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.
"Amnesty" as long as 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.
In the earlier discussions of the Senate Bill you had to jump through the hoops to become a citizen and legal status was given immediately, I can accept having to "earn" legality. I don't think that many of these people are all that interested in Citizenship.
The last sentence in post number sixty (60) should state Hagel-Martinez "plan", rather than "Plan".
One high profile raid a week should do it. Send out warnings to all employers.
Read the Center for Immigration Studies "Attrition through Enforcement".
What part of if you can't work you can't eat so you self deport is so hard for some people to understand?
Not a bad plan, but I'll believe it only when Bush signs it.
Uhh... How is the first sentence any different from the second? If all 12 million were reported and deported how would that be any different than a forced repatriation program?
Many Freepers suffer from the Michael Savage disease and believe we should just round up every illegal and send them back to Mexico.
I agree with you. I don't know what I said that made you think I don't. If they can't work they will starve or go home. That is not forced internment but an effective way to make them voluntarily leave. It is a great idea.
PresidentFelon
The same place the manpower to round up and frogmarch 11 million over the border comes from.
I can't believe you cannot see the difference. If you have a large scale round-up of illegals you will need to either temporarily house them or use a transporter to beam them over to Mexico immediately.
If they are stopped by the police, or discovered in a business raid, it will be done over a much longer time period and you will not have the logistics problems you would have with a large scale round-up.
Its really not that hard to understand.
PresdientFelon
Sorry, wrong guy...
/hangs head in embarassment
This is the most sensible thing I've read. Senator Frist seems to have the best viable answer that seems most humane and yet the criminal element of the illegals should be arrested and, after prosecution if necessary, thrown out.
Frist wants amnesty for millions of illegal aliens.
Notice the big if? I still say the end result is the same. Why are you afraid of offending liberals, anarchists and foreign invaders?
Excuse me...feel free to substitute "when" fo "if".
PF
You purposely left out pay taxes. They will have to declare (prove) income for 5 years and pay taxes on it. As to learning to speak English did you add the word "promise" for some reason?
Frist backing the House bill with the RAT poison pill (felony) still in it would be stupid.
OBTW: Do you really believe that La RAZA, MEChA and the Democrats want even 1 Mexican Citizen sent home?
A true supply side solution.
Oh really? What provision provides that? Moreover, what is the minimum income that must be reported for tax purposes? You can be damn sure that Jose and Maria will be claiming their three kids as dependents, little income, and applying for the Earned Income Tax Credit (welfare - refund of taxes not paid).
As to learning to speak English did you add the word "promise" for some reason?
Because there is no enforcement mechanism in the bill. Heck, "promise" is an overstatement. They don't really have to even "promise" to learn English.
Frist backing the House bill with the RAT poison pill (felony) still in it would be stupid.
Your opinion unsubstantiated by facts.
OBTW: Do you really believe that La RAZA, MEChA and the Democrats want even 1 Mexican Citizen sent home?
No. And that is exactly why the bill is de facto amnesty while pretending to be otherwise.
Read the bill, and understand it, before putting your foot in your mouth again with another personal attack based solely on your emotional opinions.
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