Posted on 07/07/2006 7:27:48 AM PDT by ZGuy
CALDWELL, Idaho (AP) -- U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, has sponsored legislation that would allow illegal immigrants who have worked in agriculture in the U.S. for at least three years to remain as temporary workers.
But not everyone agreed with Craig's bill at a town hall meeting on Wednesday at Albertson College of Idaho.
"Get them out!" shouted some of the 70 people who attended the meeting.
"We may disagree on how the problem gets solved," Craig told the crowd, "but I'm hell-bent to solve it."
Craig talked about the war in Iraq and salmon recovery, but illegal immigration became the main topic.
Helen McClain and her sister, Wanda, attended the event wearing shirts that said "Stop Illegal Immigration."
"I speak for millions of people," Helen McClain told the Idaho Press-Tribune. "America is very mad."
"I don't disagree with your anger and frustration," Craig told the audience.
Under proposed legislation, illegal immigrants would be fined and have to go through a background check. The U.S. would deport convicted felons, but would issue a "blue card" for immigrants who have been in the country for three or more years.
"We need a legal, controlled immigrant work force in our nation," Craig said.
But some people in the crowd told Craig that U.S. citizens lose jobs to undocumented workers.
"And that's wrong," Craig said. "That's why we need a legal work force."
Other concerns among crowd members were that the National Guard would not be able to stop illegal immigrants at the border, that illegal immigrants were overcrowding schools, and that the blue card program was confusing.
"Eight million illegals is proof it doesn't work," said Craig of the current immigration system.
But he said illegal immigration to the U.S. was being caused by a U.S. economy that provided illegal immigrants a place to find jobs.
"When somebody's struggling to put food in their family's mouths, you can't build a wall high enough," Craig said.
Pro-Amnesty Larry Craig Gets an Earful on Immigration from Voters
"Get them out!"
That's the refrain angry constituents yelled at Sen. Larry Craig (R.-Idaho) for his legislation that would allow immigrants who have worked illegally in agricutural business for at least three years to stay as legal temporary workers.
Roughly 70 people convened at a townhall meeting at Albertson College of Idaho today and immigration concerns overrode discussions on the war in Iraq and other issues sensitive to Idaho. An AP report from Caldwell, Idaho said Craig told them, "I don't disagree with your anger and frustration," but continued to try to get support for a guest worker program anyway.
Some audience members decried that U.S. citizens were losing their jobs to illegal workers. To those constituents Craig illogically countered "That's why we need a legal work force"--as if a legal class of temporary workers working for less than American workers would somehow save American jobs.
ping
The senators are taking it in the shorts. GOOD!!
IBTOBL
This Craig guy is totally in bed with the potato plantations isn't he.
Hello? There's that many in California alone.
No AMNESTY for criminals.
ping
The Almighty Senator gets an earful from Average Citizens, not the Rich, greedy GOP Check Pants Republicians.
"When somebody's struggling to put food in their family's mouths, you can't build a wall high enough," Craig said
Hey Craig, Thats METICO"S problem not the Taxpayers of America.
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