Posted on 11/28/2006 8:05:55 AM PST by meg88
IMMIGRATION Colorado congressman calls Miami a 'Third World country' A critic of citizenship opportunities for illegal immigrants says 'Third World' Miami shows America's future if immigration isn't checked. BY LESLEY CLARK lclark@MiamiHerald.com
WASHINGTON - Rep. Tom Tancredo, the leader of the anti-illegal immigration faction in the U.S. House, spent a recent weekend at The Breakers in Palm Beach.
Ninety miles to the south, he found a symbol to bolster his belief that unfettered immigration is endangering the United States: Miami, he told a conservative online news site, ``has become a Third World country.''
In South Florida to attend Restoration Weekend, a gathering of conservative activists, the Colorado Republican, whose district includes suburbs of Denver, pointed to Miami as an example of how ''the nature of America can be changed by uncontrolled immigration,'' the story says.
''Look at what has happened to Miami,'' the WorldNetDaily quotes Tancredo as saying in an interview. ``It has become a Third World country. You just pick it up and take it and move it someplace. You would never know you're in the United States of America. You would certainly say you're in a Third World country.''
The remarks drew an instant rebuke from Miami Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who called Tancredo ''flat out wrong'' and extended an invitation for him to come and judge the city for himself.
''I invite my friend, Tom, to visit beautiful Miami, my hometown, and experience firsthand our hospitality,'' Ros-Lehtinen said. ``Come on down, Tom, the water's fine!''
Miami, Ros-Lehtinen said, is a ``world-class city where diversity is celebrated. Here people have the opportunity to meet folks from across the globe and honor different cultures. Miami-Dade County is home to many outstanding universities, is headquarters to international businesses and has a vibrant economy.''
Tancredo, who chairs the bipartisan House Immigration Reform Caucus and championed a fence along the border with Mexico, said Monday in an e-mail sent by his office that his comparison was based on crime statistics he believes ``are deeply rooted in the immigration debate.
''While a recent documentary comparison of Miami-Dade County to Baghdad was a bit of an overstatement,'' he wrote, referring to an Australian documentary, ``no one can argue that it is not one of America's most dangerous areas.''
He noted in the e-mail that the number of homicides in the county recently reached 200 for the year. The number is actually a decrease from the 1980s.
''Moreover, the sheer size and number of ethnic enclaves devoid of any English and dominated by foreign cultures is widespread,'' Tancredo said in the statement. ``Frankly, many of these areas could have been located in another country. And until America gets serious about demanding assimilation, this problem will continue to spread.''
Tancredo didn't visit Miami on the Nov. 18-19 trip, but has visited before, a spokesman said. And, if Ros-Lehtinen's invitation includes ''a stay at a five-star beachfront resort, he may be willing to look beyond the inherent dangers that he had cited and visit Miami again,'' his spokesman said.
Tancredo, who has been mentioned as a potential presidential contender, criticized President Bush in the interview for Bush's push for comprehensive immigration reform.
''He is going to do what he can to create a place where the idea of America is just that -- it's an idea,'' Tancredo said. ``It's not an actual place defined by borders. I mean this is where this guy is really going.''
And some people actually think this guy can be president? Good luck with that.
Been there. Miami is very much like a Third World country.
That will really help his run for the White House. *eyes roll*
Tancredo does not have the sense to limit his rhetoric. As a result, he stands no chance at ever being elected to a national office.
Agreeded, yet the truth hurts ambitions
Miami is the porn movie-making capital of the South, so it's got that goin' for it...
Rep Tancredo would be well advised to making such comments about communities in Southern California rather than Miami, Forida where they have a Republican Representative. In So Cal the Dems would welcome such remarks as true as they want the state to become like a third world country.
You would never know it by the incredible rise in the price of real estate down there.
and again Tancredo shows us that no matter what truth or how much truth his comments may or may not have, he is completely and totally unprepared to deliver them in an effective manner.
Actually I'm glad this nutcase is saying things like this. This way we will get his non-starting Presidential campaign out of the way before the end of 2007....
Works for me. Never go there unarmed.
I think that the statement "Miami is a third world country" is innaccurate, but the point is reasonably close.
He would be better talking about how to fix the problem, and not just fences, but a whole range of solutions from a web verification of citizenship, to punishing companies that hire illegals, to punishing states that cater to illegals, to punishing illegals, to punishing Mexico for sending them here and not providing a free democracy.
There are plenty of solutions that can be discussed.
Attacking a huge city in a key state is not how to do it.
Who needs Florida's electoral votes anyway?
oh what the hell....I went to college at the U of Miami from '75 to '81. Lived in Coconut Grove, Miami,Ft Lauderdale etc and the Cubans from Miami are flat out AWESOME . I mean awesome. They are truth tellers,reverent and believe in the great ole US of A. Til my grave,I'm greatful for my Cuban neighbors and their wise offered "hands up" to me as a punk growing up.
Tancredo proves once again he's not ready for prime time.
He's right. Everytime somebody tells me they are driving to Miami I tell them to remember their passport.
miami has its nice parts and its ghettos, no different than any other city in america. ive been to miami and i think philadelphia is more of a third world country.
not a very wise thing to say.
From what I've been told, the Haitian areas of Miami are a lot safer than neighborhoods like Liberty City, where the population is mainly native-born African-American.
If true, this factoid would seem to undermine Tancredo's argument with finality.
Especially when renting a car there.
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