White House verifies immigration review

The Washington Times ^ | December 12, 2003 | Jerry Seper

[yonif]

The White House yesterday said a new immigration review is under way that could lead to amnesty for millions of illegal aliens living and working in the United States.

Confirmation of the review came during a White House briefing, just two days after Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said during a town hall meeting in Miami that the government had to "afford some kind of legal status" to the 8 million to 12 million illegal aliens in the country.

[FSPress]

What does the law saw should happen to illegals? Why do you think enforcing the law is inconvientent?

[grania]

NO! If President Bush proposes an amnesty for illegal aliens, I'm sitting out the election next November. Americans don't want one.

Isn't this something? The Democratic Party is in disarray and it seems it will not nominate someone who cares about jobs, supporting average US citizens, etc. So, now there is talk about supporting the invasion.

Coincidence?...not a chance.

[honeygrl]

So if they provide amnesty to the illegals here, are you going to defend that decision?

[Varda]

There's nothing wrong with trying to get votes. The problem is on what basis? Bush seems to believe that this pandering will garner votes not on the basis of the common good but on the basis that legal "hispanics"want to support breaking the law. Do we really want to encourage the idea that it's OK for a designated group to break the law?

It's an American principle that the law applys to everyone regardless of ethnicity. Immigrants are elevated to equality when the law views them as such. It's not good for the country to let any group become a permanent "other" never perceived as just American. We've had a lot of that in our history and most of it was the result of racism.

Fortunately for Republicans, Democrats aren't much better but they are getting better advice,
"New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) offered some pretty good advice to his own party. Referring to Hispanic voter’s “independent streak,” the Chairman of the 2004 Democrat Convention warned his party against taking Hispanic voters for granted and urged them to “move beyond issues like immigration and [instead] stress economic concerns, including job creation and entrepreneurship.”
It sounds like Richardson actually knows something about Hispanic voters, who make up 43% of the state he governs. The question is whether his party will pay him any heed." ( Raul Damas, director of operations at Opiniones Latinas)

Economic concerns, job creation and entrepreneurship are things that have no ethnic boundaries, they aren't divisive and they don't promote contempt for the law.

[AmericanInTokyo]

In responding to the recent White House's TRIAL BALLOON to Conservatives on this one, we need to accompany our organized outcry with such articles as this one from Northern Virginia/D.C. suburbs (this week):

Gangs threat: 'Extreme' By Jon Echtenkamp 12/09/2003

Northern Virginians can expect a rising tide of violent crimes committed by street gangs that have established "a major hub" in this area, as more gang members – possibly numbering in the thousands – may flock here from Central America, according to a recently issued FBI report. The report specifically focuses on the rise of the most notorious of the gangs known to operate in this area, Mara Salvatrucha 13, or MS-13. The gang, with roots in El Salvador and Los Angeles, established a foothold in this region in the early 1990s and has been responsible for untold violent crimes over the years. The FBI estimates that some 3,000 MS-13 members and 30 MS-13 cliques are operating in the Washington, D.C., area, primarily in the prosperous Northern Virginia suburbs. "The greater Washington, D.C., area, and specifically northern Virginia, is now a major hub of MS-13 gang activity," the report says. "Violent crime associated with continued expansion of MS-13 is most predictable." The report serves as a wake-up call, even as federal, state and local law enforcement officials are implementing a broad array of programs to combat the rapid growth of gangs here. In language that is all the more startling because it comes from the FBI, the report notes that MS-13 groups "pose a serious threat in the United States and abroad due to their propensity for extreme random acts of violence and involvement in myriad criminal activities." Those crimes include shootings, rape, armed robberies, theft, car theft, drug dealing, and assaults with bats, knives, machetes or other weapons, the report says.

"Dear Mr. Ridge, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Rove: Does your "amnesty" include these thousands of illegal aliens who are no more than domestic terror paramilitaries now, operating in your neighbors' backyards and streets and schoolyards in suburban Washington D.C.?"

[chatham]

We don't need reflections from Tom "Homeland Security" Ridge ,what we need is Leadership from His Boss George Bush in the Whitehouse.
If Bush can Send our Wonderful Soldiers off to die in IRAQ in order to protect the Iraqi's country, the least he should do is protect our own BORDERS.
To Have our Service people protecting the Borders Of Germany, Japan, Taiwan, the Balkins, Afghanastan,Kuwait and Iraq 2X without protecting our own Country is a disgrace and it is Insulting to all who died for these causes. I might sit out the 2004 Election.
George Bush like his father appears to want to snatch Defeat from the Jaws of Victory.
Ridge must go he is just a Pawn, we don't need Pawns.
The Illegal Mexican emigrants are a Plague on this Country
draining needed resources from Taxpaying citizens.
George don't have to worry he owns 17000 acres and has tons of money. Well compared to him I have a 1/2 acre and my money can be measured in ounces, I feel bad for the Americans being abused by this burden.

[jimt]

What they should do, the good legal ones, is help their country and turn in the criminal element that is ruining the legacy of their heritage. If they condone illegal behavior they can't be too family-oriented in my book. Aiding & abetting is also criminal. If you want & like pandering so much - support the criminals & be happy when they vote for your candidate.

Many, if not most American hispanics oppose illegal aliens getting bennies or being allowed to stay.

If Jorge would wake up and realize that he would stop hosing the rest of us to pay for illegals.

While there are Americans for whom their hispanic ethnicity far outweighs their loyalty to America, they ain't the majority. Don't blame the latter for the former's actions.

[Dane]

What does the law saw should happen to illegals? Why do you think enforcing the law is inconvientent?

