Posted on 04/10/2006 4:40:53 PM PDT by Dubya
WASHINGTON - When the U.S. House passed a bill in December making it a felony to be in the country illegally, the ''get-tough'' message became the flash point that has drawn millions of protestors into the streets.
With the Senate failing last week to finish a bill that would have rejected some of the harshest language in the House version, Republicans are expressing regret that the punitive House measure stands as the most recent congressional action on immigration.
''There are demonstrations all over America, and the House bill is the only bill out there,'' complained Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. His comprehensive border enforcement and worker visa program bill served as the framework for the Senate bill that got derailed in a partisan procedural fight.
House GOP leaders defend their decision to limit their bill to border enforcement and harsher penalties against illegal immigrants and those who hire them or give them aid. Many House Republicans also oppose President Bush's call for temporary work visas until the borders are made more secure and illegal immigration is curbed.
House sponsors wanted to erect new legal barriers to illegal immigration.In a recent letter to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, three House leaders defended the proposed penalties on those who give aid or counseling to illegal immigrants as a way to crack down on human and drug smuggling operations.
''We need to have the tools to be able to prosecute and put in jail the coyotes,'' said House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wisc., referring to people who smuggle Mexicans and others into the United States.
Critics argue that anti-smuggling laws already are comprehensive and that Sensenbrenner was intent on cutting off humanitarian assistance to illegal immigrants.
''I would call on him to be honest and say that's what's happening,'' said Jeanne Butterfield, executive director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
While not giving in on that point, Sensenbrenner conceded that a provision to turn illegal immigrants into felons was ''overkill.'' But he blamed Democrats for blocking his efforts to lessen the penalty.
After the bill was sent from committee to the full House for a vote, the Bush administration realized the felony aspect could lead to an unprecedented demand for jury trials for illegal immigrants, swamping federal courts and detention facilities.
If the felony penalty becomes law, it would make an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants , including those who overstayed their visas, subject to arrest and jailing for up to a year for ''unlawful presence'' in the United States.
The White House asked Sensenbrenner to reduce the proposed violation to a misdemeanor, with a six-month jail term. But a vote to cut the penalty failed at the hands of law-and-order Republicans, as well as Democrats, who wanted to show that the GOP was being mean-spirited.
The Senate version would make the violation a misdemeanor.
gebe.martinez@chron.com
I am always amazed at people who think protests reflect popular opinion. If the Democrats think that making the GOP appear tough on illegal immigration will help them, they are in for a rude awakening.
Sometimes the most compassionate thing you can do for someone is tell them "NO".
HA, tell that to a Liberal!
This newspaper better watch out what they ask for ~ I understand it's quite customary in Latin America for political opponents to blow up and burn down newspaper printing plants, and sometimes even the offices, and reporters are regularly kidnapped and tortured.
Cooler heads at the paper might well suggest it's not yet time to import such customs.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Here is another turd hastening to the defense of Blockoffeces er Butterball er Butterfield:
U.S. Visa News www.usvisanews.com
Week of July 14-18, 2003 - AILA Under Fire
By Jose Latour
- Jose Latour's Port of Entry Weekly Column -
Section Titles
Jose's Introduction
Americans: Less Immigrants Please
Another Missile from Tancredo
On Cuban Quinces
Canada-U.S. Relations Healing
The Guru Soundrtrack
Yet Another Musical Point
Sometimes we feel the need to keep things under tabs. Ross Perot, years ago, described the federal deficit as the "crazy aunt" we kept in the basement. Everybody knew she was there, but nobody ever really wanted to talk about her.
I'm a bit reluctant to bring this up because I'm afraid that I may only be fanning the fires of anti-immigrant sentiment by doing so, but I feel it is necessary to bring dialogue to light. Those of you who regularly read Fox News will not be surprised by the topic I am raising today; those of you who are AILA members will probably send me hate mail for daring to raise the topic. Either way, I "calls 'em as I sees 'em," and after a recent conversation with a very dear friend who is also involved in immigration, I decided it was necessary to discuss this in this week's Port of Entry column.
On Thursday, July 10, Fox News reporter, Matt Hayes, rocked the immigration world by publishing a mainstream news article revealing the little-known fact that the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Executive Director, Jeanne Butterfield, has had some previous involvement in organizations which make her responsibilities with AILA somewhat difficult. Specifically, before Jeanne was elected as Director of AILA, she served as Executive Director of the Palestine Solidarity Committee, the group which, according to Mr. Hayes' article, acted "as a front for the popular front for the liberation of Palestine in much the same way that Sinn Fein acted as a representative for the Irish Republican Army." In his article, Hayes also brought up Jeanne's tragically bumbled comment following September 11: "I don't think that the events of last week can be attributed to the failure of our immigration laws." [My own thoughts on Jeanne's comment: She is absolutely, positively correct. The tragedy was caused by the failure of the enforcement of our immigration laws.]
