Cornyn Speaks On Immigration (opposes a fence)

The Monitor ^ | December 28,2005 | Victoria Hirschberg

[Reaganwuzthebest]

MISSION — U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said Tuesday that building a fence along the southwest border is unrealistic and ultimately would not deter illegal immigration into the United States.

Cornyn, R-Texas, was in Mission on Tuesday to discuss flood control and the Rio Grande Valley levee system, but spoke briefly with the media about immigration issues and his plan to allow workers into the country legally but temporarily. He said he would not support a bill calling for a security fence — which could start in California and end in Brownsville — although the U.S. House of Representatives approved the measure last week. The Senate will discuss the measure when they reconvene next year, and Cornyn said immigration would be a pertinent issue.

He expects a compromise between the Senate and the House on immigration bills.

"(The wall) is a 19th century solution to a 21st century problem," Cornyn said, calling for a more comprehensive immigration plan. Millions of immigrants, both documented and undocumented, cross daily through the southwest border and Cornyn said his bill permits workers to enter for a set time period, calls for increased enforcement at the border and more investigations into employers that hire illegal immigrants.

Hidalgo Mayor John David Franz said he would oppose any wall cutting through his border city.

"I think we need to be looking at amicable solutions," he said. "(A wall) would put us back 100 years. A wall isn’t going to solve anything."

[afnamvet]

Apparently not, as the Kyl/Cornyn bill requires Mexico to foot their medical bills while here in the US.

Source and link please.

[TLI]

Some Americans who need access to the river will care, but that's probably offset by the number of ranchers without river access who will see a decline in the number of illegals on their land.

Well I suppose we could forgo the fence and just start blowing them away and letting the bodies lay were they fall as a warning to the rest (as some advocate) so the locals can fish and bird hunt on the river. That certanly would restrict the illegal crossing of the Border.

[moehoward]

"But if enact a system of laws which rewards being here legally if they're needed and punishes them severely for being here illegally, then you've removed the incentive to coming here illegally."

Already have the laws. Problem is it's the ILLEGAL (cheaper) labor that is desired and will continue to be so. The Illegal Alien does not care WHAT the law is. Period. They prove this by the millions, daily.

"Currently, we have a weak set of laws which provide little deterrent effect. If you're caught sneaking across the border, you're deported the next day. Repeat as needed until you're not caught.

Get caught in an interior city, spend a night in jail, and get a court date to show up for a deportation hearing. Skip, perhaps moving to another city."

If only there was a fence keeping most from ever getting across in the first place.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

The Rio Grande is pretty small until it reaches the Gulf. In the places where water needed to be piped, there would not be a huge problem engineering.

[Czar]

"I suppose I'm well beyond the point of thinking I can convince many of you that a fence won't solve the problem."

Look, we recognize that the wall will not stop 100% of the illegals flooding into our country from Mexico; properly designed it will, however, certainly stop most of them. So the wall is merely one piece of an entire menu of actions that must be taken to bring the illegal alien problem under strict and total control.

Unfortunately, despite the flurry of immigration reform proposals suddenly emanating from our Washington crapweasels, the federal government is still at the stage where they believe they can finesse the issue with ambiguous legislation accompanied by tough talk and weak enforcement. They are now in the process of finding out that the cosmetic/do-as-little-as-possible approach is not going to work. Politicians who would like to retain their present position at the public trough are about to discover what that is going to require in the way of real, as contrasted with illusory, reform.

If you regard yourself as a loyal American conservative, I encourage you to join the battle and support every "get tough" immigration reform measure necessary to stop the illegal alien invasion. Believe me, we will all welcome you aboard.

[rcocean]

There is no ONE perfect solution to the problem of illegal immigration.

Why should we not build a fence NOW and keep working on other solutions?

You seem to think that we should either enact the one perfect solution (in your opinion, employer sanctions) that will solve the entire problem forever OR do nothing.

I assume you are well intentioned. However, left-wing have used this tactic forever. They weren't *PRO* Communist, they were just against anyone who spoke out against the communists or wanted to sent money/troops overseas to resist Communism.

They are taking same approach today. They aren't *For* illegal immigration they just call anyone who wants to reduce illegal immigration "racists" and are against doing *ANYTHING* practical to stop it.

[antisocial]

Sorry this took so long:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1531962/posts

How did immigration wind up on the table at the WTO? Under the global trade body's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), governments can regulate the supply of services performed by foreigners. The technical term for this type of service trade is Mode 4. Thus far, the types of visas being discussed are those for executives and highly skilled professionals, such as Indian software engineers who have come to work in the Silicon Valley and other high-tech hubs in the United States . Some developing countries are pushing for the Mode 4 talks to cover less-skilled workers as well.

