Quinceanera, for the Hispanically challenged, is a traditional ceremony and celebration of a girl's 15th birthday.
You're just insensitive to the needs of local public servants.
Ya got me there Brucifer.
Posted on 10/19/2006 9:53:27 PM PDT by GarySpFc
Del Rio Mayor Efrain Valdez rejoiced during his long road home last night, gratified by the response of Sen. John Cornyn to pleas opposing a physical barrier to illegal immigration.
Valdez, Assistant City Manager Billy Guerra and about forty other mayors, city officials and county judges along the U.S.-Mexico border, all members of the Texas Border Coalition (TBC), met with Cornyn in McAllen, Texas, during a two-hour meeting, Wednesday (Oct. 18). Val Verde County Mike L. Fernandez did not attend.
The TBC representatives were hosted by McAllen Mayor Richard Cortez, and the meeting at the McAllen Chamber of Commerce was orchestrated by Mike Allen, president and CEO of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation. Allen founded the now-powerful TBC group that meets regularly on a variety of issues facing border communities.
The proposed border wall along the Rio Grande has grown in popularity among congress members in Washington, D.C., but has horrified government, business and civic leaders in communities from El Paso to Brownsville.
“But our meeting was very productive,” enthused Valdez during a LIVE! telephone interview Wednesday afternoon. “I’m very happy about the meeting; it turned out super good, because we have a promise from Senator Cornyn that, because there’s been no money appropriated for the fence, that before it is, our recommendations will be heard.”
Valdez chairs the TBC Immigration Committee, so he introduced the topic to Cornyn saying the organization recognizes the urgency of slowing illegal immigration, but prefers a “virtual” barrier, one that would rely on much-increased Border Patrol presence and electronic surveillance, rather than an imposing, physical wall.
“We said we were in favor of a virtual fence, and asked the senator to take the extra money [that would be saved] and put more manpower with the Border Patrol, the Ports of Entry, and more equipment for both,” explained Valdez.
Valdez said the question was put to Cornyn, “Why is it that here in Texas we have only 12,000 Border Patrol Agents spread out over 2,000 miles of border, but there are 40,000 police protecting New York City.”
The group also reported that funding should be available to put existing detection and deterrent equipment in working order. “We know only 86 percent of the equipment works, so the Border Patrol is telling us that they have equipment, but it’s not operational,” Valdez said.
“Senator Cornyn promised they would not put in a single inch of physical fence until they have heard all our concerns in Washington, and he said it would not be difficult to change this focus from a physical fence to a ‘virtual’ fence,” Valdez said.
Valdez admitted, “There are examples of places in Arizona where this kind of barrier may be needed, but not here in Texas,” adding, “Everybody at the meeting, from El Paso to Brownsville, said that what we need is not a physical fence.”
Valdez may be asked to travel to hearings on the subject in Washington, and Cornyn said he’d be invited if necessary as the senator takes his recommendations to the last legislative session in November following the upcoming elections. But Cornyn also reminded TBC members that Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison also opposes the proposed wall barrier.
According to Valdez, Hutchison “met” with TBC during a September meeting via teleconference call, and pledged her support to halt plans for a physical wall.
Media coverage at the McAllen meeting was aggressive, said Valdez. Following the meeting, leaders adjourned to a press conference attended by the San Antonio Express-News editorial board, and Mexican broadcast media, Univision and Telemundo.
Valdez said TBC will follow the issue in the Nation’s capitol closely, and he will keep constituents here equally informed.
What's with Cornyn ..?? I thought he was a real rising star when he went to the senate.
“Senator Cornyn promised they would not put in a single inch of physical fence until they have heard all our concerns in Washington, and he said it would not be difficult to change this focus from a physical fence to a ‘virtual’ fence,” Valdez said."
Well, the Senator may not think that a physical fence won't get built, but my checkbook will prove him wrong. Let the "virtual fence" be a redundance.
Contact info for Senator Cornyn here:
http://cornyn.senate.gov/index.asp?f=contact&lid=1
You can fill out a contact e-mail form if you like.
The Mexican drug lords are in charge on both sides of the border. They have money for payoffs and will pay if need be. Everyone knows that this area is the gateway for drugs into the U.S. There will be no fence in this area.
He blows with the wind. If it is popular...votes...money...Don't forget he was one of the first with a guest worker program, amnesty.
Just follow the $$$. The "economic development councils" and "border coalitions" have been sucking back cash over and under the table for way too long. Turn over that rock and the roaches will swarm in all directions.
Is there some way to remove him from the Senate?
You're just mean. Just put yourself in the other guy's shoes. If you were say, the Hidalgo county sheriff, and you had to get $10,000 for your daughter's quinciera, you'd probably have no where else to turn except a Mexican drug lord. You're just insensitive to the needs of local public servants.
