No ---t!
Tom has been so out-front on this issue. LMAO
Funny how this topic suddenly became important after Richardson declared his counties to be in a state of emergency.
This is both encouraging and infuriating.
Why did it take a democrat to convince the Republican leadership to pull it's collective head out?
Actually Delay made his remarks before china gate figure richardson's minor maneuver.
But unlike tancredo, Delay wishes to work with conservatives not grandstand at them.
Well, we both know the answer: It's all about elections. The GOP is (justifiably) scared to death that the Dems will outflank them to the right on this issue.
DeLay outlines steps to stem illegal immigration
Fort Bend/ Southwest Sun - 08/10/2005
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.
...even w/ their heads up their @$$, they could hear the yellin' and screamin'. :P
Richardson made the first move to use immigration as a political advantage in his moves for higher office, and the pubbies now see it as danger if they don't react .....