The wrangling over visas is just one more example of the WTO's mission creep. Global trade rules are no longer aimed merely at eliminating tariffs on goods that cross borders. The ultimate goal of GATS, for example, is to lift barriers to all manner of services by curbing national and local government controls on the entry of global banks, insurance companies, and other service providers into each country's markets. Other WTO rules limit government efforts to offer affordable generic medicines or to protect native plants and traditional handicrafts from being patented for profit by global businesses. And any domestic law, including public interest regulations, can be challenged under WTO rules as “an unfair barrier to trade.”

[Dog Gone]

I'm in full agreement with that. Propose the wall as PART of a comprehensive plan to end illegal immigration and I'll be all for it.

My main point on this thread is that a wall, by itself, won't solve the problem. It's nowhere near a complete solution.

It's well past time to get serious about illegal immigration. A wall, if conceived in a way that still allow Americans to access the river for ranching, farming, and recreational purposes, can be part of that solution. I think the other components necessary to end it are more critical. And we still apparently don't have the guts to address that.

[antisocial]

One of many, here's some of what Brookings Institute says:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1379606/posts

All three countries also will have to confront issues of sovereignty and basic nationalism in deciding how much further integration to pursue. Virtually by definition, multilateral cooperation leads to the loss of sovereign decision-making power. In exchange for expected benefits, NAFTA has required the US, Mexico, and Canada all to substitute mutually-agreed upon rules and joint dispute resolution procedures for what had previously been national decisions. Deeper North American integration will introduce more common rules and regulations, more joint decision-making, and perhaps even new trilateral institutions. These changes will provoke opposition among groups in all three countries who will use traditional conceptions of "sovereignty" as their defense.

[Dog Gone]

You've misread my posts. Nowhere did I say that employer sanctions are the perfect solution. I don't even recall mentioning them.

Build the wall if you must. Just don't think that by itself, it's the perfect solution.

[deport]

Thanks.... guess CAFTA needs to scrap the part about it not impacting the right of each nation to set their on immigration laws....

[rcocean]

I'd don't know about others, but I never thought the fence would solve the problem BY ITSELF.

But its going to help alot.

I don't think its too much to ask the Federal Government to control the borders and keep illegal aliens from coming into this country. Some are ALWAYS going to get through. But we could probably cut off 90% of the illegal immigration at the border if we wanted to.

The first step is to control the borders, the airports, the ports. Then lets talk about Guest Workers, Employer sactions, etc.

[penelopesire]

From the Cornyn/Kyl bill:

Obligations of Participating Countries

Requires countries to enter into bilateral agreement with U.S. government before the nationals of the country are allowed to participate in a temporary worker visa program or Mandatory Departure status
Requires aliens to have a minimum level of health coverage, which can be provided by the participating country, the alien or the employer
Encourages countries to provide housing incentives for returning workers
Requires participating country to:
Cooperate in efforts to control illegal immigration
Immediately accept return of nationals who are ordered removed from the U.S.
Work with U.S. to reduce gang violence, human trafficking and smuggling
Provide access to databases and information on criminal aliens and terrorists

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

If he's for open borders and guest worker amnesty, then he's a RINO. Period.

You just talk to hear yourself? His ACU rating for 2004 was 100% ... your Senators came in at 04% each.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

You could put Cornyn and KBH is a room with one door and nither could find their way out.

Odd, I know them both, though neither well, but that was not my impression.

[VOYAGER]

MISSION — U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said Tuesday that building a fence along the southwest border is unrealistic and ultimately would not deter illegal immigration into the United States.

Now how can this know-it-all know that much about the future unless he knows there is a conspiracy, of which he is party to, if properly handled(the success of the fence)can be thwarted)?

Just like all(Texas)politics it stinks to high heaven!!

[Travis McGee]

If his ACU rating is 100%, then the ACU must be for open borders and the guest worker shamnesty.

I guess "conservative" must mean "we love dirt cheap illegal alien labor" to the ACU.

[daybreakcoming]

Can you say wirecutters? In case you haven't been paying attention, we are talking about putting up a real fence instead of "what little fence" there is now. Only an electric fence would deter them. But that will never happen - thank you bleeding heart liberals and environmentalists who are worried about lizards getting zapped.

[vrwc0915]

Having just returned from a trip to TX, We don't need a fence we need Force Recon/ SEAL Team Wartime ROE on the border + fence, just snatch and throw on helo and return immediately, those that resist well you know what Marines and SEALS do WIN AT ANY COST