Posted on 06/26/2007 6:11:04 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
SALT LAKE CITY — U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales asked the nation's sheriffs Tuesday to give their support to the immigration bill in Congress, saying passage would make their jobs easier.
"The president recognizes, just as I do, the vital role many sheriffs, especially those of you in border areas, have been playing in dealing with crime associated with illegal immigration," Gonzales told the National Sheriffs' Association.
"But we recognize this issue is primarily a federal responsibility," he said.
Gonzales said the legislation would improve border security and give employers the tools to verify worker eligibility. He said the bill would bring illegal immigrants out of the shadows and make them more likely to report crimes in their communities.
"Bringing these men, women and children into the larger community will help us to address these crimes, catch the criminals, and keep all of our people, citizens and non-citizens, from being victimized," he said.
Gonzales' appearance at the convention came as the U.S. Senate voted, 64-35, to jump-start the stalled legislation, which would legalize millions of illegal immigrants. Conservative Republicans are opposed to the bill, and some lawmakers are trying to change key elements.
The attorney general said border security would improve with more fencing, larger border patrols, ground-based radar, camera towers and other strategies to help solve the problem of "catch and release."
"We hope the Senate will act on this important issue, and that your organization will encourage them to give us the tools that I believe will ultimately make your job easier," Gonzales said.
Following the 15-minute speech, reporters were not allowed to stay for a Q&A between Gonzales and the sheriffs. In that meeting, the conversation about immigration continued, said Nueces County Sheriff Jim Kaelin of Corpus Christi, Texas.
"I think he's sincere. I think he wants to do something about immigration," Kaelin said. "But this current legislation would not solve the problem."
Kaelin said stopping illegal immigration is not the primary purpose of the bill — and that needs to be addressed before a discussion about illegal immigrants who are already in the country.
He said the problem costs his office time and money. Each week, Kaelin's deputies arrest illegal immigrants who have broken other laws or stop carloads of people being transported into the country in dangerous ways.
"We are not immigration officers," he said.
The National Sheriffs' Association is not taking a position on the federal legislation. But the group says issues facing local law enforcers, as well as training for state and local officers, must be considered in any immigration overhaul.
Kaelin said stopping illegal immigration is not the primary purpose of the bill — and that needs to be addressed before a discussion about illegal immigrants who are already in the country.
Give 'em hell Jim!
Well, looking the other way generally is easier.
No question it’s going to make it easier to deal with illegals. CAUSE THERE AIN”T GOING TO BE ANY ILLEGALS,ha,ha !!!
Ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
The Senate is a vast moral wasteland. The House isn't much better.
I have not the slightest confidence in our government any longer.
It's one thing to stand up for what you know is right as an office holder. It's entirely another to force through what you know is wrong. And that's the rub. Every one of these jackasses knows it is wrong to legalize the illegal.
Our society is already course enough. If this passes, why should any citizen continue to observe any minor to mid-level laws? In the end they have every right to expect to be rewarded for criminality every bit as much as the illegal immigrant does.
Folks, do you have to struggle to make ends meet these days? If so, just rip off others. Don't pay for health insurance. Make the government pay for you. Just go to the ER every time you get a headache. Steal what you want and don't pay taxes. Don't report income. Don't do anything that would strengthen this nation. In fact, suck it dry whenever you can.
That's the only message I can derive from what is taking place in D.C.
To hell with the whole lot of them!
U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has chosen his ethnicity over his Country. He is a bigot and a traitor. He, however, will probably go down in history as a hero...in Mexico.
This POS needs a ZOT!
Kaelin says of Gonzalez, “I think he’s sincere.”
Why then did he not stage a question and answer session?
Gonzales truly demonstrates his mindset when he extolls an “easy way out.”
Gonzalez is putting out more crap than a manure spreader.
Today the Senators sold us out, Please—Please—Please dont forget this come election time.
If they dont represent us they dont deserve to be returned.
It sure will make their job easier......they won’t have to do anything.
The sheriffs can go play with their new fed toys will the former illegal aliens run amok. Thanks Jorge! Thanks Alberto!
Another disaster for the Bush presidency. The top cop who’s a LaRaza sympathizer? There’s a cancer in Washington and it’s finally metastasizing.
“Sincere” just holds no water. I bet Hitler was SINCERE. So what?
I won’t forget.
Gonzalez is perhaps the worst Attorney General ever. (Well, except for Ramsey Clark).
I thought the attorney general was suppose to ENFORCE THE LAW! Just another aztlan pusher. Useless.
Of course it will — we’ll just declare all of the criminals legal and then we can all sit around and drink coffee.
This Gov’mnt stuff ain’t so hard — they ought to make me President for life!
Just look at the twisted thinking; citizens and "non-citizens". In other words we want to protect some law breakers from other "law breakers"!
These people in D.C. have totally lost touch with reality, much less their constituency.
I am ready to take the action our Declaration of Independence gives us. The question is how and by what peaceful means do we accomplish this?
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