Posted on 08/11/2005 9:28:48 PM PDT by Happy2BMe
House Majority Leader and U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay last week called for the use of all available technology to secure the U.S. borders before implementing a guest worker program.
DeLay was a featured speaker at a panel discussion on illegal immigration, hosted by the Fort Bend Republican Club at the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce in Sugar Land on Aug. 4.
DeLay's remarks were received with repeated applause by an appreciative audience and the meeting hall was overflowing.
"Before any legislation on guest worker program, we must secure our borders," DeLay said.
"I am totally opposed to amnesty, which rewards criminality," he said.
Increased funding for immigration law enforcement personnel, and guidelines for a comprehensive strategy for national detention of illegal immigrants are in the works, DeLay said.
To secure the borders, "we need to use all technologies including satellites and unmanned aircraft along our borders... we will put up a virtual wall on our borders with technology," DeLay said.
Also, there is a slight change in the philosophy of detaining immigrants. Unlike the excuses in the past that there are no beds available to detain illegal immigrants, the new attitude is, "go pick them up; we will find the beds," DeLay said. the National Guard could be used to put up tents and detain the illegal immigrants, he said.
"But we should treat them humanely. And ask general counsels to have video interviews with the detainees, instead of waiting for a long time for the counsel to come for a personal interview," DeLay said.
Strengthening deportation laws and tightening the amnesty laws are among the other steps proposed.
"Controlling illegal immigration is not merely an economic or social policy, but a vital component of a broader national agenda," DeLay said.
Legal immigrants share the American values and visions. "We are stronger and prosperous due to our diverse cultures. But, illegal immigration poses a clear danger to the security of the U.S. It is a matter of public safety and necessity. (At the same time) we ought not to seek to close, but secure the border," DeLay said.
Limiting legal immigration won't curb illegal immigration, he said. "This country was built on immigration...we should never shut down legal immigration," DeLay said.
DeLay was critical of the "sanctuary policy" of the city of Houston and said that needs to be changed.
In this context, DeLay alluded to a bill introduced by U.S. Rep. John Culberson that would enable the Texas governor to deputize individuals in Texas to enforce immigration laws.
DeLay said he is opposed to any national ID program. Also, sanctions against employers who hire illegals didn't work, he said.
DeLay said President George W. Bush has been misrepresented in that he does not support amnesty for illegal immigrants, but favors a real guest worker program.
Under the program, the immigrants should not be allowed to bring their families and their permit should be for a specific period, DeLay said.
U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay receives applause from the audience during his talk on illegal immigration at a meeting organized by the Fort Bend Republican Club at the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce last Thursday. Photo by Larry Pullen. |
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"We are stronger and prosperous due to our diverse cultures. But, illegal immigration poses a clear danger to the security of the U.S."
Wow. I guess you just have to refer to it as the "Tancredo/Buchanan/Delay crowd" from now on, eh Swampy?
They just don't get it do they?
** I am glad to see high-visibility Repubs TURNING ON BUSH'S PRO-ILLEGAL INVASION POLICY **
It just may save this country in more ways than one. If the arrogant, elitist insantity in the White House continues, God knows what will happen...
Don't forget the tried and true - land mines, coiled razor wire and gun towers.
He will be in jail before anything happens...
sorry but the train has left the station
I hope by 2008 we're well on the way to getting a handle on this problem. I don't know if we can afford to wait another 2.5 yrs.
It may just have to come to that.
The Border That Is Needed
The Border We Have....after 9 years control of Congress...
Looks like Tom Delay has been reading my posts. ;^)
Enlighten please . .
BTTT
WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 - A political action committee run by the House majority leader, Representative Tom DeLay of Texas, broke election law by paying expenses from the wrong account, an audit by the Federal Election Commission has found. By doing so, the committee effectively increased the amount of money it could spend on Congressional races in the 2002 campaign.
Frist is in a twist.
McCain is a pain.
Oh, "they" "get it" just fine.
These Buchananinte Commies are taking over . .
Frist did much worse than that - surely Dubya will kick in some support . .
I am pretty much sick of all of them....
FWIW - The founder of MMP (Jim Gilchrist) is considering running for a vacated senate seat in California.
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