It will be expesnive also, for the 30 years of lax enforcement. What Ridge said seems plausible, offer somewhat of above ground staus not citizenship, and then work on the border problem from there. He didn't say they would become citizens.

[grania]

As unfortunate as it may be, we have a large number of illegals in our country .. and there is no way that we will be able to round everyone of them up and throw them out.

You don't worry about throwing all of the invaders out; you do it one at a time. You fine and jail employers of them. You let US citizens who could be doing the jobs they do sue their employers for lost wages.

These are not "illegals", which implies they can be made legal. They are an invasion force which undermines the protections of the US worker, our environment, our culture, and the value of citizenship. But, hey, they're really good for corporate profit.

[William Terrell]

I have a theory. I think we're being packed with people who have no background in liberty and have no concept of what it means to exercise sovereignty as an individual, or understand the relationship between a sovereign people and their government.

Edmund Burke gave a speech to the House of Commons in 1774. It was called "Taxation of America". Mr. Burke was against the kings heavy handed treatment of America, not for the colonist's sake, but for England's sake. This is what he said about the colonists:

    "Permit me, Sir, to add another circumstance in our colonies, 
    which contributes no mean part towards the growth and effect 
    of this untractable spirit.  I mean their education.  In no 
    country perhaps in the world is the law so general a study. 
    The profession itself is numerous and powerful; and most 
    provinces it takes the lead......But all who read, and most 
    do read, endeavor to obtain some smattering of that science.  I 
    have been told by an eminent bookseller, that in that branch 
    of his business, after tracts of popular devotion, were so 
    many books as those on the law exported to the plantations. 
    The colonies have fallen  into the way of printing them for 
    their own use.  I hear they have sold nearly as many copies of 
    Blackstone' Commentaries as in England.  General Gage marks 
    out this disposition very particularly in a letter on your 
    table.  (Gage discouraged measures of oppression of the 
    colonies, "towards a country where every man studies law".). 
    
    "This study renders men acute, inquisitive, dexterious, 
    prompt in attack, ready in defense, full of resources.  In 
    other countries, the people, more simple and of a less 
    mercurial cast, judge of an ill principal in government only 
    by an actual grievance; here they anticipate the evil, and 
    judge of the pressure of the grievance by the badness of the 
    principal.  They augur misgovernment from a distance, and 
    snuff the approach of tyranny in every tainted breeze." 

If Mr. Bush is part is such a movement, he is no better than Mr. Clinton.

[Dane]

So if they provide amnesty to the illegals here, are you going to defend that decision?

Who said amnesty. Amnesty would imply citizenship. Offer above ground status, then those who do not take it can be deported.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Let's organize. Let's reply. Let's keep the heat on. Let's spread this through conservative talk shows throughout the USA (I know they are reading FR in the morning before preparing their shows), and let's turn FR into a solid ANTI ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT site. Let's get our local GOP representatives on record officially as being in support of the Tom Ridge Approach or opposed.

Conservatives, we have the potent GRASSROOTS POLITICAL POWER and the means, and I believe if you put this to a vote to all Freepers (not just lurkers) you would get at least an 80% digust rate with this TRIAL BALLOON and challenge being sent up by the GOP leadership to it's Conservative base.

[OldFriend]

Having read the entire statement by Ridge, it makes sense. Anyone who believes we are going to round up a million illegal immigrants, process them, and deport them are not being realistic.

The knee jerk reaction to trying to solve the problem without careful consideration is quite disappointing.

[AmericanInTokyo]

White House thinking at this point (and nobody can tell me this is NOT going through their minds):

"Aw, they'll (conservative GOP) will piss and moan all the live long day about this well into the summer of 2004, but at the end of the day, WHERE WILL THEY HAVE TO GO? Nowhere. They'll reelect Bush, even with this proposal, for fear of President Dean or President Hillary. We're sitting good on this one. Gee might even pick up some votes in Arizona and New Mexico."

We can be Damned Sure they are thinking this right now. And for good reason.

Would be nice to prove them wrong, or at least deliver the potent threat to cause them to BACK OFF.

[honeygrl]

Bingo. Seal the borders, and just send them home as they are found. It may be a slow process, but it would be some PROGRESS. You could start small.. letting cops arrest them and send them back when they catch them during normal traffic stops. (like speeding tickets, etc) I'm sure there are a lot of ways to catch them and send them home slowly without infringing on citizens rights. (i wouldn't support any measures that let them stomp on citizens while looking for illegals though) When they stop the flood of people coming up from Mexico, maybe the stupid WOD won't be so expensive.. isn't that where a lot of the drugs come from?

[AmericanInTokyo]

If we as a nation have the power to 'go around and round up and deport' (or imprison) middle Eastern terrorists in AQ cells and what not currently in the United States, we darned well have the federal and state administrative capabilities to do it for the illegal aliens, friend.

Lead, follow, or GET OUT OF THE WAY.

[Varda]

Rhetoric like that pushes hard working and family oriented hispanics..right into the arms of Hillary

You are of course correct but nothing encourages racism like injustice.

[honeygrl]

"Then let put the ACLU into this mix "

Maybe they'll go broke from paying all the lawyer fees. (one can only hope)

[adam_az]

Rhetoric like that pushes hard working and family oriented hispanics(legal ones who were born here) right into the arms of Hillary.

Or, it might push them back into the arms of Vincente Fox.

[adam_az]

Well it was the same way I guess a hundred years ago, when your politcal persuasion was shouting about the Italians, Jews, Irish and Polish and how they were going to destroy the country.

Apples and oranges, the Italians, Jews, Irish, and Poles didn't sneak across the border. Maybe you should restrict your posts to subjects you actually have some knowledge about?