Posted on 05/25/2007 5:14:56 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Conservative Republicans working to block a compromise immigration bill risk endorsing a "silent amnesty" by insisting on unfeasible mass deportations, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in an interview published on Thursday.
In remarks to USA Today, Chertoff also criticized liberal immigrant rights advocates, saying they could prolong the anguish of immigrant families by withholding support for legislation that could give them legal status.
Chertoff spoke to the newspaper's editorial board in a preview of a Bush administration media campaign to build support of broad immigration legislation being debated by the U.S. Senate, USA Today said.
The compromise bill brokered between the White House and a bipartisan group of senators ties tough border security and work place enforcement measures to the guest worker program and a plan to legalize an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants.
The measure has drawn criticism from many quarters and its fate in the Senate is uncertain.
The bill has been criticized for placing new limits on family-based immigration and conservative Republicans oppose the legalization program saying it would reward people who broke U.S. laws.
Chertoff acknowledged there is "a fundamental unfairness" in legislation that permits illegal immigrants to remain in the United States but said trying to force them to leave would be impossible, USA Today reported.
"We are bowing to reality," Chertoff said.
He dismissed the position of some opponents who argue that illegal immigrants will leave if strict enforcement of U.S. laws makes it impossible for them to find a job.
"You're not going to replace 12 million people who are doing the work they're currently doing," Chertoff said. "If they don't leave, then you are going to give them silent amnesty. You're either going to let them stay or you're going to be hypocritical."
Chertoff warned there would be more mass roundups of illegal workers if the workers do not get a chance to become legal.
"We're going to enforce the law," he said. "People all around the country will be seeing teary-eyed children whose parents are going to be deported."
© Reuters 2007.
” insisting on unfeasible mass deportations,”
Chertoff is a tool.
>>”We are bowing to reality,” Chertoff said.<<
No you’re not. Insanity is continuing to do the same thing and expecting a different result.
“mass roundups?” Bet you $100 Chertoff, it’ll never happen. In fact, it doesn’t even have to happen. Start prosecuting those who HIRE illegals, and guess what, they’ll self-deport, because there won’t be any work. And yes, plan on the price of lettuce going up. BFD
dEPORT!
Now that's funny!
Is he sure he doesn’t want to call us a bunch of nazis insisting on genocide?
That was in a different interview, this is Chertoff's kinder, gentler side.
‘...trying to force them to leave would be impossible,”
However, if employers would be fined $500,000 for hiring illegal labor and the second infraction would carry a jail sentence of one year, I don’t think we’d have to force them to leave. They would not be hired anywhere, and of course, it goes without saying that NO social services should be granted to those here illegally. The Catholic Church would be even more broke if it tried supporting all the illegals who were unemployed.
Lying treasonous POS.
If we can send Americans to the moon we can surely send some Mexicans to MEXICO!!
“Chertoff warned there would be more mass roundups of illegal workers if the workers do not get a chance to become legal.”
Can we count on that?
And pray why should we care about the anguish of criminals when they are caught?
Then their parents should take them with them, right, Mike?
This guy needs to go pick lettuce...he shouldn't be in a position of power.
Chertoff sucks rocks!
Silent amnesty is what we have NOW, Chertoff! Someone pull the life support on this bozo.
They are holding “mass deportations” up as some kind of bogeyman to shut off argument.
Its a straw-bogeyman.
Secure the border, so that you cut off the flow of new border-jumpers, and enforce the law. You’ll have, not “mass deportations”, but a slow-but-steady flow of home-goers who are deporting themselves as their options here dry up.
It won’t happen over night, but if you stop the constant influx it doesn’t matter if it takes a year or 5 years, the key is securing the border and stopping the newcomers. Do that, and the rest will take care of itself. This isn’t as big a deal as they make it out to be.
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