Posted on 02/22/2008 8:40:31 AM PST by AuntB
Congressman Chris Cannon said the states shouldn't be dealing with immigration reform. "It's a federal problem," he said Wednesday in a meeting with the editorial board of The Salt Lake Tribune. He said he realizes the federal government needs to find a solution.
Cannon, a six-term Republican, pointed to the December 2006 immigration raids at Swift meat-packing plants, including one in Hyrum, Utah, calling them "inappropriate." Some 150 Latino undocumented workers at the Hyrum plant were arrested and many were deported.
He characterized the move as political. "The Republicans planned it for October so they could say 'Vote for me, I'm tough on immigration.' But then it didn't happen until December, so they ruined people's Christmas," said Cannon.
What also angered him was the fact that before the raid Swift had been fined $200,000 for "asking too many questions of Hispanics" and instead tried to use the federal Basic Employment Verification Pilot Program to attempt to identify undocumented workers.
They were raided anyway, and it cost them $30 million, he said.
Cannon brought up this fact to Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff when Cannon visited the U.S.-Mexico border last summer.
The reply he received from Chertoff? "That program doesn't work," said Cannon, adding he was shocked at the response.
Cannon worries that raiding only certain businesses, and often putting them out of business, will lead to graft.
"Arbitrary, capricious enforcement of a law results inexorably in corruption," he said.
But Cannon also is cautious to implement a program that does work, such as fingerprint identification for any job applicants, because it could infringe on civil liberties.
"Do we want to identify them? Then we would paralyze business," he said.
He worries about "shutting out" the 14 million or so undocumented workers from the economy.
"Do we want to keep them out of Wal-Mart? From buying shoes at the mall? From buying homes?" he asked. "We shouldn't destroy the economy by removing them from the economy."
Cannon was a key supporter of President Bush's failed immigration-reform proposal, which would have established a pathway to citizenship for undocumented workers.
YES, YES, and HELL YES. F*#k this guy and the horse he rode in on.
Damn Fools.
Any excuse—ANY BLEEPING EXCUSE WHATSOEVER to excuse not doing their goddamn jobs!
We are SICK AND TIRED of this BS.
This goes for Juan McNutt, too!
The states have to do something because they are effected first and the feds certainly don't compensate the states for all the costs of the illegals.
As more and more states pass illgal imigrant laws, the illegals will relocate to states with fewer laws........ and pretty soon the thing will snowball and the feds will be left in the dust.
This a “pass the buck” response from Cannon. We can’t do it, the feds should do it. Someone plase do it, just don’t ask us to do it.....
YES, YES, and HELL YES. F*#k this guy and the horse he rode in on.
And I guess Dumbas* Cannon is a McCain supporter
Everything except national security should be the states’ job.
It IS the state’s responsibility. For too many years states have ridden the federal governments gravy train. Federal funds in exchange for federal dominance. I would love to see us return to the limited government constitution. If you do not agree with a state’s rules, move and they will change according to market forces. Are the strains of the Constitution becoming louder and more clear?
This POS has been in for SIX TERMS!! He’s an embarrassment to the state of Utah, why don’t they throw the bastard out? I’ll tel you. Because not enough Mormons are bothered by the Invasion by Mexico. It’s a cultural thing. They probably want to CONVERT them, as many Mexicans in Mexico apparently have been so converted to Mormonism. In other words, Mormons don’t see them as “lawbreakers” but rather as future members of their religion...
This is the only thing I agree with him on. Securing our borders is one of the few things the Federal Goverment SHOULD do. Instead, they spend their time, energy and resources on things they SHOULDN't do.
All legal of course because its already illegal to be illegal aliens.. They raise hell about smoke alarms why not illegal aliens.. Those illegals can kill you too..
Time to fire the Cannon again. Looks like in 2006 we tried to but the shills here (later turned out to be Rudybots) stopped it.
We tried to in 2006 but got drowned out. Do a search for Cannon in 2006. The threads then were very chaotic.
Mr. Cannon: The Federal Government has abandoned the position of controller of our borders and protector of our sovereignty. They have walked away from the job. The several states have no choice but to defend themselves.
We need to keep this article bookmarked for the next time Cannon runs. Last time he won by pretending to be strong on immigration, which was a lie. He didn’t learn a thing.
No true. The people of this state are furious about illegal immigration. There’s a bill in the legislature now. Cannon shifted his position during the last election. He got a strong challenge from a unknown who was attacking him on immigration.
This should be what really angers him, not what also angers him.
The PC feel-good crowd should not be able to sue or fine businesses because requests for documentation to show they are in the country legally makes certain ethnic groups feel uncomfortable.
It is not about feelings and comfort, dammit, it is about national security! It is not about making certain ethnic groups feel unwelcome or uncomfortable, it is about enforcing the law.
Could I refuse to respond to an IRS letter or questions because it makes me feel uncomfortable? Dealing with these SOBs makes me feel uncomfortable. Can I sue them because I think they are targeting me as a legal American citizen?
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