[Phsstpok]

Newt was criticizing the last amnesty and the failure of the government to enforce its provisions. [Who was in charge of the House when that bill got passed? uuuhhhhhh... Newt.]

I believe "the last amnesty" happened during the 80s when Reagan was President.  Newt wasn't "in charge" until after the 94 election and his election as Speaker when Congress convened in early 95.

I think Tip O'Neill was still in charge when the last amnesty was passed.  He set the pattern that they're still following.  Agree to anything we want to get their big item and then go back on their word on everything they promised.  They taught this (or learned it from) the Arabs.

[maica]

You are correct about the Amnesty in the Reagan admin.
But enforcement by Govt agencies has been conspicuously absent, and Rs have been in charge of Oversight of said Govt agencies since 1994.

[Morgan in Denver]

Democrats make promises to get elected. Once it's too late they claim things have changed and they cannot do what they said they'd do. Clinton famously did it, Corzine in NJ did it, and even Ken Salazar in CO did it.

It's a pattern to get votes without having to be held accountable.

[TomGuy]

The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRAIRA) severely restricts the availability of suspension of deportation - the remedy traditionally available to deportable aliens who have resided in the U.S. for considerable periods of time. Under the old law, suspension could be granted, at the discretion of the immigration judge, to an alien who has been present in the United States for seven years, shows good moral character, and demonstrates that deportation would cause "extreme hardship" to the alien or to a spouse, parent, or child who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen.


Gingrich Speaker of the House from 1994 to 1998.

Amid threats of a rebellion in his caucus, he announced on November 6 [1998] that he would not only stand down as Speaker, but would leave the House as well. He had been elected to an 11th term in that election, but declined to take his seat.

[Arizona Carolyn]

Also, Clinton took a lot of the teeth out of the 1986 provisions; more of those Gorelick-type of walls.

[rodguy911]

Great stuff phsstpok, and thanks again for the pre-thread.