Posted on 05/23/2006 3:37:01 PM PDT by KyleM
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO), Chairman of the 97-member House Immigration Reform Caucus, expressed disappointment at Rep. Mike Pence’s policy shift on immigration reform. At a Heritage Foundation speech this afternoon, Pence presented what he called “a rational middle ground… between amnesty and mass deportation” that turns its back on a enforcement-first strategy, grants rogue employers amnesty, and would in effect reward illegal aliens for breaking the law.
“Mike Pence is making the same mistakes that the President has, using the straw man of mass deportations and redefining amnesty to suit his interests. Unfortunately, like the President, Pence is breaking from House conservatives who remain steadfast in their support of a security-first approach to immigration,” said Tancredo.
Pence’s plan would require illegal aliens to return to their home countries to apply for a new ‘W’ worker visa. Employers could hire as many foreign workers as they want under the W visa, and, in practice, they would likely hire the same workers who they employed illegally before. Pence wants to start the new foreign worker program before border security is even proved effective, which is the same strategy that was used in the 1986 amnesty. Twenty years later, the U.S. got amnesty as promised but no border security.
“Pence’s W visa is aptly named. It gives the Administration exactly what it wants: unlimited foreign workers first, enforcement later or never,” said Tancredo. “Pence’s plan is just the 1986 amnesty with a trip home tacked on.”
The Pence plan includes no prevailing wage standard for foreign workers—it simply relies on the good will of employers to “try to hire American workers” before offering jobs under the new foreign worker visa. In fact, almost all current visas require employers to offer the job to American workers before seeking foreign labor, but with no enforcement mechanism, the requirement is laughable.
“The House’s strategy in H.R. 4437 was to fix the illegal alien problem by enforcing the law. Over time, as illegal workers cannot obtain jobs, they go home because they have no other option open to them. Pence takes a much different approach: fix illegal behavior by legalizing it,” said Tancredo. “As a conservative and a friend of Mike Pence, I am baffled by his shift on immigration. I hope he reconsiders his position and returns to an enforcement-first position.”
"BULL read the speech then look at the plan.That is not AMNESTY"
I read the plan. It's an improvement over what is being proposed now.
But if you ask me whether I think it's the correct plan then I say no. I say the correct plan is Tancredo's plan to start SERIOUS enforcement against businesses, which will cause attrition among the illegals and less incentive to come here. I say target enforcement less in areas like agriculture where there probably is a need for more labor and more in areas like construction where Americans have historically proven they will do the work.
Any guest worker plan invariably allows the families of the illegals to come over. And they inevitably are allowed to claim benefits, etc.
Tancredo's plan is better.
"But if you ask me whether I think it's the correct plan then I say no"
You may not agree with it.I just assume have zero guest workers.But do you think it is AMNESTY?
That'd go a long way to providing us with the paper trail we need to make sure any immigration is managed, lawful, and stable.
I'm glad Tancredo is pushing on this. This is how you get something that is more satisfactory. You really push the envelope and then when you do reach a "middle ground" it's more in line with what you want. This is what the lefties do. They start out with something very radical and then when a "middle ground" is reached it's still more left than it is actually middle. They are excellent at this strategy and that is why American politics continues to creep leftward.
Also, I share Tancredo's fears. What to do with the illegals here should come after the Southern border is secured. You know what will happen. Guest worker program will go through and in the average American's mind it's over. Just what the politicians want. Then border security and enforcement will be forgotten about.
Not exactly. There is no guest worker program in HR4437.
That is why Pence's program is enforcement first!
Pence is proposing amnesty...unbelievable.
pence's bill is hr4437 + guest worker where they first have to go home.I gotta get some food.
That is not how it works. I know because I am an American who worked LEGALLY in another country (Canada) for 8 years.
My oldest daughter was born in Canada and is therefore a Canadian. I had to leave when my job ran out. I was not even allowed to look for another job there. I complied with the law in all respects, and my daughter came back with me.
My daughter can go back to live in Canada any time she wishes. I cannot. When she gets older and moves out of the house, she can move to Canada if she wishes. Until then she will live with us here in the USA.
In other words, the kids born here of illegal parents can go back with their parents. They can move back when they are of age to live on their own.
There is nothing unfair about this. Nothing unfair at all. It was no more unfair for me than it is for our uninvited guests.
Ping. Your thoughts?
"he is flat out not being honest "
HE wasn't being honest on H&C last week either. Must be an election year. : /
We don't need cattle cars. Enforce the law and deport them as we find them. "Cattle cars" are a straw dog used to bring up memories of the Holocaust. Open borders people do that.
The true number and new estimate we are hearing about is closer to 25 million. That will be the number cited a month after this boondoggle is passed. OOPPSS! Heck there are millions here in the bay area alone. ANY path to citizenship in these numbers will cripple our systems. They in turn will bring in millions. They wont/cant assimilate, they are uneducated, mired in poverty, and are a services tax draining timebomb. We are debating whether SSecurity can pay for our citizens let alone 25 million of our new friends and there extended families. This whole debate is rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
"You may not agree with it.I just assume have zero guest workers.But do you think it is AMNESTY?"
Not really, but I don't judge immigration reform by whether it meets the definition of one catch phrase.
No. I don't think any politicians do.
I would.
However, because I am basically a moderate centrist, I will accept Tom Tancredo's idea of attrition via the workplace.
The more I think about this immigration problem, the more I think that a "guest worker program" will be a big mistake. It was guest workers programs that got many of the European countries into the mess they are in. Once we have such a program, what is to say that the "guests" are limited to coming from Mexico and Central America?
I get what you are saying. I still support what Tancredo is doing (not necessarily to Pence if what you say is true). Push the margin to the right so when it gets whittled down it's still on the right side of the ledger.
Thanks a lot. Now I have to load the dishwasher since I lost a bet with my wife. I had Dane hitting this thread first. But noooo...LOL!
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