Posted on 11/15/2005 4:32:41 PM PST by Nachum
Homeland security chief defends Bush plan, says border eventually will be impenetrable
In defending President Bush's so-called "guest worker" program for illegal aliens – which critics have dubbed an amnesty program – Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff says it's just not practical to deport the millions of foreigners in the country illegally.
"The cost of identifying all of those people and sending them back would be stupendous. It would be billions and billions of dollars," Chertoff told Sean Hannity on the Fox News Channel program "Hannity & Colmes" last night.
"One of the reasons I think that we've been focusing on the idea of a temporary worker program as part of a larger strategy for border security is because it would be a way to siphon off people who really want to do nothing more than work here, put them into a regulated program – we would know who they are – we would then be able to send them back at the end of a period of three years or six years. They would have made some money, they could take it back home, and then we could focus our other resources on the people that don't want to do it the right way, and we could get those people sent out."
Hannity challenged Chertoff, saying such a plan rewards those who "didn't respect our laws and sovereignty."
Asked the talk-show host: "Why don't we say, no, you're here illegally, you didn't respect our laws, you ought to go home?"
Chertoff again appealed to the issue of cost, saying, " Sean, you know, it's really an issue of practicality. I mean, as a practical matter, we've got to identify these people and pull them out of the shadows."
The Homeland Security chief emphasized that Bush's plan "is not an amnesty."
Said Chertoff: "The president's proposal is not a path to citizenship. It's clearly temporary, and it clearly envisions people who would have to commit to go back. … What this would let us do is acknowledge the reality that we've got hundreds and thousands of employers all over this country who are employing illegal aliens. Sometimes, individual citizens employing people in their home."
When Hannity suggested quadrupling the number of Border Patrol agents to help deal with the flood of illegals coming across the southern border, Chertoff pointed to training constraints.
"Right now, our capacity for training really is fully stretched," the official said. "Because it is obviously not an easy job, to train a Border Patrol agent. It's very dangerous work on the border."
Chertoff emphasized that since 9-11, the number of Border Patrol personnel has increased by 3,000.
The homeland security chief said he believes there will be a point in the future – using new technology and infrastructure, and more agents – when the border will be impenetrable.
"I think we have a day coming," he told Hannity. "I can't give you
I do think we have the money, resources and manpower to deport ALL of them.
I figure that government program costs that are used to subsidize the illegals could be diverted into funds for law enforcement and national security.
Combine that with the fact that we have illegals getting government aid and are enrolled into government programs, and that makes it easier to locate them.
The last step would be to naturally crack down on employers of illegals while empowering federal, state and local authorities to arrent, detain and deport illegals and prosecute those who hire them.
Big, but not nice...
LOL, knew it didn't look right for some reason.
Fines and/or imprisonment for employers who KNOWINGLY hire illegals would get the job done. However, if an illegal has a phony but realistic Social Security card, it would be unfair to punish the employer. There was talk of creating a system whereby the employer could merely type in the social security number presented by the prospective employee, and a database would verify whether or not it was a valid number, without revealing the identity of the holder. I suppose they could give the year of birth to cut down on fakery without compromising identities.
Not bad almost as good as some of our own more prolific border anarchists. You did forget the part of telling me the fantasy line about the illegals employers passing the savings on to us.
Mr. Chertoff, you can sugarcoat sh** all you want, we're not biting.
Elaborate on how the inspections would work?
This wouldn't be like I'm sitting in my office and some guy walks in a demands to see my ID?
If you mean going backwards using tax forms and information tips, that sounds good.
For what its worth, the 2nd time should be a fine plus jail time, and a 3rd time a bigger fine and more jail time.
I also don't think these illegals are worthy enough or deserving enough to be a part of our armed forces, I don't want one of my friends lives to have to depend on some guy who swan across the rio grande to make 2 bucks and hour and collect welfare.
Where do I get in line to donate? I'll take it off my income taxes.
Or more humane - let employer pay $10,000 compensation to the illegal for exploiting him (plus all costs of return to home country and possible legal re-entry to US, unpaid taxes etc ). If it does not work, double, triple the reparation.
Not just no but HELL NO. The last thing we need is an army of foreign mercenaries operating at the whim of whoever happens to be in charge. Do you think an army of illegal aliens would hesitate to follow an order to shoot American citizens?
I don't understand how the cost of identifying them and sending them back could be more than setting up a regulated program, identifying them, putting them in a regulated program, keeping track of them and then sending them back after their time is up.
As someone else said you also have the cost of schooling, hospitalization, medical care and other welfare services for them. As long as they are here they have more time to make babies and once their newborn is automatically granted US citizenship, they are basically here to stay. At the very least, we should change the law that gives any child born in the US automatic citizenship before you go ahead with this idea.
I think it would be cheaper in the long run to concentrate on the borders now and then just send them all back. After the borders are secure you can talk about extended visas for work programs for people that enter our borders LEGALLY.
It's not ethical for Chertoff to be out of PRISON!
Lying sack o $hit!!
I'll try to do better next time. These internet translators are problematic to say the least.
"Mandatory military consignment for any illegal between the ages of 18 and 39"
Uhhhh - don't think so. What possible benefit would a bunch of low IQ, totally unskilled, illegals be to the military? Other than pose security, behavior, and disease problems to our military, that is?
Before the feds even consider implimenting a guest worker program, or undertake a massive effort in deporting illegal aliens from the US, they must concentrate on securing our borders, prosecuting and punishing employers who hire illegals and immediately stop all welfare payouts to illegals. This will send a clear message to illegals. The good times are over. Now leave. Building a fence/wall combo would also send the right message to foreigners who are thinking about entering the US illegally in the future. Anything less would only perpetuate and exacerbate an already out of control problem.
BTTT
"It's not practical for Chertoff to be drawing a government salary."
What is very practical is to pay a bounty on all illegals turned in, or reported, to the authorities. That would get immediate results at a small fraction of the costs of any other method of identifying illegals.
Your plan is excellent and logical. Maybe the next President will listen to you.....if it isn't too late by then.
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