Posted on 09/27/2005 2:48:46 PM PDT by Heartland Mom
To stem the "flood" of illegal immigrants into the United States, Sen. Ben Nelson said today that he soon will introduce legislation calling for 3,000 new Border Patrol agents, boosting Customs officers by 1,200 and denying amnesty for the millions of undocumented workers now in the country.
"It's time for action to protect our borders," he said in a conference call with reporters.
Nelson, D-Neb., characterized his bill as an attempt to secure America's borders to protect jobs and to block potential terrorists from crossing into the country.
He said he was motivated by numerous complaints he has received from Nebraskans about illegal immigration.
"Lots of folks are concerned their tax dollars are supporting illegal immigrants living in their communities," Nelson said.
"They're concerned about their taxes but also their safety. They're concerned about the quality of their schools, the cost of health care. They're concerned jobs are being lost to illegal immigrants."
Nelson's proposed bill has elements that have been advocated in recent years by other lawmakers. His measure is tougher than some of those bills, which propose an amnesty program for the estimated 10 million undocumented workers in the United States.
Nelson pointedly said his bill doesn't include amnesty.
Under his proposal, any illegal immigrant who is arrested would automatically be deported. Businesses that employ illegal immigrants would be prosecuted.
However, he said, his bill would not authorize raids on businesses that might be employing undocumented workers, which has been an issue in Nebraska's meatpacking industry.
His bill would increase funding for technology to stop border crossings, such as the use of unmanned Predator planes with cameras to monitor the borders. He also proposed online tracking of people who illegally enter the country.
For those seeking legal immigration, Nelson's bill would speed up the government's approval process and increase the number of agents to help speed up such immigration.
Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., who recently visited the Mexico border, introduced an immigration reform bill in the last Congress and plans to reintroduce a new version in the coming weeks, his office said.
Unlike Nelson's no-amnesty plan, Hagel's original proposal would provide a way for undocumented workers now in the United States to work toward legal status.
Under Hagel's plan, if illegal workers have passed a background check, lived in the United States for at least five years, worked for four years, paid all taxes and demonstrated a knowledge of English, they could apply for legal status.
Wrong and a source please and not some MSM media report which does not have any actual quotes but just liberal reporter speculation.
Smoke and mirrors usually don't.
Repeat. Hillary will campaign on this issue.
Despite your blah, nobody said anything would be done.
The comment stands.
Don't believe ANYTHING Ben Nelson says.
I know a few people around here have been touting Senator Allen as a good potential candidate in '08, and have been saying that he has good credentials on illegal immigration. We'll see if he co-sponsors this proposal.
The White House approach departs from a proposal by Sen. John Cornyn to require illegal workers to leave the country before they could achieve legal status as guest workers.
Highlights of the administration plan were reported in the Arizona Daily Star and The Hill, a Washington newspaper, after White House deputy chief of staff Karl Rove and other administration officials met last week with Republican Reps. Jim Kolbe and Jeff Flake of Arizona.
The White House and the lawmakers declined Tuesday to discuss the meeting further
Again pure speculation from a liberal media source, but what they hey you are actively looking to criticize Bush anyway, so you take the speculation hook, line, and sinker.
I wonder why he isn't motivated by Floridians instead of Nebraskans? I never knew that Nebraska was a 'bee-line' for illegal immigrants. I'd be surprised if Nelson even knows where Nebraska is on a map. Although I'm glad he wants to do something about illegal immigration, why not credit us Floridians for his motivation. There are millions here.
Some of us aren't that familiar with Ben Nelson. Since you're from there, why is he so untrustworthy (other than he's a Dem.)
Uh Sen. ben nelson is from Nebraska. There are two Nelsons in the US Senate, both dems.
Sure, and if you don't believe this will turn into another bait and switch where it's all amnesty and no enforcement then you're probably also convinced you'll be winning the lottery anyday now.
Nelson may only be posturing, but it is still far better than the various dishonest amnesty-by-another-name schemes being put forth by Bush.
Next.
The proposal of the pretenders will be calling for more and more border patrol and bigger and bigger walls but if you manage to find your way around the obstacles, congratulations! Kind of like that Running Man movie with the governator.
I cannot believe anyone could still fall for the old "amnesty now, enforcement later" snakeoil.
I hope this flies.
I hope it doesn't HAVE flies...s**t usually attracks them...It's way past time the Lawmakers address this issue the way the citizens want it addressed, my fear is that the Dems will try to outflank us to the right (even if dishonestly) and enough of the sheeple will buy into what they're shoveling....
Same here, as the old saying goes: "fool me once..."
He was one of the "Gang of 16", THAT lost him MY vote. He needs to FOLLOW THE US CONSTITUTION!
I suppose we could hire enough agents to speed up legal immigration so that they are pouring into our country faster than the illegals have been coming. I fail to see how that would be better. They will all be new Democrat voters who refuse to assimilate to the language and culture with the bonus that they won't work as hard as the illegals.
We need a 20 year halt to all immigration, legal and illegal.
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