Posted on 06/07/2006 7:46:22 AM PDT by Reaganwuzthebest
LAREDO - In a parking lot of the Border Patrol headquarters three miles from the dividing line with Mexico, President Bush on Tuesday accused his opponents in the immigration battle of stirring up fear with false claims about amnesty.
"Look, if you're one of these types of people that basically say, you know, throw them out, then you just use the word 'amnesty,' just toss it around," Bush said. "In order to frighten people, you just say 'amnesty.' "
Standing with Gov. Rick Perry after a tour of the Laredo Border Patrol Sector's video surveillance program, Bush stepped up his criticism of lawmakers back in Washington balking at his call to create a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who have lived in the country for years.
It was a fine line Bush tried to walk. Earlier in the day, at a tour of the Border Patrol training facility in New Mexico, Bush struck conciliatory tones and said both sides in the debate have more common ground than differences.
"I know when you watch your television or listen to the radio it seems like there's nothing but disagreement on immigration policy in Washington," Bush told Border Patrol agents in Artesia, N.M. "Yet there's a growing consensus ... that fundamental reforms are needed."
Looking for middle ground
Bush was in Laredo as part of a two-day trip highlighting immigration issues, as Congress prepares to iron out the differences between somewhat contradictory measures passed in the House and Senate.
"There's no question this is a difficult issue for some in Washington, D.C., but my job is to continue calling people to account," Bush said.
He supports a Senate bill that includes a guest worker program, tougher border enforcement and a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who have spent years in the U.S., with a requirement that they pay fines and back taxes and show a proficiency in English.
Both of Texas' Republican senators, Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, voted against the legislation.
"The failures of the 1986 amnesty live on today, and we will need to work very hard to avoid a repeat of those mistakes," Cornyn said Tuesday as lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill. "My hope is that this summer we'll find a middle ground solution that controls illegal immigration and addresses the 12 million illegal immigrants without granting amnesty."
Last December, the House passed a bill that would make it a felony to enter the country illegally or to help those that do. The bill would also increase border security and strictly enforce immigration laws.
To build support for his guest worker and citizenship proposals, Bush has taken a tough stand on the law and order aspects of border enforcement, including calling for more walls and fencing along heavily trafficked areas of the border.
Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Laredo, said residents in his community want protection — but not a wall.
"I think people feel that, when it comes to border security, we say 'heck yes,' " Cuellar said. "But when the discussion turns to building a wall, that's a big no."
Chatting with the locals
Laredo, with a population that is 94.9 percent Hispanic, is the most Hispanic city in the United States, according to the Census Bureau.
Cuellar said that generally, he hears support from his constituents for a requirement that new immigrants learn English. There is also concern, he says, about a threat to jobs from continued illegal immigration.
"They want a guest worker plan, but with controls," he said. "They want security, but they don't want to see Minutemen."
While in Laredo, Bush made two unscheduled stops, pulling the motorcade over on a main commercial street to visit briefly with schoolchildren, and stopping at a Mexican-style barbecue joint to meet with residents and border guards.
"¿Como estas?" Bush greeted patrons at Cotulla's, a restaurant decorated with deer heads. "You know your governor?" he asked, gesturing at Perry.
"Howdy," Perry said, greeting a family having dinner.
Such encounters, carefully planned but unannounced, are part of a larger White House strategy to remind Americans why they once liked him so much and use his personal popularity to help sell a controversial immigration program.
Ray Keck, president of Texas A&M University International in Laredo, said he supports much of Bush's plan, but thinks more economic help for Mexico also would ease illegal immigration woes.
"We are heartened by the president's plan. We must look for a policy that would allow these people to become legal, tax-paying residents, a profitable part of our national workforce," Keck said.
I'm a big fan of GW, but I have a very different view in this case.
Plain and simple, you should never reward someone for breaking the law.
These people broke the law and should get no special treatment.
If they want to become citizens of the United States then they should go back to their home country and go through the proper channels to do it legally.
Calling amnesty a "guest worker program" is just like putting ketchup on a turd. It's still a turd. And realize that we already have a guest worker program in place. That's how legal immigrants get their green card.
Secure the border
Make it not economically feasible for a business to hire an illegal
Enforce the laws on the books.
Not rocket science.
Also, why is nobody proposing a Constitutional amendment to end automatic citizenship for children born to those here illegally?
Here's your reward, Jose. It's called a lawwwwwnmower.
The vast majority of American of both parties what the same thing. Homeland Security First!
Secure and control our borders so Islamoterrorist can't smuggle a WMD into our country and kill thousands of Americans.
Homeland Security & Immigration Reform should be dealt with separately and not bundled together in an politicized "Amnesty For Votes" boondoggle on the American people.
