Posted on 08/19/2007 10:06:46 AM PDT by Dubya
WASHINGTON -- The debate over illegal immigration has ceased in Congress, but almost nowhere else.
Widespread concerns about the impact of illegal immigration on jobs, social services and national security continues to generate intense rhetoric. And some see a dark side emerging, evident in growing discrimination against Hispanics and a surge of xenophobia unseen since the last big wave of immigration in the early 20th century.
"I don't think there's been a time like this in our lifetime," said Doris Meissner of the Migration Policy Institute and former commissioner of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. "Even though immigration is always unsettling and somewhat controversial, we haven't had this kind of intensity and widespread, deep-seated anger for almost 100 years."
The Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate groups, said the number of "nativist extremist" organizations fighting illegal immigration has gone from almost zero about five years ago to 144; nine are classified as hate groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan and Aryan supremacists.
Some senators who participated in the midsummer debate over President Bush's unsuccessful immigration bill said they were barraged with some of the most venomous mail of their congressional careers. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who supported the bill legalizing undocumented immigrants, said he has received death threats.
"It is unbelievable how this has inflamed the American people," McCain said in an speech Thursday at the Aspen Institute in Colorado.
Eighty-three percent of immigrants from Mexico and 79 percent of immigrants from Central America believe that there is growing discrimination against Latin American immigrants in the United States, according to a poll conducted by the Miami-based Bendixen & Associates.
Instead of taking a downturn after the collapse of Bush's immigration overhaul in June, the debate over illegal immigration has seemingly escalated. As prospects for congressional action appeared increasingly in doubt, all 50 states and more than 75 towns and cities considered -- and in many cases enacted -- immigration restrictions, even though the courts thus far have declared such actions unconstitutional intrusions on federal responsibilities.
The slayings of three college students in Newark reignited calls for a clampdown on illegal immigration after the disclosure that one of the suspects, Jose Lachira Carranza, was an illegal immigrant from Peru who was free on bail awaiting trial on assault and child rape charges.
The case revitalized an argument made during the congressional debate that the flow of illegal immigrants, though predominated by job-seekers lured by the prospect of higher wages and better conditions, includes a criminal element.
A coalition of 15 anti-illegal-immigration groups accused Newark's and New Jersey's governments of "negligent complicity" in the deaths through inadequate law enforcement. The protest was organized by Dallas attorney David Marlett.
The Bush administration, in the absence of the sweeping overhaul sought by the president, moved this month to toughen enforcement of existing laws, threatening steeper penalties against employers and more vigorous work-site inspections.
My response to Ms. Doris Meissner; "This isn't immigration. It's invasion. Immigration is a legal process regulated by a sovereign nation. No matter what you call them, the people you refer to are not immigrants, they are illegal alien invaders not participating in any legal process."
"We, The People", are furious because our country is being invaded by illegal aliens and our government is aiding and abetting the invasion! Ms. Meissner, your comments not only identify you as part of the problem but also quite possibly a traitor aiding the invasion of your country.
Many are involved in fighting against gay marriage, but they uniformly attack the tactics of Fred Phelps and his group of wackos.
Those who attach themselves to the illegal immigration issue and use it as a means to spread a message of hatred of hispanics or other groups should also be denounced. None of these people are friends of the conservative cause.
Ditto!!!!
Response: A symptom of the underlying sickness, "debate," "Discussion," etc.
I don’t think you are entirely wrong but you are not entirely correct either. I had a Canadian pastor friend who came here on a vise and then obtained a green card. He was here legally and classfied as a “resident alien.”
Why is it divisive?
I think that our legal immigration needs a good looking at.
I agree that McCain’s campaign deserved to tank, but conservatives should uniformly denounce whenever death threats are made against a candidate. Anger is understandable, death threats are not.
This is surely correct. The progressives' faith in "multiculturalism" only masks their deep hatred for American culture: It is said to be "oppressive" and unduly "parochial" to try to "impose our values" upon other cultures.
I am very much in favor of legal immigration--but, as you indicated, with the important stipulation that immigrants should assimilate, rather than declare themselves hyphenated-Americans.
“Never have we had 80% of our immigrants, legal or not, come from one culture/race.
Never have we had immigrants, legal or not, march in our streets waving flags from their home countries demanding capitulation from our social structure and institutions.
Never have we had a group of immigrants, legal or not, demand that our government cater to them in their own language.
Never have we had so many groups of people bent on using these immigrants, legal or not, to usurp the laws of our country.
Never have we had millions of illegal aliens invade our country en masse.
Never have we had our vote diluted by the presence of illegals used in counting population and determining representation in D.C.
Never have we had our social services, hospitals and schools systems stretched to the breaking point by illegals who see no need to learn English.
Never have we had our elected officials, so intent on remaining in power, that they have chosen to ignore the needs of the many for the needs of the very few.
Never before have we been told that our patriotism and love for our country is actually a negative to our national psyche.
