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Back to the Border - Security first.
National Review Online ^ | 4/22/06 | Senator Bill Frist

Posted on 04/22/2006 7:07:29 AM PDT by crimsonright

April 22, 2006, 9:00 a.m. Back to the Border Security first.

By Senator Bill Frist

Democrat obstruction torpedoed comprehensive immigration reform in the Senate earlier this month. At the same time, concerns about getting our border under control came into clear relief with news this week of the Department of Homeland Security's effort to crack down on egregious violations of immigration law. It is time to both secure our borders and reform our immigration system. So next week, the Senate will act to increase funding for border security-first. And then, before the end of May, the Senate must again take up-and finish-comprehensive immigration system reform.

When it takes up the immigration reform, the Senate must address border security, worksite enforcement, and the status of the 12 million people who are currently here illegally. But to build confidence among Americans and Congress that the government takes border security seriously, we have to act to help get the border under control right now.

By Memorial Day, the president plans to sign an emergency-spending measure, which we will use to fund this next step in border security. Democrat obstructionism on the larger immigration bill, I hope, will end before that. So far it has not: Minority Leader Harry Reid has acted to block the Senate from even voting on proposals like a ban on convicted felons taking part in temporary-worker programs.

Under any circumstances, security has to come first. We don't know how many criminals, gang members, and terrorists might have snuck across in the 20 years since Congress last made serious reforms to our immigration system. We need to know who is in our country, and why. A comprehensive immigration bill will allow all levels of law enforcement to focus on those who threaten to do us harm.

Last year, Judd Gregg and others lead an effort to hire 1,500 new border patrol agents and build 1,800 new detention beds. The proposal we will consider next week provides nearly $2 billion to build a border fence in high-traffic areas, add new border-patrol aircraft to help police lower traffic areas, and support training for additional Customs and Border Protection Agents.

The Senate is also near consensus on putting nearly 15,000 new border-patrol agents in the field over the next six years. More security spending now is part of the plan. To pay for it, we will cut spending in other areas. The proposal we will consider next week helps Customs and Border Protection enforce the laws we already have. It does not, however, include any of the still necessary reforms to our immigration laws contained in the broader comprehensive package we will act on in May.

For those with deep concerns about the bigger bill, the Senate will be putting the horse before the cart. Security first. Right now. But just as the horse goes with the cart, our action now must occur in concert with finishing action on the bigger immigration bill in May. That legislation contains the full multiyear plan to beef up border-security operations dramatically, including a virtual fence that uses a mix of physical and electronic means to secure every inch of our 1,951-mile border with Mexico.

I believe that a consensus has developed in the Senate that fixing border security is as important as creating an immigrant worker program. In early April, in fact, the Senate came very close to a breakthrough: Senators Chuck Hagel and Mel Martinez, along with many others, developed a fair, workable plan that would help deal with the 12 million people who are already in the United States.

Under their proposal, nobody who has violated immigration laws will get a free pass. Nearly everyone who has lived here illegally less than two years will have to return to their country of origin and apply through ordinary channels if they ever hope to live here legally. People who have lived here longer will have to pass rigorous background checks, learn English, and pay fines if they ever hope to achieve legal status.

Action now on border-security spending ought to affirm our country's commitment to getting the border under control. Passing a comprehensive immigration bill will guarantee a sustained plan to improve border security and deal with comprehensive reform. It will honor our heritage as a nation of immigrants and our respect for the rule of law. Finally, and most importantly, it will make America safer and more secure.

— Bill Frist is the U.S. Senate Majority Leader.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 109th; aliens; amnesty; borderlist; bordersecurity; frist; fristisacoward; illegalaliens; illegalimmigration; illegals; immigrantlist; immigration; immigrationreform; rinosmustgo
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To: PresidentFelon

False Choice.

It's not necessary to send all XX million back. The template is over at the IRS. Sample a small percentage, and stomp on a few thousand to put the fear of The Man into the rest.


41 posted on 04/22/2006 7:38:36 AM PDT by savedbygrace (SECURE THE BORDERS FIRST (I'M YELLING ON PURPOSE))
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To: PresidentFelon

"Many Freepers suffer from the Michael Savage disease and believe we should just round up every illegal and send them back to Mexico."

