[martin_fierro]

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

[TheDon]

Not enforcing immigration is a festering problem that must be addressed. It is quite unhealthy, for the rule of law, to do otherwise.

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.

[Digger]

Forget this "Two-Party Cartel". They have been completely bought out by the elites. When are all of you FReepers going to understand this? We need another viable party that has OUR (the people who pay the taxes)interest at heart. You please tell me the difference in these two parties.

[DoctorMichael]

Are these clowns OUT of their FREAKIN' minds?

[Dante3]

We should have our military protect our borders and round up and deport ALL illegals, no matter what country. Illegal aliens have demonstrated that they have contempt for our laws when it suits their agenda.

Deporting them can readily be done. But first, we must do something about Tom Ridge.

[Reagan Man]

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. "

Tom Ridge is opening up Pandora's Box again. 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. Illegal aliens should be sent packing out of the the US, PERIOD!

[fatrat]

our first revolutionary war was due to taxation without representation, i predict that the next revelution will be due to representation without taxation.

[ambrose]

ping.

[Dane]

Could we please hear solutions and not rants.

[Kuksool]

Tom Ridge came within a whisker of being selected as Vice-President. I don't know which is worse, him being VP or Homeland Security Director.

[VU4G10]

POLLS

Why is the Bush administration REALLY looking to legalize illegal aliens?

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/polls/

 

Do you believe millions of illegal aliens already living in the United States should be legalized?

http://edition.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/lou.dobbs.tonight/

[ought-six]

I get it: Break our laws and get rewarded. Why didn't I think of that?

[big gray tabby]

All the wishing, hoping, whining and kvetching won't change a thing. All those folks are not going to just pick up and go home. We don't have the manpower to round them up and throw them out. We don't have the military capacity to patrol the border. You're all dreaming.

The only practical solution is to document these people and get them on the books somewhere. Maybe then we can get into their pockets and help them start paying their way.

[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.

[Mr. Mojo]

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

Get the message, Prez?

[gipper81]

Ridge z RINO.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Does the 8-12 million illegal immigrants reported, Tommy Ridge's millions, include the estimated 3,000 members of Mara Salvatrucha-13 Paramilitary gangs from Salvador and Honduras invading and bring terror to the D.C. area--as reported yesterday in the news--with more on their way?

Maybe not, Mr. Director. Perhaps they got in line and received their USA visas legally at the embassies in San Salvador and Tegus.... /sarc

What a freaking disgrace! Everytime Bush does something that brings honor, such as his Thanksgiving visit to Baghdad, and gains my confidence, one of his cabinet members turns around and does something stupid and borderline seditious, that almosts forces me back into the Third Party, Throw Away Vote faction for 2004.

Somebody help me on this.

Fait d'accompli. Fait d'idiocie.

[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.