Posted on 05/06/2008 12:20:54 PM PDT by Delacon
Senate Republicans are set to announce Wednesday the hardest-hitting package of immigration enforcement measures seen yet -- one that would require jail time for illegal immigrants caught crossing the border, make it harder for them to open bank accounts and compel them to communicate in English when dealing with federal agencies.
Most of the bills stand little chance of being debated in the Democrat-controlled Congress, but the move by some of the Senate's leading Republicans underscores how potent the issue of immigration remains, particularly during a presidential election year.
The bills give Republicans a way to put pressure on the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates to take a tougher stance on immigration. They also reflect a shift toward harsher immigration rhetoric and legislative proposals from both parties since Congress failed to pass a comprehensive overhaul in 2007.
The package, an enforcement smorgasbord assembled by at least eight lawmakers, consists of 11 bills, but could expand to include as many as 14. Some elements echo House bills, but others go beyond House proposals.
One would discourage states from issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants by docking 10 percent of highway funding from states that continue to do so. Another would extend the presence of National Guard on the border and a third would end language assistance at federal agencies and the voting booth for people with limited English ability.
A bill by Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., who is leading the effort, would impose a maximum two-year jail sentence on someone caught crossing the border for a second time.
"The point is to reinforce the idea that most of us here feel that we need to make enforcement and border security a first step to solving the overall problem," said Sen. David Vitter, R-La., one of the sponsors.
Although Congress usually avoids tough legislation during an election year, Vitter insisted that he and his colleagues could still get something done. "There are concrete steps we can take. None of us see any reason to waste this time," he said.
Other bills in the package would:
Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the Republican proposal "falls far short of what is needed." Democrats want to combine enforcement with a guest-worker program and a way to deal with the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants. Reid "continues to support legislation that is tough on people who break the law, fair to taxpayers and practical to implement," Manley said.
But Democrats also have begun embracing a tougher stance on immigration as well. A confidential study assembled for the Democratic leadership earlier this year urged them to start using tougher language. Democrats have focused on offering opportunity to immigrants, but the study by two think tanks urged them to begin speaking in terms of "requiring" illegal immigrants to become legal and about what's best for the United States.
Many House Democrats have gone a step further, endorsing an enforcement-only bill by freshman Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina that would bolster border security and require employers to verify their workers' legal status with an electronic verification system.
The SAVE Act has drawn 140 co-sponsors, 48 of whom are Democrats, many of them vulnerable freshman who won seats from Republicans.
The Democratic leadership dislikes Shuler's bill and has refused to schedule a debate. Republican leaders are considering collecting signatures for a special petition that requires House leaders to bring a bill up for debate if 218 members sign. There are 198 Republicans.
Angela Kelley, director of the Immigration Policy Center, said Senate Republicans might be trying to match their House colleagues. "They might feel they're being upstaged by House Republicans," she said. But she also suggested the Senate bills could provide political protection to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the likely GOP presidential nominee.
Conservatives consider Republican front-runner McCain soft on immigration. McCain, along with the Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, has backed giving illegal immigrants some form of legal status, which conservatives consider "amnesty."
If McCain endorsed the Senate package, that could "create a platform for McCain to look tough on immigration, create distance from Ted Kennedy and erect a shield around the amnesty charge," Kelley said.
Besides Sessions and Vitter, the bills are being introduced by GOP Sens. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, John Barrasso of Wyoming, Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, Jim DeMint of South Carolina, Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina, Pete V. Domenici of New Mexico, James M. Inhofe of Oklahoma and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.
