Illegal alien amnesty has no place on the Defense Authorization bill

The Hill ^ | 9/20/2010 | Dan Stein

[Qbert]

In a move designed to boost his own bid for re-election, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced last week that he intends to attach a massive illegal alien amnesty bill to legislation authorizing funding of our military, known as the Defense Authorization bill, when the Senate considers it this week.

The amendment Reid plans to offer is the DREAM Act, which would grant amnesty and costly education subsidies to millions of illegal aliens under the age of 35.

Using a bill that authorizes funding for our military -- at a time when our troops are fighting in the Middle East -- as a vehicle to reward illegal aliens is, to say the least, cynical. Even Sen. Lindsey Graham, a long-time supporter of amnesty for illegal aliens, denounced the move as “an all-time low” and “very offensive.” Moreover, it is entirely debatable whether promising amnesty for illegal aliens is really the issue that is going to motivate voters in a state with 14 percent unemployment and a crippling budget deficit.

What is equally clear is that the DREAM Act, which is being peddled as a limited amnesty for a few deserving “kids” is, in fact, a broad and expensive amnesty that will reward illegal immigration and punish law-abiding middle-class Americans. Aside from the fact that illegal aliens up to the age of 35 – hardly “kids” – would be eligible, millions of additional illegal aliens would eventually benefit as DREAM Act beneficiaries attain citizenship and sponsor relatives. Even illegal aliens who do not qualify for amnesty under the DREAM Act would benefit, as the legislation repeals a 1996 law that effectively bars them from receiving in-state tuition to attend public colleges and universities.

While the DREAM Act requires that beneficiaries either complete two years of college, or enlist in the military, the bill includes a gaping loophole even for these minimal requirements. The Department of Homeland Security would have virtually unlimited discretion to waive these requirements upon a showing of hardship and, based on the record of the current administration, that would likely be exercised broadly.

The DREAM Act is not a new idea. It has been around since 2000 and has consistently failed to pass as free-standing legislation for some very good reasons. As a matter of principle, Americans consistently oppose rewarding people who violate our immigration laws with amnesty. But beyond principle, the DREAM Act imposes enormous cost burdens on American taxpayers and penalizes their own children as they seek admission to public colleges and universities and assistance to cover the ever-increasing costs of higher education.

As virtually every state university system is raising tuition costs, cutting programs and even reducing admissions, the DREAM Act would force law-abiding citizens to compete with illegal aliens for coveted seats at public universities. Even as government grants to help students offset the cost of a college education become more constrained, DREAM Act beneficiaries would be made eligible to compete for the very limited pool of funds.

Another inevitable consequence of the DREAM Act would also be still higher levels of future illegal immigration. Once parents believe that coming to the United States illegally will result in eventual green cards and other benefits for their children, millions more can be expected to enter the U.S. illegally. The children of the next wave of illegal aliens will be no less sympathetic than those the DREAM Act intends to benefit, and pressure will immediately build to provide them with amnesty.

The American people have made it clear that they want immigration enforcement and oppose rewarding people who violate U.S. immigration laws. Illegal immigration is not a victimless crime. Ordinary Americans suffer loss of jobs and wages while taxpayers endure burdensome costs. American kids, who are already losing educational opportunities and resources as a result of mass illegal immigration, would suffer further harm if the DREAM Act were to become law.

It is disappointing that the Senate Majority Leader and others who are supposed to represent the interests of the American people are not as passionate and determined to protect American citizens against the harmful effects of illegal immigration as they seem to be in promoting the interests of illegal aliens. Unfortunately, in the cynical political atmosphere that grips Washington, the interests of American students, and even funding for our troops, can be used as leverage to promote narrow political interests.

Dan Stein is the President of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).

(emphasis added)

[Perdogg]

Americans for Legal Immigration PAC is launching a new tactic this morning designed to stop US Senator Harry Reid’s (D-NV) attempt to pass a form of Amnesty for illegal immigrants by inserting the Dream Act provision into the defense authorization legislation scheduled for a vote on Tuesday September 21rst at 2:15PM.

“We call on the Senate to stop Reid and Obama’s surprise attack Amnesty,” said William Gheen President of ALIPAC. “This Nightmare Act is opposed by a strong majority of Americans and passage of Amnesty using dirty legislative tricks to attach it to defense spending will be strongly rebuked by Americans on November 2nd!”

While advocates of the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act ramp up calls and emails to the US Senate in Washington using multimillion dollar resources provided by corporations, foundations, and US taxpayers, ALIPAC’s AMNESTY OPPONENTS will take this fight directly to the US Senate campaigns across America today.

“We are directing our activists against amnesty to contact every US Senate campaign in America today to determine which candidates oppose or support Obama and Reid’s Dream Act Amnesty amendment,” said William Gheen. “We intend to track which Senate candidates support or oppose this Amnesty attempt and remind them all that voters will defeat any candidate unwise enough to support this Amnesty ambush!”