Not true, under the Senate plan the agents are limited to checking only what the illegal alien wrote on their application and subject to a $10,000 fine if they explore deeper.
"¿Como estas?" Bush greeted patrons at Cotulla's,
"Howdy," Perry said,
Perry got it right.
Sorry Jorge, but the day you decided to give away American Citizenship to CRIMINALS, you definitely lost this American's support.
It should be a bus ticket...south.
How about calling employers who have employed multi millions of illegal aliens to count.. Duuuugh.. Thats millions with an "M", George.. By the way, wouldn't hurt to call Property Managers who Rent, and Real Estate Brokers/Agents who sell to them, to count too..
Until that happens George WERE CALLING ((YOU)) TO COUNT..
And some of the OTHER RINOs too..
You know Perry might be good for 2008.
The usualonly legally prescribed penalty for illegal entry or violating terms of a visa is removal from the United States..
Good post!
Ahhh...a Senate plan. And that is Bush's fault...how? It is not his proposal. His proposal was exactly as I outlined, so yes...what I said IS true.
Of course I didn't read it in that article. I read it in the senates bill, you know, the one they sent to the house, I read it in his speech outlining the path to citizenship. How else do you think they are going to get citizenship? By applying and waiting for it like everyone else? No, they are to be put on a fast track. Get your head out of your a** and quit being a blind follower of you elected officials. Demand they do what is right, and that is to enforce our existing laws.
As far as having to go through the same vetting procedures this is BS too. Where did YOU read that?
Send the law breaking parasites back home, where ever that is and make them apply from their home countries. NO AMNESTY. Bush and the senate need to take a constitution lesson for it is obvious they have never read the part about protecting our soveriengty.
Do you mean this part?
(e) Confidentiality of Information-
`(1) IN GENERAL- Except as otherwise provided in this section, no Federal agency or bureau, nor any officer or employee of such agency or bureau, may--
`(A) use the information furnished by the applicant pursuant to an application filed under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) for any purpose other than to make a determination on the application;
`(B) make any publication through which the information furnished by any particular applicant can be identified; or
`(C) permit anyone other than the sworn officers and employees of such agency, bureau, or approved entity, as approved by the Secretary of Homeland Security, to examine individual applications that have been filed.
`(2) REQUIRED DISCLOSURES- The Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State shall provide the information furnished pursuant to an application filed under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a), and any other information derived from such furnished information, to a duly recognized law enforcement entity in connection with a criminal investigation or prosecution or a national security investigation or prosecution, in each instance about an individual suspect or group of suspects, when such information is requested in writing by such entity.
`(3) CRIMINAL PENALTY- Any person who knowingly uses, publishes, or permits information to be examined in violation of this subsection shall be fined not more than $10,000.
I guess this means if somebody breaks in to my house in the middle of the night, they should automatically become part of my family?
"Look, if you're one of these types of people that basically say, you know, throw them out, then you just use the word 'amnesty,' just toss it around," Bush said. "In order to frighten people, you just say 'amnesty.' "
Once again the President and RNC are attacking Conservatives with nonsense like the President's remarks of yesterday. Talk about mud-slinging at your own base! Pathetic!
My e-mail to the White House after reading this article:
Mr. President,
I vehemently object to your characterization of those who oppose your plan of de facto amnesty as simply using scare tactics. You are simply digging your hole deeper. Your Republican constituency is not as stupid and the Democrats’ constituency. Your plan runs counter to fundamental principles of our nation: that we are a nation that respects the rule of law. However, it is becoming to appear that the citizens respect the law but our Government does not – and that applies to you, Congress and the judicial branch as well. Disgusting!
Those who callously ignore our laws to come here do not respect our laws, and they do not understand the importance of doing so. I find it unreasonable to believe that those who disrespected our law and willfully disobeyed would have a miraculous change of heart and somehow suddenly become trustworthy, honest and dependable citizens who would pledge uphold our laws. What good would their pledge be even if they made such a pledge? If you really believe we can depend on these people to be good citizens, you must be smoking some of the same stuff Bill Clinton smoked, and you must be ignoring the facts of local law enforcement blotters (and much of their criminal activity has been overlooked at the behest of your federal government). Unfortunately, I don’t think you really believe it. I believe you are being dishonest with, and unfair to, the honest, law-abiding, taxpaying citizens of this country. You are disrespecting those of us who voted for you and put you in office twice. In that regard, your position on immigration is disgraceful.
Your plan for de facto amnesty undermines important fundamental values and concepts that are essential to maintaining the fabric and strength of our nation. I don’t really think you understand the seething anger that the public harbors over this issue. The Republican Party will be a non-factor in national politics for the next thirty years if you get your way on this issue.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.