but are working menial jobs. Those who don't commit violent crimes."

I see, you are okay with "Criminal-lite". Unfortunately, we don't know of their violent crimes until AFTER they commit them. According to your logic, it was okay for the September 11 terrorists to stay in this country, since they only over-stayed their visas (somewhat akin to "sneaking across the border").

[Mr. Mojo]

If we won't enforce the law, as it is quite apparent we don't want to, then the law should be changed to legalize those who would otherwise come here illegally.

If we desire to turn ourselves into a 3rd world hellhole with a non-existent American culture, you're right.

[Mr. Mojo]

What is it about the term "illegal" Ridge and others don't seem to grasp?

Those "others" are GWB and his administration. Do you think our Homeland "Security" chief would say something this controversial without the full backing of the President?

[Mr. Mojo]

At this rate, we might as well just annex Mexico.

See my post #55.

[Dane]

I see, you are okay with "Criminal-lite". Unfortunately, we don't know of their violent crimes until AFTER they commit them. According to your logic, it was okay for the September 11 terrorists to stay in this country, since they only over-stayed their visas (somewhat akin to "sneaking across the border").

Were the islamofascists that overstayed their visas cleaning your toilet or making your bed at a hotel or motel. No they were plotting the attacks, just like Timothy McVeigh was plotting an attack.

You know who I was talking about. The ones who snuck over the border but in their daily lives are hard working and otherwise law abiding.

[TheDon]

As we aren't enforcing immigration laws, that decision has already been made.

[Mr. Mojo]

Apparently so.