Posted on 06/05/2006 1:23:58 PM PDT by JulieRNR21
Friday, June 02, 2006 Immigration Reform Requires Securing Our Borders First
Katherine Harris
Immigration reform is the most pressing issue facing our country today. As a nation of laws, we can ill afford our borders to be operated as though under a state of lawlessness. The rule of law must be enforced - and securing our borders is one of our highest priorities in the post-9/11 environment.
Law-abiding U.S. citizens traveling from one city in our own country to another on a commercial airliner face greater scrutiny than those crossing our borders. Absent securing our borders, terrorists seeking ill-will against our citizens find greater opportunities of entry and illegals pouring across our border continue to further strain our social and economic systems.
In the interest of our national and economic security, our ports and borders must be protected first.
Next, Florida requires a labor force that meets the demands for our agricultural, construction, and tourism-related industries. However, this work-force must be temporary, legal, and have secure identification that cannot be replicated. My bill, the North American Cooperative Security Act calls for such i.d. through biometrics as well as greater interdiction coordination with Canadian and Mexican officials prior to illegal crossings.
Consider how a doctor addresses a patient arriving at a hospital with a bleeding wound and a broken arm. The doctor treats the emergency first and stops the bleeding, then stabilizes the vital organs before setting the broken arm. Our national emergency or "bleeding wound" is the over 2,000 illegals crossing our border every day.
I voted in favor of the House of Representatives Immigration Reform bill to secure our borders that passed the House last year. I voted against the provision in the bill which burdens taxpayers by making felons of 12 million illegals and places them in our already costly and crowded prisons. Nevertheless, this bill addresses the most important issue in the immigration debate: securing our borders.
Once we secure our borders and temporary labor issues we can re-address the important issue of citizenship in a thoughtful, careful analysis without the emotionally-heated politics of an election year resulting in enormous mistakes and unintended consequences.
Amnesty should never be a part of an immigration bill. Rewarding those who entered our country illegally unintensionally encourages others to follow suit and sends the wrong message to those who follow our legal process.
Securing our borders is an emergency. Providing a legal temporary workforce is urgent. Citizenship for illegals is neither an emergency nor is it an urgent matter.
As the House and Senate work toward final agreement on this issue, I believe we must put politics aside and do what is right for our country, our security, and our economy.
We must stop the bleeding by protecting our borders and create secure identification for a temporary, legal workforce now.
BUMP
Nice press release, but could those jobs in construction be opened back up to Americans?
Atta girl. Step into that giant Rino sized whole to the right and play it for all its worth.
Sad to see them concede the opprtunity for the congressional seat. (and upgrading the "image" of female congress critters...)
Excerpt:
Amnesty should never be a part of an immigration bill. Rewarding those who entered our country illegally unintensionally encourages others to follow suit and sends the wrong message to those who follow our legal process.
Securing our borders is an emergency. Providing a legal temporary workforce is urgent. Citizenship for illegals is neither an emergency nor is it an urgent matter.
As the House and Senate work toward final agreement on this issue, I believe we must put politics aside and do what is right for our country, our security, and our economy.
We must stop the bleeding by protecting our borders and create secure identification for a temporary, legal workforce now.
BTTT
Has Nelson been consistent in his opposition to illegal immigration?
How did he vote on the wall bill? How did he vote on the English bill? How did he vote on the amendment that would have prohibited social security benefits to illegals?
Um, why does "this work force" have to be temporary? Us citizens were tending fields, building houses, and staffing hotels for oh, about 2 or 3 centuries before the current invasion got under way.
There isn't any need for either mass immigration or even guest worker programs. Let these industries compete for citizen labor as they have in the past. Well, maybe not all of the past in the South....
"My bill, the North American Cooperative Security Act"
Uh oh...
"calls for such i.d. through biometrics"
Whatever...
""as well as greater interdiction coordination with Canadian and Mexican officials prior to illegal crossings.""
Huh?
I can't tell, but maybe she's trying to get some Bush Family or RNC money support by indicating she's moved toward them since her House vote.
Confusing press release.
If Jeb thinks Harris is such a horrible candidate, he should have run himself. Since he didn't, he should shut up.
I agree with that K Harris is the real deal,big time.
I know she is totally pro illegal amnesty. The amnesty bill she co-sponsored did not call for securing the nation's border first. Now when it's politically convenient she's a security first advocate.
"Florida requires a labor force that meets the demands for our agricultural, construction, and tourism-related industries."
There's the message right there. Wage depression policy for selected industries donating to her campaign.
Or not donating so she's flipping to solicit some money. Selling herself off like a lot of Senators.
Vanity: I'd rather buy her than Uncle Teddy
I just listened to Rove on Hannity's show and I can tell, the administration STILL DOES NOT GET IT. He was talking crap about the presidents plan "not being amnesty". Bull shiite! Go Katherine show these misguided fools they're wrong!
Gotta agree with that.
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