Immigration Reform Advocates Criticize White House Proposal

Townhall.com ^ | December 24th, 2003 | Jeff Johnson

[Sabertooth]

Immigration Reform Advocates Criticize White House Proposal

(CNSNews.com) - Advocates for tougher enforcement of U.S. Immigration laws say the White House has put "a lump of coal in the stockings of American workers" with a Christmas Eve proposal to allow more foreign workers to enter the country and amnesty for some workers who have already entered illegally.

Activists working with the administration told the Washington Post Wednesday that the president is working on a strategy that would let foreign citizens enter the U.S. legally, with few restrictions, if they have a job waiting for them. The newspaper's sources said the White House also wants to find some way to grant amnesty to at least some of the nine to 11 million illegal aliens currently in the U.S.

Dan Stein, executive director of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, scoffed at the proposal.

"This Christmas Eve announcement amounts to a lump of coal in the stockings of American workers," Stein said, "while illegal aliens and their employers find expensive gifts, tied up with fancy ribbons and bows, waiting for them in the new year."

The Bush proposal would reportedly allow employers to advertise jobs on a taxpayer sponsored website. The jobs would first be made available to U.S. citizens but, if there were no takers, could then be opened up to citizens of other countries. The plan would also allow many, if not most, of the nine to 11 million illegal immigrants currently living in the U.S. to be "reclassified" as "guest workers."

"The White House diligently avoided using the 'A' word in its announcement," Stein said. "But no matter how much Karl Rove wishes to torture the English language, a program that rewards millions upon millions of people who have cheated to get into this country, who have cheated by working off-the-books and avoided paying taxes, and who have cheated by using billions of dollars in public services ... is still an amnesty."

Bush tried to avert such criticism at a Dec. 16 press conference in which he teased the proposal.

"We need to have an immigration policy that helps match any willing employer with any willing employee," Bush said, quickly adding, "This administration is firmly against blanket amnesty."

The leak of Bush's plan to reporters came two weeks after Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said current immigration law, which mandates that illegal aliens return to their home countries to apply for legal status in the U.S. is "not workable."

"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," Ridge told those attending a town hall meeting in Miami Dec. 10. "But also as a country [we have to] decide what our immigration policy is and then enforce it."

Phil Kent, executive director of the American Immigration Control Foundation, said the former Pennsylvania governor should resign his position.

"Ridge is clearly incapable of overseeing homeland security," Kent said. "Aside from dynamiting the rule of law by rewarding lawbreakers, how would security interests be served by simply granting legal status to foreigners whose identities and criminal histories can't be verified?

"Besides, this would only serve as a magnet for more illegal immigration," Kent predicted, "as the foolish congressional amnesties of 1986 and 1990 underscore."

Stein warned that the Bush proposal would have a serious economic impact on American citizens and immigrants who have entered the country and obtained permission to work legally.

"In addition to legalizing millions of illegal aliens and countless additional family members, the 'guest worker' provision of this proposal will sound the death knell of the American middle class," Stein predicted. "Employers will never again have to compete for workers by offering better pay or benefits. They will simply have to look across the border, or across the ocean to find an unlimited supply of workers willing to accept whatever they are willing to pay.

"Upward mobility, for most American workers, will become something they study about in history class," he concluded.

Stein said the White House wants to "reward illegal immigrants and punish American workers," when it should be backing Republican proposals to "protect American workers and send a signal to illegal aliens and their employers that U.S. immigration laws have some meaning.

"There are several critical pieces of legislation that would enhance our immigration enforcement capability, improve our antiquated documentation system, and protect American workers, all introduced by congressional Republicans that the Administration should be championing instead of capitulating to the illegal immigration lobby," Stein said.

[Travis McGee]

Thanks for being so helpful (?) but I am NOT talking about the kidnapping in Candelaria story.