That isn't what you said in the earlier post. You said "forced detention and repatriation camps". Make up your mind. What's your point?


42 posted on 04/22/2006 7:43:28 AM PDT by webstersII
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To: All
Is it true that if this amnesty bill passes, that the families of these illegals can come to US? So that would add another 20-30 million more of them? Scary.
43 posted on 04/22/2006 7:48:31 AM PDT by ChicagoConservative27
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To: PresidentFelon
"Some Freepers need to face the facts. Sending all illegals back to Mexico will never happen."

Because the elitists and corporations and politicans on the take will never allow it to.

"It is not politically possible. It is not logisticly possible."

Politically possible? Explanation please. Logistically possible? Logistically 12 million plus came north -- so logistically it's possible to go north but impossible to go south? Americans are by nature resourceful -- a little too complacent, but give us a chance -- we'll find a way.

"It is never ever going to happen."

Never say never.

"We need to try and make the best of a bad situation by sealing the border and dealing with the illegals that are already here in a humane and politically viable manner."

Is "viable" sorting out who was and wasn't here for two years? Where's the manpower for that? If you think you can't bus back 12 million, what makes you think you can bus back any at all? And let's talk of "humane" -- you think it's humane to be little more than a slave?

"There will never be forced detention and repatriation camps in this country......ever."

First I've heard of "camps" ... could you elaborate please.

"Get over it."

No.

Have a good day, now.

44 posted on 04/22/2006 7:55:25 AM PDT by EverOnward (help support our hero soldiers at anysoldier.com)
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To: crimsonright

Just think of how much money the Frist family will make off this shamnesty. When the guest workers bring all their family members, approximately 20 or 30 million more, the health care will be "free" (paid for by you and me).

Frist's family started HCA, Hospital Corporation of America. The family still remains the principal stockholders.


45 posted on 04/22/2006 8:01:46 AM PDT by texastoo ("trash the treaties")
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To: crimsonright

It's hidden pretty well Frist, I gotta give you that. But amnesty is in there. The second I saw Hagel's name I sensed "screw-job." It's a wonder you can't.


46 posted on 04/22/2006 8:05:23 AM PDT by trubluolyguy (Procrastinators of the world UNITE!!!.....Tomorrow.)
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To: webstersII

This is what I posted (read the whole thing, including the last sentence)

"Many Freepers suffer from the Michael Savage disease and believe we should just round up every illegal and send them back to Mexico. Try to work out the mechanics of sending every illegal alien home and tell me how it can be done without rounding-up large groups, interning them, and after working out a deal with Mexico if possible, repatriating them. How will it be done without forced detention and repatriation camps?"


This is what you posted:

"That isn't what you said in the earlier post. You said "forced detention and repatriation camps". Make up your mind. What's your point?"



If you had read the entire paragraph you would have (theoretically) understood "the point"


PresidentFelon




47 posted on 04/22/2006 8:07:23 AM PDT by PresidentFelon
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To: crimsonright
If India can build and operate a 3,000 mile barrier to protect it's country from jihadi invaders, why can't the US do the same with a smaller (2,000 mile) barrier to stop illegal alien invaders?

Oh, and since when is an invasion not an act of war?

48 posted on 04/22/2006 8:07:42 AM PDT by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
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To: crimsonright
Under their proposal, nobody who has violated immigration laws will get a free pass. Nearly everyone who has lived here illegally less than two years will have to return to their country of origin and apply through ordinary channels if they ever hope to live here legally. People who have lived here longer will have to pass rigorous background checks, learn English, and pay fines if they ever hope to achieve legal status.

The ideas are getting better if jumping through the hoops is required for legal status. But don't jump to a proposal before many more employers are raided and punished and the border is secured.

49 posted on 04/22/2006 8:08:15 AM PDT by Mike Darancette (Proud soldier in the American Army of Occupation..)
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To: PresidentFelon

You don't work out a deal, they are Mexican citizens, just unload themn and push them across the gorder and tell them to stay home.


50 posted on 04/22/2006 8:10:58 AM PDT by snowman1
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To: peyton randolph
Apparently Frist thinks we're absolute morons.

Obviously you, the Democrats, LaRaza and Mexico don't think that this is a good idea.