In any event, the murmurs regarding Jeanne's continued capability to lead AILA have been growing louder, and the e-mails are crossing my desk on a more frequent basis, albeit from folks requesting anonymity. (If you're curious about the stories, you can find the article at www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,91527,00.shtml. From what I am hearing from Capitol Hill, the cheap shots are already beginning. With the percentages of Americans who oppose immigration climbing steadil, and AILA's mission becoming increasingly more and more difficult, there is no doubt that the recent publicity regarding Jeanne's past will make her task on Capitol Hill even more difficult.
While I have never had a personal friendship with her, I know enough about her contributions to AILA to know that whatever her involvement with that other organization, she has been a tireless advocate on behalf of immigrants, and it is truly disturbing to me to watch politics enter the arena for the sole purpose of denigrating an individual whose contributions are so plainly visible. If we dug through the muck of the past participants of almost any organization, we will find contradictions, difficulties, and questions. Yes, unless you are a very strong pro-Palestine advocate, Ms. Butterfield's role with the Palestine Solidarity Committee is something of concern. That being said, Mr. Hayes' comments as a practicing immigration attorney in quoting F. Scott Fitzgerald that "...in American life, there are no second acts" is a bit harsh and unfair for someone of her professional stature.
Inside the beltway, within our American political leadership, we can readily point to hundreds of amoral men and women who have gotten off with a slap on the wrist after countless ethical and moral travesties; then again, is that such an unreasonable expectation for a city who elected a convicted crack addict as its leader? The question is not the one posed by Matt Hayes, namely:
"Does she possess the necessary 'credibility or trustworthiness' to lead a national, mainstream legal organization?"
I'm sure that Mr. Hayes has represented a number of unsavory clients and disclosed that fact when necessary; that is the only thing that Jeanne Butterfield is "guilty" of.
No, my friends, the real question is simply this. Given that Mr. Hayes has made the world aware of the very relevant fact, and that now the politically motivated haters of immigrants in Congress will be tearing at Ms. Butterfield with a tangential issue which is not germane to the carrying out of her responsibilities as the representative of our organization, will she be able to competently and effectively carry out her responsibilities
It should be a felony punishable by 20 years on a chain gang. The Democrats finally did something right, albeit unintentionally.
Any Illegal here after that, will be arrested, fined and deported.
There, that wasn't so hard, was it?
sw
Yeah, illegals waving Mexican flags. Whatever shall we do?
Illegal immigration should have been made a felony years ago. Plus most illegal aliens could surely be prosecuted for document fraud - they never are of course
GEBE MARTINEZ
Houston Chronicle
New panelists say DeLay cash won't sway ethics probe
Friday, April 29, 2005
GEBE MARTINEZ - - Houston Chronicle
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House Majority Leader Tom DeLay is asking to go before a House ethics committee viewed as more loyal to him than the panel that admonished him three times last year.
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House throws out GOP ethics rules
Thursday, April 28, 2005
GEBE MARTINEZ - - Houston Chronicle
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In a rare political defeat for the House Republican leadership, the House voted Wednesday to undo ethics rules that Democrats said were written to protect House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.
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New details on DeLay trip add pressure, analysts say
Monday, April 25, 2005
MICHAEL HEDGES and GEBE MARTINEZ - - Houston Chronicle
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Tom DeLay's claim that a lavish trip to Britain in 2000 with two lobbyists conformed to House ethics rules has been undercut by new revelations about the funding of that trip, some ethics experts said Sunday.
GOP offers to launch ethics probe of DeLay
Thursday, April 21, 2005
GEBE MARTINEZ - - Houston Chronicle
|
Seeking advantage in a fiercely partisan war over the stalled House Ethics Committee, the panel's Republican chairman offered Wednesday to begin an immediate investigation of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. But Democrats called it a "non-starter" and a subterfuge to draw attention from the Republicans' broader campaign to gut the ethics process and make it harder to pursue ethics probes against any member, including DeLay.
DeLay amplifies knocks on judges
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
GEBE MARTINEZ - - Houston Chronicle
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House Majority Leader Tom DeLay ratcheted up his criticism of judges and singled out U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy on Tuesday, faulting him for using the Internet to conduct research and for writing court decisions "based on international law."
DeLay counters charges by e-mail
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
GEBE MARTINEZ - - Houston Chronicle
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Urged by fellow Republicans to respond to charges of alleged ethical lapses, Majority Leader Tom DeLay sent a mass e-mail to supporters reminding them that he has not been found to have violated any rules or laws.