[Travis McGee]

Mexican Troops Fire on U.S. Border Watchers

Jon E. Dougherty, NewsMax.com

Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2003

An official with a civilian border group says a squad of Mexican soldiers opened fire on a position only moments after it was vacated by group volunteers patrolling private property near Douglas, Ariz.
Jack Foote, national spokesman for property protection group Ranch Rescue, told NewsMax a reconnaissance squad of his volunteers spotted two armed Mexican soldiers wearing green combat fatigues and Kevlar helmets on U.S. soil adjacent to property the group was asked to protect.

Foote said his volunteers, part of a mission Ranch Rescue dubbed "Operation Thunderbird," deployed at the landowner's request to interdict smuggling of illegal aliens and drugs on the property, reported the shootings about 5:22 p.m. Saturday. There were no injuries, and Ranch Rescue members, who are patrolling the property armed, did not return fire.

The group spokesman said the leader of the reconnaissance unit reported movement about 200 meters north of the landowner's southern boundary, a location near the U.S.-Mexico border.

"He waited until the first two soldiers moved into the clear. One was carrying an AK-47 and the other an RPK," a light machine gun version of the AK. "Both were wearing [olive drab] green fatigues and Kevlar helmets," Foote said.

Foote said the recon point man yelled in Spanish for the two soldiers to stop, but they turned around instead. Recon volunteers reported seeing the entire unit run back into Mexico. It wasn't clear how many Mexican soldiers had crossed into the U.S.

For safety, the volunteer recon unit moved to a different position, Foote said. About a minute later "the Mexicans fired on our squad's previous position." Members heard about six to eight shots fired, said Foote.

Mexican Embassy officials in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Incidents of Mexican troops crossing the international boundary into the United States are nothing new, say Border Patrol agents.

Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., head of the House Immigration Reform Caucus, says 115 incursions by Mexican military and police have been documented by the U.S. government since 1996.

"The purpose of these incursions is not totally understood, but U.S. officials have speculated that they are designed to help facilitate the flow of illegal drugs into America, either by creating a diversion or by providing cover for the traffickers," Tancredo says, on his caucus Web site.

[FreeReign]

Thanks for your help(?), but Foote doesn't mention a named source who saw the shooting.

From the article: Foote said his volunteers, part of a mission Ranch Rescue dubbed "Operation Thunderbird," deployed at the landowner's request to interdict smuggling of illegal aliens and drugs on the property, reported the shootings about 5:22 p.m. Saturday.

[Pelham]

But.. but... Karl Rove is a genius, and we little people will never notice that the illegals are getting amnesty. Plus, we Have No Place To Go, and have to vote for the Stupid Party, so they can offend us as much as they please. Or something like that.

[A. Pole]

The Bush proposal would reportedly allow employers to advertise jobs on a taxpayer sponsored website. The jobs would first be made available to U.S. citizens but, if there were no takers, could then be opened up to citizens of other countries.
[...]
Bush tried to avert such criticism at a Dec. 16 press conference in which he teased the proposal. "We need to have an immigration policy that helps match any willing employer with any willing employee,"
[...]
Stein warned that the Bush proposal would have a serious economic impact on American citizens and immigrants who have entered the country and obtained permission to work legally.
[...]
"In addition to legalizing millions of illegal aliens and countless additional family members, the 'guest worker' provision of this proposal will sound the death knell of the American middle class," Stein predicted. "Employers will never again have to compete for workers by offering better pay or benefits. They will simply have to look across the border, or across the ocean to find an unlimited supply of workers willing to accept whatever they are willing to pay."

Free trade bump.

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

It is clear, this administration won't be satisfied until every American citizen is as desperate for a menial job as every illegal (who by definition does not belong within our borders).

Puts a real twist into making a level playing field.
Looking more and more like a Race to the Bottom.

[WhiteGuy]

"White House also wants to find some way to grant amnesty to at least some of the nine to 11 million illegal aliens currently in the U.S."

The real problem is very simple.

Whatever Bush wants, he gets.

I wish he wanted what was best for Americans.

Ron Paul 2004

[winker]

Citizen Alert! Here is proof positive of the Administration and Congress's intention to go against the will of "WE THE PEOPLE" The Traitors never mention the fact that all these illegal aliens are not registered and even they don't know how many of them they are; and now they want to open the flood gates on immigration soley for favorable votes in the upcoming election. This is socialist political strategy at its finest and natural born Americans are being played the fool in this. If they end up doing this against the will of the electorate then I am calling for impeachment of every one who votes for this socialist nightmare. America FIRST nothing less!