51 posted on 04/22/2006 8:11:19 AM PDT by Mike Darancette (Proud soldier in the American Army of Occupation..)
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To: PresidentFelon
Quit with the straw man arguments. No one cares what Savage says.

Enforce the law. Thats what we want. Not Amnesty. The Senate and Friest *Dont* want to enforce the law. Thats why they have linked amnesty to a fence and a higher budget for the BP. I won't be voting for Friest, I'm tired of his fence straddling and sell-outs.

There is no link between the two. Friest should have put an enforcement only bill up for a vote and let McCain and his Liberal Democrat buddies vote against it.
52 posted on 04/22/2006 8:12:33 AM PDT by rcocean (Copyright is theft and loved by Hollywood socialists)
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To: GarySpFc
Secondly, do these idiots think any illegal alien is going to admit being here less than 5 years?

The illegal alien will manufacture 3-5 years of employment and then be forced to pay taxes on that phony employment income?

53 posted on 04/22/2006 8:16:46 AM PDT by Mike Darancette (Proud soldier in the American Army of Occupation..)
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To: raybbr

We are fortunate to live in the greatest nation on Earth and it is the duty of every American to make sure the dream of our Founding Fathers lives on. The Constitution is the foundation of our greatness and must be protected at any cost for the sake of our progeny. This Hoosier accepts those responsibilities.

"Have you read that recently?"


Absolutely.....the Constitution must be protected. If you think that the constitution is best served by rounding-up every illegal, interning them, and repatriating them (if Mexico will allow it), then we simply disagree.

Would I like for every illegal to go home? Absolutely. Will this country treat illegals as the Japanese nationals were treated in the 40's? It wll never happen without a fight that could seriously harm the country, and by extension, the constitution.

I want the border sealed now. I want employers prosecuted for hiring illegals, I want every law enforcement agency to turn illegals they discover to the INS for deportation. I want most of everything you want. Just not a forced repatriation program for 12 million people that would tear this nation to shreds.


PresdientFelon


54 posted on 04/22/2006 8:18:28 AM PDT by PresidentFelon
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To: PresidentFelon
We need to try and make the best of a bad situation by sealing the border and dealing with the illegals that are already here in a humane and politically viable manner.

Can we try to make them want to go home?

55 posted on 04/22/2006 8:19:19 AM PDT by Mike Darancette (Proud soldier in the American Army of Occupation..)
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To: trubluolyguy

First wants amnesty for millions of illegal aliens.


56 posted on 04/22/2006 8:19:24 AM PDT by arnoldpalmerfan (Tancredo for President 2008)
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To: EverOnward

"Many Freepers suffer from the Michael Savage disease and believe we should just round up every illegal and send them back to Mexico. Try to work out the mechanics of sending every illegal alien home and tell me how it can be done without rounding-up large groups, interning them, and after working out a deal with Mexico if possible, repatriating them. How will it be done without forced detention and repatriation camps?"


Read the last sentence please.


PresidentFelon


57 posted on 04/22/2006 8:21:08 AM PDT by PresidentFelon
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To: snowman1

Good luck on that one.


58 posted on 04/22/2006 8:22:01 AM PDT by PresidentFelon
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To: Mike Darancette
Obviously you, the Democrats, LaRaza and Mexico don't think that this is a good idea.

No. The Democrats, LaRaza, and Mexico love Frist's proposal. It allows illegals to fraudulently claim they've been here for more than 5 years, pay a fine, promise that they'll learn English, and receive amnesty. In other words, Frist is rewarding all 12 million for breaking the law while pretending he's being tough on border issues.

If Frist was concerned with border security, he'd be endorsing the bill that passed the House. He isn't.

Re-read what Frist wrote.

59 posted on 04/22/2006 8:26:14 AM PDT by peyton randolph (Time for an electoral revolution where the ballot box is the guillotine)
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To: Mike Darancette

La Raza and most Democrats do support the Hagel-Martinez amensty plan that is supported by Sen. Frist. I know of only one Democrat, Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, that opposes it. He opposes the giving of amnesty to millions of illegal aliens as the Hagel-Martinez plan does. The Hagel-Martinez Plan is also opposed by Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama and several other Republican senators.


60 posted on 04/22/2006 8:26:31 AM PDT by arnoldpalmerfan (Tancredo for President 2008)
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