Posted on 04/11/2006 4:43:58 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
GOP Chiefs Don't Want Immigrants Charged
By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent 29 minutes ago
The two top Republicans in Congress, confronted with internal party divisions as well as large public demonstrations, said Tuesday they intend to pass immigration legislation that does not subject illegal aliens to prosecution as felons.
A written statement by Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee, did not say whether they would seek legislation subjecting illegal immigrants to misdemeanor prosecution or possibly a civil penalty such as a fine.
"It remains our intent to produce a strong border security bill that will not make unlawful presence in the United States a felony," the two men said. An estimated 11 million men, women and children are in the United States illegally.
The Republican-controlled House passed legislation late last year that is generally limited to border security measures. It makes illegal immigrants subject to felony prosecution.
Senate efforts to write a broader bill — covering border security, a guest worker program and a path to citizenship for many of the 11 million in the country illegally — are gridlocked with lawmakers on a two-week vacation.
Frist has said he intends to bring the issue back to the Senate floor, although he stopped short of a flat commitment and the prospects for passage of an election-year immigration bill are uncertain.
The late-afternoon statement by the top GOP leaders in both houses came after days of large street demonstrations by protestors opposed to criminal penalties for illegal immigrants.
Additionally, in a Washington Post-ABC News poll published during the day, only 20 percent of those questioned said they favored declaring illegal immigrants to be felons
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I hope the GOP enjoys its minority status come January.
The next battle will be in the streets
You have to charge them for specific crimes. You can't just assume they are guilty of violations. The only way this is going to happen is to task city and state police officers to arrest and identify them. If someone who has committed a crime is shown to be illegal, then he/she may be prosecuted for the crime/deported. I think this is happening on a small scale. but my understanding is that cops don't want to do this work.
America, we hardly knew ye...
¡Hola, Amexica!
before we all go off the deep end.
strong enforcement provisions of any bill that emerges, need NOT declare these people as felons. its pointless, we aren't going to deport them all at gunpoint. remember, the Dems voted to keep this in the house bill to trap the republicans.
Bingo.
In Spain, they listen and obey when the criminals blow up a train station.
In France, they listen and obey when the criminals set some cars on fire.
In America, they listen and obey when the criminals mill in the streets and say "we demand that you obey us!"
We have relinquished the right to scold the Europeans for caving to the terrorists. THEY can now laugh at US. We have given up the high moral ground, in exchange for cheep lay-bor.
We have made ourselves into the contemptible laughingstock of the world.
I think you guys are overreacting to this particular statement. The fact is that it would be impossible to prosecute them as felons because they would have a right to a jury trial which is impractical for 12 million aliens. Plus, felon means they could serve more than a year in jail- do you think we have enough jail space for that? They can still be prosecuted and deported for misdemeanors.
Don't get me wrong- I fully expect Hastert and Frist to sell us out eventually. They just didn't do so in this statement.
Check your math. More likely, it'll be 100 million in five years. Really.
I keep seeing commercials for tax attorneys, offering to help people who are behind in their taxes.
If the criminal aliens are given tax amnesty, will AMERICAN citizens get a SIMILAR tax amnesty too?
Or will it be once again, "Advantage, Mexico"?
I can go along with that. I still can't see the feasibility of trying to deport millions of illegals.
Sealing the borders must be first though.
With respect, I believe that you might be missing the point. If illegal aliens are committing a felony by being here, that is a continuing offense. And this means that those who help them remain here, are aiding and abetting a felon in the commission of his / her felony.
That would be an ex-post-facto law which is expressly prohibited by the Constitution.
Can't lose what they never had, a spine, or jewels.
I think you know the answer to that.
so what? we aren't going to forcibly deport 12 million people through the law enforcement process - get over it. by calling congress and asking for that, we are marginalizing ourselves. we want amnesty stopped, we want border security. we have to stop new entrants from getting in, incentivize/penalize the labor system here to deny them jobs so they deport themselves, and look carefully at who is here and consider legalizing some modest percentage of those where it makes sense (those with US citizen children and property owners, for example).
You missed the point -- by a country mile.
If they are declared felons, then they CANNOT VOTE.
Keep reading that line over and over until the light goes on over your head. You will then seen the reason they will NOT let these "wonderful people" be "labeled as criminals."
If they can't go a-whoring after their VOTES, then the only reason to bring them in, is to satisfy their deep-pocketed donation-machines who want the cheeeep lay-bor. The whole "but what's in it for ME?" factor goes right out the window.
Judging by what we get when we "win", I'd say that any more "victories" like this and we're finished!
I'm just kidding, though. We're already finished.
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