She is right. Never before has the melting pot been, instead, a smelting pot used to divide us so as to weaken our national spirit in the name of politics.
You nailed it, but it won’t end up in the paper or television.
Those are the ones we KNOW about!!!!
“My response to Ms. Doris Meissner; “This isn’t immigration. It’s invasion. Immigration is a legal process regulated by a sovereign nation. No matter what you call them, the people you refer to are not immigrants, they are illegal alien invaders not participating in any legal process.”
“We, The People”, are furious because our country is being invaded by illegal aliens and our government is aiding and abetting the invasion! Ms. Meissner, your comments not only identify you as part of the problem but also quite possibly a traitor aiding the invasion of your country.”
B U M P
ping
THAT should stand as their notice that AMERICANS DO NOT WANT TO GIVE ILLEGALS CITIZENSHIP OF ANY KIND!!
IF our congress critters sneak shamnesty through, we might see the lynching of Politicians in America. LOL
Both of my Senators were in my city this past week, and they both said they have had many people complaining about Congress. They are both in damage control mode. You know it's bad when they travel together, since one is a RINO and the other one is a RAT. LOL! They were both supporting amnesty in the beginning, but were bombarded so bad that they both voted against McCain/Kennedy.
Doris Meissner of the Migration Policy Institute and former commissioner of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service
The debate is escalating because its no longer just in someone else’s backyard (e.g., CA or Texas). The effects of illegal immigration are being felt everywhere now. People feel that things are changing—and not for the better. Worst of all, this is happening without a debate, without a vote, without a fight. People know it is happening because those in DC are sitting on their hands and letting it happen. People know it is happening because corporations want cheap labor while sticking the taxpayer with the consequences. People sense there are two sets of laws: one for citizens and one for illegals. People know it is happening because of a politically correct mentality gone out of control. And people know if they say something about it, they are branded as bigoted xenophobes by the very people (like Chertoff) who aren’t doing their jobs. People are afraid they are losing their country—this shining democracy will turn into a Third-world hell-hole without a shot being fired.
Have a nice day.
They never really define “racist” in exact terms.
Nice try at deflection. Or, it could be that US citizens are sick and tired of illegals feeding at the government trough, raping, murdering, robbing and killing US citizens at the highest number ever.
“I don’t think there’s been a time like this in our lifetime,” said Doris Meissner of the Migration Policy Institute and former commissioner of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. “Even though immigration is always unsettling and somewhat controversial, we haven’t had this kind of intensity and widespread, deep-seated anger for almost 100 years.”
See above retort. WTF is the “migration Policy Institute” anyway? Could they possible have an agenda?
“The Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate groups, said the number of “nativist extremist” organizations fighting illegal immigration has gone from almost zero about five years ago to 144; nine are classified as hate groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan and Aryan supremacists.”
let’s seeeeeeee how do they classify “LaRaza”?
“Some senators who participated in the midsummer debate over President Bush’s unsuccessful immigration bill said they were barraged with some of the most venomous mail of their congressional careers. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who supported the bill legalizing undocumented immigrants, said he has received death threats.
“It is unbelievable how this has inflamed the American people,” McCain said in an speech Thursday at the Aspen Institute in Colorado.”
Admitting their complete disconnect from the average American citizen. Gee.....who knew?
“Eighty-three percent of immigrants from Mexico and 79 percent of immigrants from Central America believe that there is growing discrimination against Latin American immigrants in the United States, according to a poll conducted by the Miami-based Bendixen & Associates.”
Gee, were the people, these “immigrants” illegals? Inquiring minds want to know.
“Instead of taking a downturn after the collapse of Bush’s immigration overhaul in June, the debate over illegal immigration has seemingly escalated. As prospects for congressional action appeared increasingly in doubt, all 50 states and more than 75 towns and cities considered — and in many cases enacted — immigration restrictions, even though the courts thus far have declared such actions unconstitutional intrusions on federal responsibilities.”
Thank Gawd States rights.....when FEDGOV abandons the States, the States must do what they feel necessary to protect it’s legitimate citizens.
“he slayings of three college students in Newark reignited calls for a clampdown on illegal immigration after the disclosure that one of the suspects, Jose Lachira Carranza, was an illegal immigrant from Peru who was free on bail awaiting trial on assault and child rape charges.
The case revitalized an argument made during the congressional debate that the flow of illegal immigrants, though predominated by job-seekers lured by the prospect of higher wages and better conditions, includes a criminal element.”
By sustaining an open border policy topped with eye candy to placate the masses, Government is complicit in these murders. Too many robbers, miscreants, rapists and murders are slipping through the cracks.
“The Bush administration, in the absence of the sweeping overhaul sought by the president, moved this month to toughen enforcement of existing laws, threatening steeper penalties against employers and more vigorous work-site inspections.”
Build the wall. We need a thousandfold increase of increased “inland” enforcement. Deport. Then we can talk about expansion of the TEMPORARY work Visa program. No amnesty.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.