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.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Denial of all social benefits is the first step. That will slow down the magnet effect which pulls illegals in to the United States. Jail time in the slammer for employers WILLINGLY employing and disregarding federal laws is also a step that can be taken to retard the "market pull." Finally, a way around of rendering unacceptable, on the state level, the various "Matricula Consular" ID cards issued by various nations, is also a step in the right way.

Take away so-called "rights" for these individuals, which they are not entitled to in the first place.

I am entitled to NOTHING in Japan, for example, if I sneak in and violate the Nyukoku Kanri Horitsu law governing legal crossing of international borders. Why does our system run on the assumption of "non-existent rights"?

[TheAngryClam]

The Canadian border is a lower priority- illegal immigration from Mexico is an exportation of Mexico's poverty to the United States.

Canadians cross the border with money in hand to buy things they can't get under their own socialized economy- like health care.

Paying customers are fine, those who end up a net drain on society (the poor) are people I'd rather keep out.

[Sabertooth]

1500 miles at a minimum of $1,000,000 a mile, that's 1.5 billion for starters, without any maintenance costs.

Closer to 2000 miles, and a million per is low by a lot. A wall along the border with Mexico would be bigger than the Great Wall of China, and would run from sea level to over 5000 feet inplaces where it would cross the Rocky Mountains. It would require roads along the wall, bases, and helipads. Then you'd have to staff it, which would require more than 100,000 troops.

I've crunched the numbers on a thread or two in the past, and a wall on the border would cost over $100 billion a year. It's definitely not the solution.

[olinr]

"Could we please hear solutions and not rants"

Sure, prosecute the traitors; then allow the patriots to take this country back!

(However, no one is willing to take a stand; it is over!)

[GetUsOutOfTheUnitedNations]

The only rational political alternative conservatives have right now is the GOP and that won't be changing anytime soon. Voting for a third party that has no chance of winning, is not a viable alternative and would only allow liberals an opportunity to regain power. I don't want to see Democrats back in power. And the difference between the repubs and the dems are? Time for true conservatives to jump the ship. I hate to see this, It looks like the best candidate is Dean. At least he is truthful as to where he wants to take our country down the socialist road. Bush just lies to the conservatives....

[GetUsOutOfTheUnitedNations]

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. hmmm.......I can find 2 million people very quickly...it is called the US citizenry. I know I can round up a few at the local McDonalds, Walmart, and any construction site. BTW, 2 million troops needed to do this? Where do you get that crazy number

[Viking2002]

Ridge needs to "come to grips" with the fact that his moronic idea IS PART OF THE FRIGGING PROBLEM.

Tancredo, sic 'em.

[VU4G10]

Ridge Endorses “Legal Status” for Illegal Aliens
Voice Your Opposition Today!
 

Your help is needed to fight off an apparent attempt by the Bush Administration to get the amnesty wheels turning. Please contact the White House and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge today and through the next week to voice your strong objection to granting legal status to people who have broken our immigration laws.

The front page of today's Washington Times highlights Secretary Ridge's endorsement of legalizing up to 12 million illegal aliens living in the U.S., and the harsh criticism he is taking for that position.

While saying that we should not reward illegal aliens with citizenship because "they have broken the law," Ridge did express support for giving them "some kind of legal status."

Given the timing of his comments, and his mention of momentum building behind several guestworker/amnesty bills pending in Congress, it's hard to interpret these comments by Ridge as anything other than a White House trial balloon to test the public's reaction.

When asked to respond, White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan said, "We should match willing workers with willing employers." This sounds like the same rhetoric used only days prior to the September 11 terrorist attacks when President Bush agreed to grant legal status to Mexican illegal aliens. Fortunately, that plan was derailed by the post 9/11 public awareness that illegal immigration is a major threat homeland security.

Help us flood the White House and DHS with comments against Ridge's outrageous statements. After you register your objection, forward this alert to everyone you know and ask them to do the same.

Here's How to Register Your Opposition:

1. First, send a free faxed message through our web site. We've already put together talking points for you, so all you need to do is type your zip code into the "take action now" box and take a few easy steps to deliver these message.
   
    
2. Follow up your faxes with phone calls. Call the White House comment line at 202-456-1111 and leave a brief message voicing your opposition. Keep in mind that you will have a limited amount of time to leave your message, so stick with the strongest talking points.
   
   You can also try to leave a public comment with DHS. But be advised that when you call and ask to leave a public comment you may be patched through to a full voicemail box. If you want to give it a try, the number is 202-282-8000.
   
    
3. If you wish to take more action, send letters and/or emails to:
   
   The White House
   1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
   Washington, DC 20500
   Comments: 202-456-1111
   Email: president@whitehouse.gov
   
   U.S. Department of Homeland Security
   Washington, D.C. 20528
   Submit comments via email through the Department of Homeland Security web form at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/contactus.

Talking Points:

• Giving illegal aliens legal status does nothing to improve our national security. In fact, it would take years and years to do background checks on the estimated 12 million illegal aliens who would qualify for the legalization. An illegal alien who was amnestied in 1986 later masterminded in the first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993.
  
   
• This program would reward people who have cheated the system with permanent residence. This country is based on the rule of law - it should not be manipulated by people who have cheated their way to the front of the line.
  
   
• Proposing amnesty, or legal status for illegal entrants, threatens homeland security by encouraging more illegal immigration. Every time an elected official talks about the possibility of granting legal status to illegal aliens it sends a message to others to enter illegally and wait for the next amnesty to be granted.

For more information, read our press release and our issue brief on why amnesty isn't the solution.

 

[VU4G10]

Here's the link.
http://capwiz.com/fair/issues/alert/?alertid=4464856&type=ML

[ought-six]

"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."

Oh, you mean the ones who drain dry our resources with their many welfare/foodstamps/housing/education benefits; who bankrupt our hospitals with the free care they receive; who make up one-third of our prison inmates; who deal drugs with wild abandon; who commit a wide variety of vicious, violent crimes; who populate many, if not most, of the violent gangs that terrorize our communities; who demand that WE change OUR culture and language to accommodate THEM and THEIRS? Do you mean those illegals? My mother was a LEGAL immigrant, and she respected and followed our laws and had to go through all the legal procedures to gain entry. She has been a loyal American now for some 40 years. Now you tell me she was a chump for playing by the rules? That the illegals you so happily champion, and who have no desire whatsoever to learn our language, assimilate, and become productive and proud Americans, are deserving of our largesse and are entitled to short-cuts? I think not.