DeLay regrets remarks about Schiavo judges
Friday, April 15, 2005
GEBE MARTINEZ - - Houston Chronicle
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House Majority Leader Tom DeLay apologized Wednesday for his pointed rhetoric about judges in the Terri Schiavo case, but he remained resolved to push for a congressional review of judicial decisions.
GOP divided on immigration
Friday, April 15, 2005
GEBE MARTINEZ - - Houston Chronicle
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The release of illegal immigrants because of limited detention space has resulted in three out of 10 failing to show up for deportation hearings, a senior Department of Homeland Security official testified before the Senate Thursday.
GOP supporters denounce call for DeLay's resignation
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
GEBE MARTINEZ and SAMANTHA LEVINE - - Houston Chronicle
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Republicans loyal to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay strongly denounced on Monday a GOP moderate's call for DeLay to step down from his leadership post. But House Republicans were closely watching whether the lack of confidence expressed by Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., is shared by a significant segment of the party or represented merely the disgruntlement of a member worried about Democratic opposition back home.
DeLay wants 'chance to defend himself'
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
GEBE MARTINEZ - - Houston Chronicle
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House Majority Leader Tom DeLay asked Senate Republicans on Tuesday to be patient while he defends himself against a Democratic campaign to unseat him and news reports about his ethics.
Republican calls for DeLay to step down
Monday, April 11, 2005
GEBE MARTINEZ - - Houston Chronicle
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Signaling that persistent ethics questions about House Majority Leader Tom DeLay may be starting to weigh down Republicans, a GOP moderate on Sunday called for DeLay to resign his leadership post, and a top GOP senator urged DeLay to answer questions about his ethics.
Administration has yet to target DeLay for ouster
Saturday, April 9, 2005
GEBE MARTINEZ - - Houston Chronicle
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One way to judge whether House Majority Leader Tom DeLay can survive questions about his conduct in office is to watch for signals from the White House, which was instrumental in the ouster of another Republican leader in 2002.
Cornyn responds to backlash from judicial speech
Thursday, April 7, 2005
GEBE MARTINEZ - - Houston Chronicle
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Sen. John Cornyn admitted Wednesday that he blundered in a speech on the Senate floor suggesting a connection between courthouse violence and political decisions by judges. "The lesson I learned is that Washington is a very tough political environment and if people can take what you say out of context and use it against you, they will," the first-term Republican said in an interview with the Houston Chronicle.
Senator links violence, judges
Tuesday, April 5, 2005
GEBE MARTINEZ - - Houston Chronicle
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In an eyebrow-raising speech on the Senate floor Monday, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn suggested a connection between "political decisions" by some judges and incidents of courthouse violence across the nation.
DeLay pushes legislation that would force a federal review
Sunday, March 20, 2005
GEBE MARTINEZ - - Houston Chronicle
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Congress thrust itself back into the legally murky, emotionally charged fight over Terri Schiavo on Saturday, working out a bipartisan bill that would force a federal court review in the long-running right-to-die case.
DeLay defends his travel, fund raising
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
GEBE MARTINEZ and MICHAEL HEDGES - - Houston Chronicle
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Responding to news reports and Democratic criticism, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay offered Tuesday to defend his overseas travel and political fund raising to the House ethics committee.
DeLay faces noisy debate on ethics
Monday, March 14, 2005
GEBE MARTINEZ and MICHAEL HEDGES - - Houston Chronicle
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House Majority Leader Tom DeLay can expect a noisy, partisan debate when he returns to Washington today facing new questions about political ethics.
More Social Security ideas, more disagreement in GOP
Wednesday, March 9, 2005
GEBE MARTINEZ - - Houston Chronicle
|
As one of the few Senate Democrats open to Republican ideas for shoring up Social Security, U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska marvels at the mad scramble under way in the Republican ranks.
Exactly. And yet "House GOP leaders" don't count as speaking for the GOP in any way.
Since when did demanding people adhere to the law become racist? If the law prescribes they have to come here legally, then they should be deported when found to be here illegaly.
I'm with you.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
THE PLANTATION OWNERS (Democratic leadership) are only pandering to the UNION LEADERS (another group of Plantation Owners)
That's interesting. Thanks. Then the Republicans should make it known far and wide how that classification got in the bill and passed.
McCain alone now represents the entire GOP??Wow.
Harsh? No no no, NOT harsh enough!
Thanks, I hadn't seen your remarks on the topic.
Personally I'm not against the classification as a felony. If that's going to be a part of the bill though, it needs to be supported and not run from.
Right now the Republicans have every right to point out that they are just giving the democrats what almost all of them voted for. That should defray downside.
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