[Thunder90]

You should know that Reid is also inserting a repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” into the Defense bill.

[Gaffer]

The only item that should be in the DAB dealing with illegals is how many soldiers, how well armed, and how final are the ROEs they are given in dealing with the onslaught insurgency posed by these invaders. Amnesty my ass.

[TigersEye]

It is hard to point to something that better shows the depth of corruption and dishonesty of Congress in general and Harry Reid in particular.

There are more serious cases of corruption in Congress but this is so blatant it practically shouts WE ARE LYING CROOKS AND WE DON'T CARE IF YOU KNOW IT!

[Thunder90]

Finally, this authorization cuts lots of programs designed to defend America, including Missile Defense, some F-35 funding, and there is some BRAC stuff in it as well. Finally, it decreases the size of the US Navy.

[sickoflibs]

Obama keeps his promise to put Republicans on the spot with Amnesty. The real hope is that numbers of Senate Democrats defect on this losing an issue with Hispanics.

[Qbert]

“Finally, this authorization cuts lots of programs designed to defend America, including Missile Defense, some F-35 funding, and there is some BRAC stuff in it as well. Finally, it decreases the size of the US Navy.”

—Thanks, Thunder90.

Any Republican and so-called moderate Dem even thinking of voting for this (in addition to the DREAM Act portion) should be hammered to no end.

[mmercier]

every bad idea has position in any piece of any legislation these lunatics are going to jam through before january.

those who fear passage of this dream act aint seen nothing compared to what a lame congress has planned after november.

this may save dirty harry his seat, depending upon acorn and seiu’s ability to spread their word and get out their vote.

[Qbert]

Thanks Perdogg.

[saganite]

Question. Since this is a budget bill doesn’t it require only a majority vote?

[TribalPrincess2U]

Email to me...if anyone interested. The usual RINOs in play...

Senator Reid is bragging that he has enough Republicans willing to come his way and vote YES on Cloture for the defense spending bill with the Dream Act Amnesty in it.

It looks like they waited just long enough for John McCain to win his primary before moving forward.

You must move quickly, as the vote is expected in 24 hours at 2:15pm on Tuesday, September 21!

Step 1:

Here are the Republicans who some sources are reporting are negotiating with Senator Reid to possible vote YES on Cloture. If Reid can get 60 votes on Cloture (a motion to proceed with a bill) he can pass Amnesty.

Call the following Senators to say, “I just heard that Senator _______ was negotiating with Senator Reid to pass the Dream Act Amnesty. Is it true that Senator ______ may be willing to vote ‘Yes on Cloture’ on the defense spending bill to pass amnesty for illegal aliens? Please tell Senator ______ to vote No on CLOTURE for the Amnesty bill tomorrow.”

Please contact the following Republicans who are reported to possibly be negotiation with Reid.

John McCain (R-AZ) (202) 224-2235
Lindsay Graham (R-SC) (202) 224-5972
John Cornyn (R-Texas) (202) 224-2934
Scott Brown (R-Mass) (202) 224-4543
Susan Collins (R-Maine) (202) 224-2523
Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) (202) 224-5344
George Voinovoich (R-Ohio) (202) 224-3353
Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) (202) 224-4814

Keep calling these Senators and campaigns, even after their offices close, and FILL THOSE VOICE MAILS!

Step 2:

Contact the campaigns for US Senate found at our tracking list here and ask for the campaigns to issue their positions “For Dream Act Amnesty” or “Against Dream Act Amnesty”. Please help us identify and track these campaigns.

Contacting DC is important, but these US Senate campaigns must be flooded with calls!

Step 3: Please contribute to ALIPAC so we can launch some form of online advertising in the morning to rally America against this Amnesty vote! We must all pull together and get the emails flying, get the calls into talk radio shows, and get online ads up warning Americans of the impending vote on Amnesty!

Help ALIPAC’s efforts with a donation at this secure online donations link...
http://www.alipac.us/content-9.html

Let’s roll everyone, pull together as a united political force!

The ALIPAC Team
www.alipac.us

PS: Illegal alien supporters in the Los Angeles area are calling the ALIPAC lines over and over trying to disrupt our communications. Please keep trying to get through if you need to call us or send your questions to WilliamG@alipac.us

[Qbert]

Thanks!

[Qbert]

Update- Sen. Scott Brown opposes DREAM Act in defense bill:

“BOSTON (AP) - Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown says a federal proposal to allow illegal immigrants a pathway to citizenship through college or military service is “amnesty” and supporters are “playing politics with military funding.”

The Massachusetts Republican said Monday that he is opposed to illegal immigration and is deeply disappointed that the DREAM Act has been included in a defense spending bill.

http://ww.abc6.com/Global/story.asp?S=13186270