Posted on 11/19/2005 9:08:27 AM PST by arnoldpalmerfan
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) introduced a bill today to repeal an illegal alien harboring exemption for religious groups that was signed into law last week. Tancredo’s bill, H.R. 4321, would repeal the agricultural appropriations rider inserted by Senator Bob Bennett which allows religious groups to “conceal, harbor or shield” illegal aliens from federal law enforcement. The bill is co-sponsored by Representatives Todd Akin, Virginia Foxx, Louie Gohmert, Virgil Goode, Gil Gutknecht, J.D. Hayworth, John Hostettler (Chairman of Judiciary’s Immigration Subcommittee), Steve King, Jack Kingston (Vice-Chairman of the Republican Conference), Mike Pence (Chairman of the Republican Study Committee), Dave Weldon, and Lynn Westmoreland.
“By repealing this dangerous law, we will send a clear message to terrorists plotting against our country: no church, no synagogue, no mosque, no religious group of any kind will be a safe haven for terrorism in America,” said Tancredo. “Since 2003, federal prosecutors have charged more than 500 suspected terrorists with immigration violations. Shielding radical religious organizations from immigration prosecution may have prevented those terrorists from being brought to justice expeditiously.”
Bennett’s provision, Section 796 of H.R. 2744, protects religious organizations from prosecution on immigration charges when the illegal alien is a volunteer for the organization. In addition, Bennett’s amendment specifically allows religious groups to provide “room, board, travel, medical assistance, and other basic living expenses” to illegals.
According to the Washington Post’s analysis of Justice Department terrorism cases, more than 500 persons suspected of terrorism have been charged on immigration violations since 2003. When federal investigators suspect persons of plotting terrorist acts but yet don’t have a complete case to convict them beyond a reasonable doubt, suspects are often arrested on immigration violations, which buys prosecutors time and disrupts the terrorist plot. Michael J. Garcia, former head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, called such use of immigration laws, “an incredibly important piece of the terrorism response.”
“A number of radical Muslim imams have been convicted of terrorism on U.S. soil, including Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, who planned the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center. Senator Bennett’s amendment is as much about soup kitchens as it is about terrorist groups,” said Tancredo.
Ping.
Maybe Bennett will allow the same "sanctuary" for bank robbers, rapists, murderers, etc.
More sheer idiocy from our Government.
Why was that rider to allow harboring of illegal aliens by religious organizations allowed to be inserted in the first place?! I thought we have a Republican majority.
Kudos to Tancredo for standing up and wanting to change that.
"allows religious groups to “conceal, harbor or shield” illegal aliens from federal law enforcement. "
===
I guess most in Congress thinks it's OK for mosques to protect terrorists too. What's the matter with these people?!
bttt
ping
I wonder WHICH religious groups would be inclined to obstruct anti-terrorism investigations? Could they be Amish?
"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,
1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.
BTTT
So now it's legal for Wahabbi mosques to provide aid and comfort to any future Mohammed Attas that are in the country illegally?
GWB SIGNED THIS INTO LAW?
I am quickly losing faith in the WOT. Maybe it IS all just a sham. I don't see the Bush administration taking ANY actions that make any sense at all. Have they all lost their minds? Are Tancredo and friends the only people left in D.C. who give a damn about the country?
" Tancredo’s bill, H.R. 4321, would repeal the agricultural appropriations rider inserted by Senator Bob Bennett which allows religious groups to “conceal, harbor or shield” illegal aliens from federal law enforcement. "
I am generally against any kind of amnesty or protection for illegal immigrants. But church sanctuary has a thousand year plus history so I have mixed feelings.
Tancredo BUMP!!
One of the few actually trying to Secure Our Borders!
I've been racking my brain trying to figure out what Bennett is trying to accomplish with this absurd law. As far as I can see it establishes government protection for, among other things, Islamofascist safe houses.
Yeah, but when the Catholic church gave sanctuary, the priests themselves weren't criminals as well. This law allows any terrorist cleric and his followers immunity as long as they are in their mosque.
How many Catholic churches do you see with stashes of guns and bombs? There is a fundamental difference in culture from the defintion of santuary that you are used to (for thousands of years) and how it would be applied in reality (with Islamic terrorists).
Is this Bob Bennet from Utah???
Good for Tancredo, but the fact that this was signed into law in the first place boggles the mind. Why should anybody be exempt from the law?
ping
The profits from illegal immigrant labor for the GOP and the illegal voters that in a close local election can put Dems in power outweighs the risk and losses from terrorism. Both parties overall think about their own interests above the security of the nation. After all when a bomb goes off, it is not the CEO or politicians who get killed. Maybe they will change their minds when a nuke goes off in several of our cities. Unfortunately it would be too late.
that's unbelievable - i hope the repeal goes through
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.