(I think I spelled quinciera right)
I can't freaking stand it anymore!!!!!!! The corruption of our goverment is so flagrant! I feel like they are laughing at us right in our faces, like too bad, you can't touch me. What in the world happened? Where is our pride? It's gone, for the mighty buck and power. My theory on the immigration thing is, the goverment has absolutely no fiscal control of themselves, they have screwed up SS so bad and they need money NOW, by having a guest worker program, they will add 15 million workers immediately to tax, just so they can keep their heads above water. They are looking for a quick fix instead of showing some restraint, not even looking 10 years down the road.
Can you be a little more specific as to exactly who is being bribed by the drug cartels?
"I can't freaking stand it anymore!!!!!!! The corruption of our goverment is so flagrant! I feel like they are laughing at us right in our faces, like too bad, you can't touch me. What in the world happened? Where is our pride? It's gone, for the mighty buck and power. My theory on the immigration thing is, the goverment has absolutely no fiscal control of themselves, they have screwed up SS so bad and they need money NOW, by having a guest worker program, they will add 15 million workers immediately to tax, just so they can keep their heads above water. They are looking for a quick fix instead of showing some restraint, not even looking 10 years down the road."
Hey, I'm with you...they've got us backed into a corner, but that comment will getcha at least 10 more threads today from the Get Out and Vote Republican OR ELSE campaign ;)
Time to do some research into TBC, opposition for those who are FOR effective border security and against any amnesty.
I'd like to know where Cornyn gets off making ANY promises to them?
"Media coverage at the McAllen meeting was aggressive, said Valdez. Following the meeting, leaders adjourned to a press conference attended by the San Antonio Express-News editorial board, and Mexican broadcast media, Univision and Telemundo."
??? aggressive?
"Time to do some research into TBC, opposition for those who are FOR effective border security and against any amnesty."
http://www.borderfest.org/Border%20Texan%2006.html
http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2003/11/prweb88072.htm
*ping*
NAU at work?
http://www.medc.org/newsletter/internal.aspx?sid=0&ArticleID=2277&iid=281
McAllen, TX-After a year-long effort led by Mayor Leo Montalvo and McAllen City Commissioner Carlos Garza, whereby they directed the McAllen Economic Development Corporation and the McAllen Chamber of Commerce to spearhead an effort to allow Mexican laser visa holders parity with Canada under the US VISIT program a glimmer of hope for parity is beginning to come through. Asa Hutchinson, the Homeland Security department's undersecretary for border and transportation announced the expansion for Mexican laser visa visitors to the United States to 30 days rather than the 72-hour limit. Although we are pleased that the Department of Homeland Security is taking this first step in the right direction, we need to continue to call for full parity with Canada.
According to Mayor Montalvo, “This action is a step – it is not a solution to the problem. We are cautiously optimistic and will continue to ask for full parity with Canada who can stay in the United States for 6 months. The final solution to the problem is equal treatment – the same treatment that our Canadian friends receive. By extending the time that Mexican nationals can stay in the United States, our government is admitting that there was something wrong with the current system. And while they have given us a little relief, this is not a long term solution to either our security concerns or our long term immigration policy. Mike Allen, President of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation stated, “"By changing the 3-day rule to 30-days, our government is admitting that something was obviously wrong with the current system. Our next step is change the 30-day rule to 6 months, so that both our borders are treated equally."
Leo Montalvo, Mayor McAllen; Beto Salinas, Mayor of Mission; Richard Garcia, Mayor of Edinburg; Eddie Trevino, Mayor of Brownsville; Dennis Nixon, Chairman of the Alliance for Security and Trade and President of International Bank of Commerce; Judge Nelson Wolfe of Bexar County, Gordon Quan; Councilman from Houston; and Mike Allen, President and CEO of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation went to Washington to meet with representatives of Homeland Security and other officials key to the U.S. VISIT two weeks prior to this announcement.
It must be recognized that SENATOR JOHN CORNYN was instrumental in the placement of legislation before Congress to change the timeframe allowed for holders of the Mexican Laser Visa and has been supportive of the U.S./Mexico border’s stance on this issue. He has been responsive to the needs of the border and understands the necessity of making Mexican visitors feel welcome in the United States. McAllen and the other cities will continue to work toward complete parity with Canada on this issue.
THE WHOLE NATIONAL ECONOMY DEPENDS ON THE FREE FLOW OF GOODS AND PEOPLE. Foreign visitors enter the United States at land ports – the delays at border crossings will have serious consequences and will destroy the economic progress created by NAFTA. This first step will send the message to Mexico that McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley are supportive of the needs of Mexico and have gone the extra mile to support those needs."
Thanks for the post. This was a big to do in McAllen about 2 or 3 years ago. However, everyone knows that the visas are not checked at the border when crossing into Mexico. So it doesn't make any difference if the visas are for 3 days, 30 days, or 30 years. John Cornyn pushed this bill of 30 days and is also pushing for 6 months.
I wrote John Cornyn asking for equal treatment of U.S. taxpayer from Mexico. Since Canada pays the hospital and doctors bills for Canadian citizens, shouldn't Mexico pay for the treatment of Mexican citizens healthcare costs. Needless to say, he never answered.
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