Posted on 08/05/2005 7:45:55 PM PDT by Black Tooth
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay urged Texas police Thursday night to begin rounding up illegal immigrants, and said he backed legislation that would cut off federal funds to cities that don't enforce U.S. immigration laws.
Speaking to a gathering of Fort Bend County, Texas Republicans, DeLay said that if police rounded up illegals, the federal government would find places to house them.
Story Continues Below
In quotes picked up by the Houston Chronicle, the top Republican urged: "If you pick up 50 or 100 of them, you can call the National Guard." As for housing, DeLay said: "Put them in tents."
He noted that until now, even the federal government has not rounded up illegal immigrants in U.S. cities, because federal agents had no place to detain them. The situation is changing, however, under the new leadership at the Department of Homeland Security, he said.
DeLay emphasized that he's a strong supporter of legal immigration. But he opposes educating illegal immigrants using U.S. tax dollars or having their U.S.-born children automatically become American citizens.
According to the Chronicle, he blasted Houston city officials for their lax attitude toward illegal immigration, saying, "It greatly concerns me that the police chief in Houston, Texas, has created a sanctuary in Houston by announcing that he is not going to enforce our laws."
DeLay said he supported legislation introduced by Rep. Tom Tancredo that would withhold federal funding from cities like Houston that ignore federal immigration regulations.
Other big city governments, including New York City, that do not enforce immigration laws and would presumably also be at risk to have federal subsidies yanked under the provision supported by DeLay.
Someone else seems to be speaking out now!
Even the "new" Hillary hasn't gone that far yet.
Did DeLay say this from his jail cell? You know, the one Dr. Dean promised him?
Say it loud and say it proud and watch Americans rush to the Republican party saying, "it's about time!"
I am still digesting this.
Seems that Tancredo's message has taken hold....
Tent cities growing their food and raising their chickens. No luxuries like running water or electricity need except for security or emergency.
Good for DeLay-----maybe Bush will sit up and pay attention now.
This is the real Tom Delay!!! He didn't like CAFTA but went through the motions. But that dumb ass trade deal is now law.
Now - let's see if he has the guts to actually stand fast on that issue....
What's up with this guy??? Must've finally stuck his finger up in the wind...Now he's fallin' in behind Tancredo, or at least using Tancredo's name...
This could get interesting...
Tanc is the cutting edge. The man ahead of his time.
He better do it.
all they have to do is drive pick up trucks to home depot let them jump in the back and spring a net on them then drive them to jail or take them to the border to start buliding a wall
(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,
He is co-opting Tancredo and taking over leadership of the Republican House members who followed Tancredo before he self destructed. Tom Delay will deliver the votes to President Bush when the time comes, you can take that to the bank.
Immigration will be a dead issue long before the next elections.
I'd say it's about nigh unto impossible to be pro-Cafta and anti-illegal immigration...
Sounds like Delay is practicing politics...
I think DeLay is feeling a palpable anger coming from people concerned about this issue--even more so from the states on the border.
First or second, doesn't matter. Just do it.
Seems Delay is getting the message that most others have all but ignored.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.