[ninenot]

"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," Ridge told those attending a town hall meeting in Miami Dec. 10.

Why, Mr. Ridge?

[ninenot]

I understand that GWB has been less than clear

Similar to his "both/and" statement on Gay Marriage, perhaps?

[ninenot]

Bush did not announce anything

Correct. A trial balloon is NEVER announced by the principals--only through leaks.

[ninenot]

"....won't bring it up for a vote..."

An excellent test of your thesis will occur when Hastert makes the decision regarding the amplification/extension of the "Assault Weapons" ban.

[ninenot]

He also has done lousy work on Federal spending, Drug Acts, and the Patriot Act (now we know that the PatAct includes the "Bank Tattler" section overwhelmingly rejected by Americans when it was first brought up by the Clintons about 6 (?) years ago.)

He also made fools of many, including Limbaugh, who actually believed that his "no contracts in Iraq for non-coalition countries" BS was actually true (see Bill Buckley's 12/17 column...)

So besides his obviously clear-thinking actions following 9/11--on what points is this President a conservative???

Hmmmmmm????

[ninenot]

There is NO doubt in my mind that Bush's overseas triumphs have secured re-election for him...

as well as the impending nomination of Bean-o Dean-o.

Truly, Bush will not need my vote, or yours, to win re-election.

[templar]

--on what points is this President a conservative???

That depends a lot on what the definition of "conservative" is. It seems a rather ambiguous term for the last several years.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Monday, January 12, is the first day of President Bush's visit with Mexican President (Bush's co-president?) Fox in Mexico City.

I will have no problem supporting Americanpatrol.com and its call for a one day "Don't shop at all. Don't buy anything. Don't go to the movies, etc."

Yes, boycotts are soooooo 20th century but I'll likely not do any shopping that day anyway and Americanpatrol.com is arguably the best site for keeping up with the massive invasion and Mexico's corrupt governments' (state and federal) meddling in our internal affairs at all levels of our government, education, and our private enterprises.

Americanpatrol.com also has patriots on the border helping to defend private land of citizens.

[Lael]

But.. but... Karl Rove is a genius, and we little people will never notice that the illegals are getting amnesty. Plus, we Have No Place To Go, and have to vote for the Stupid Party, so they can offend us as much as they please. Or something like that.

ROTFLMAO!!!

Somehow, with Clinton, we had a good economy, and while the JBTs under his command were always worrisome, it turns out that the Republican Congress (after 1994) revoked the so-called Fast Track Authority.

Now, we are faced with a Sanctiphonious President and a Rubber Stamp Congress, and quite frankly I'm not sure I demonstrated for the right side, carrying the 'Sore Loserman' sign at the State Capitol.

In other words, Neither Clinton nor Gore would DARE the Offshoring + Amnesty that this crowd seems to have planned for the Middle Class!!

Time to give Bushco the Bums Rush so we can once again have Divided Government!!

[FITZ]

even they don't know how many of them they are

Sounds like a blanket amnesty if they plan to hand it out to all that are here plus any family members they care to bring over. Our SSDI and Medicaid and food stamps look real appealing to their grannies back home who would like to have a nice comfortable retirement here. Lots of kids back in Mexico who could come to school for free over here. There is no possible way that all these up to 20 million illegals with no education or job skills can support those many family members they would be bringing in --- that will cost the taxpayers many billions.

[FITZ]

This is much worse than the Candelaria story. At least in that one it was a Mexican citizen they went after when they invaded American territory --- this is different when it's clearly American citizens they're shooting at.

[FITZ]

The jobs would first be made available to U.S. citizens but, if there were no takers, could then be opened up to citizens of other countries.

I can see it now "Job available: $4.00 an hour, 60 hours a week --- no overtime pay. No vacation pay, no health insurance benefits." Okay --- no Americans want the job --- time to import from the third world.