Posted on 12/06/2004 3:42:13 PM PST by Mike Fieschko
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 /U.S. Newswire/ -- House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wis.) issued the following statement regarding legislation responding to the 9/11 Commission recommendations:"I am pleased that the chain-of-command issues Chairman Duncan Hunter has raised have been resolved so that our war-fighters will not be put at risk. Unfortunately, even with these improvements, the current bill is woefully incomplete and one I cannot support.
"Americans deserve a complete bill so that we can prevent another 9/11 from occurring. Border security and immigration reform are vital components of our homeland security efforts, so why are they not included in this legislation? The time to address these issues is now, not next month, not next year. Hollow promises of future consideration are just that - hollow promises.
"Terrorists have exploited vulnerabilities in our asylum system and in the issuance of drivers' licenses. This bill fails to include the strong provisions in the House bill because my Senate colleagues found them 'too controversial.' That's unfortunate, because their refusal to consider these security provisions on their merits will keep Americans unnecessarily at risk.
"I said two weeks ago that the Senate was hell-bent on ensuring that illegal aliens can receive drivers' licenses, regardless of the security concerns. This Sept. 10th mentality in a post-Sept. 11th world is unwise and among those I intend to rectify next year."
I fear that as a stand-alone bill, Sensenbrenner's immigration reforms will fall on deaf ears in the Senate.
bump
In hindsight perhaps this should have been an election issue. I feel betrayed as do many of the people that I have talked to today.
He needs to keep up the fight on this issue - considering that the terrorist had 64 of them - This shows that some liberal states "are" putting the entire nation at risk - and for what? Over the "rights" of illegals? Total nonsense - they are breaking our laws - deport them and then they won't need a D.L. -
What is wrong with the leadership in the Senate? Are they affaid to stand up for this nation against the President who seems to be out of touch with what is going on with the illegals - Over 70% of the citizens want something done about the illegals - Only 51% voted for the President. More people want the illegals delt with - Clearly the people are in the Reps. corner on this issue -
All day today the media has made this sound like a minor hang up - Well - it isn't - and those who know it isn't need to speak up and get their faces in front of the public more - or else the other side with make it seem like this one Rep. is standing alone - and holding up the security of the nation - Totally false but the media is good at putting out false stories -
This is not a state issue - not when the whole nation's security is at risk -
just my thoughts -
Protect out borders ~ Bump!
No point in it being an election issue. On immigration, Election '04 was about the lesser of 2 evils. Bush sucks on immigration, Kerry sucks on everything.
I couldn't agree more. W is way off base on this issue and he needs to be told this!
The problem is there's a political cycle inherent here. The state politicians who are most concerned about illegal immigration are in the border states. But the border states also generally have the highest hispanic population. Therefore, border state politicians don't want to touch immigration reform and tighten the borders because they fear a backlash in the polls. See the cycle?
Very creepy.
The 9/11 hijackers weren't illegal immigrants. The licenses were legal. They had correct names and pictures. Sebsenbrenner's amendments wouldn't have made any difference. Sensenbrenner is a liar or a fool. He just traded 15 minutes of fame for a lifetime reputation as a fraud.
From the 9/11 Commission Report (p. 16):
"Fourteen of 15 operatives and all of the pilots acquired one or multiple forms of U.S. state-issued identification. Only Satam al Suqami did not, possibly because he was the only hijacker who knew he was out of immigration status: his length of stay end date of May 20, 2000, was clearly inserted in his passport."
But, Americans will hear it...and the Senate will be forced to act on immigration reform.
I'd bet you are correct.
Oh yes, I forgot for a minute that we no longer have the Daschle-lead senate that blatantly ignored the American people completely.
Just mail an official US birth certificate to anybody who sends a check or money order for $10 and let's just get this over with!
November 2 was very, very good for America ;-)
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