(US Attorney Chistopher)Christie: Immigrants are not criminals ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2007872/posts
04/27/2008 8:56:09 PM PDT · by Eric Blair 2084 · 48 replies · 1,222+ views
The Star Ledger ^ | April 27, 2008 | Julie O’Connor
Immigrants and their advocates today found an unlikely ally: the top law enforcement officer in New Jersey. “Being in this country without proper documentation is not a crime,” Christie told more than 60 residents and town officials. “The whole phrase of ‘illegal immigrant’ connotes that the person, by just being here, is committing a crime.” Being undocumented may be a civil wrong, but it’s not a criminal act, Christie said. “Don’t let people make you believe that that’s a crime that the U.S. Attorney’s Office should be doing something about,” he added of entering the country illegally. “It is not.”...
Top N.J. federal prosecutor: Being undocumented not a crime (it’s a civil offense, don’tcha know?)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2008239/posts
Monday, April 28, 2008 12:52:01 PM · by NormsRevenge · 18 replies · 582+ views
AP on yahoo ^ | 4/28/08 | AP
DOVER, N.J. - New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor told a Latino group that it is a civil offense — not a crime — for immigrants to live in the country without proper documentation. In response to a question on illegal immigration at an open forum Sunday that grew heated, U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie said living in the United States without immigration paperwork is “an administrative matter” that federal immigration officials are supposed to address. “Don’t let people make you believe that that’s a crime that the U.S. Attorney’s Office should be doing something about,” Christie was quoted as saying in...
this is crazy. how about enforcing the laws we ALREADY have ???
Everything is fine except for the requiring jail time. They cost us enough already. Ship them back and drop them in Mexico, then build the fence a little higher so they can't come back.
Bastards.
Jeff Sessions is a hero for our times. I am appreciative of his efforts and hold him in the highest esteem.
He’s been incredible and a real leader throughout the illegal immigration problem.
That's what the law is now!
“Any alien who (1) enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers, or (2) eludes examination or inspection by immigration officers, or (3) attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact, shall, for the first commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both, and, for a subsequent commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18, or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.”
I agree. It's a meaningless gesture, and I'm surprised Jeff Sessions would lend his name to it.
The GOP congressional re-election campaign platform is “Mexicans and Queers”.
Might not be a fed crime to cross illegally but, here’s something that is and most do it.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/usc_sec_18_00001028——000-.html
Close the border. Can it be any easier than that!
“03-05-2008 That’s a lifetime ago it seems.”
I think I really screwed up. This is posted both on Gwinnett and HSToday today 5/6 but it appears to be an article from 3/5/08. Why both sites would post an article today from back then, I don’t know. I just cut and pasted the original date attached to the article on both sites without noticing it wasn’t todays date. My apologies to all.
Unlike McCain, who keeps urging Republicans not to be tough on immigration, and who did not vote for the Sessions amendment. "Staight talk express" notwithstanding, McCain promised to secure the border first and now he is running away from any meaningful enforcement.
This bill(s) is a complete waste of time. They had years under Bush with a clear majority to get the job done. Did they?
All but one foot of the Titanic is under water, and these nit-wits are holding court to avoid the next iceberg.
Throw McCain off the damn ship, and let's get on with the program of nominating someone Conservatives can get behind.
Either that or we are headed into the abyss.
What a bunch of bull. Now that they’re out of power, the corrupt and inept GOP has suddenly discovered immigration as an issue. Safe and secure in the knowledge that there is no way this bill will actually go anywhere.
I anxiously await the next useless bill from the GOP that has absolutely zero chance of passage. Perhaps a balanced budget amendment?
As usual, the Republicans finally grow a pair when they are out of power and in the minority, where they are more comfortable. If it fails, they can say “Oh gee, we tried.”
Smoke and mirrors....The Hill will grant shamnesty immediately after the election to keep the illegal aliens here voting, spending money and making babies on the taxpayers nickel.
Just BUILD THE DAMN FENCE!
“McCain promised to secure the border first “
Which is more than any Democrat will give you.
As long as we have Jorge in the White House, nothing will come of this.
The millions of Mexicans flooding across our borders are our FRIENDS, and we should WELCOME them with open arms and give them as much monetary assistance as they want. It’s racist to think otherwise!
/sarc
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