Posted on 10/17/2013 7:47:49 AM PDT by sheikdetailfeather
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Your cynicism for the Republican Party is deserved, and I share every bit of it. But Trey Gowdy is one of us, and his everyday fight is not "theater for the base." If we are going to damn the bad guys for their treason and treachery -- and we should, we also owe the good guys our encouragement and thanks when they stand up for us.
“Attempts to group the entire 11 million into one homogenous group in an effort to secure a political remedy will only wind up hurting the most vulnerable,” Gowdy said in his opening comments.
Trey Gowdy Statement on Illegal Immigrant Children
When Chairman Goodlatte had the first immigration hearing months ago, I said we were looking for a remedy that would last a lifetime - a real remedy, not a political or electoral remedy, but a real remedy - that is best for our country. And I said I thought we could find a synthesis, a harmony, between the compassion that defines us as a people and the respect for the rule of law that defines us as a republic.
The House Judiciary Committee has since held nearly a dozen hearings on different aspects of our immigration system and passed four bills, including legislation to strengthen interior enforcement and ensure the laws we pass are actually enforced. We know border security and interior enforcement are the only guarantee we will not repeat the mistakes of the past.
The issue of how to treat children brought to this country is not new. Congress has considered it since at least 2001. But it is a new issue for this Congress and several members of this Subcommittee.
We all view children as a special, protected class. We have all witnessed acts of heroism where total strangers risk and sacrifice their lives for other people’s children. We admire teachers and other professionals who dedicate their lives to teaching and helping other people’s children. Children and the issues that impact their lives unite us like nothing else. And because children are a special class, the law treats children differently in almost every regard.
When children wander into neighborhood yards, we don’t call that trespassing. When children cry and yell and scream at restaurants or on airplanes, we don’t call that a violation of the noise ordinance. When children eat a grape at the grocery store or eat a piece of candy waiting in line before mom or dad pays for it we don’t have them arrested for petty larceny. Children can’t sign contracts, vote, purchase certain items, or even work in some instances because the law treats children differently. Even when children do get in trouble legally the system is completely different – even the purpose of the system is different. The purpose of the adult justice system is to punish. The purpose of the juvenile justice system is to rehabilitate and restore.
The law treats children differently for a variety of reasons including the fact that children cannot form the intent necessary to violate the law and intent is a necessary element of every criminal offense. Simply put, children who were brought here haven’t committed a crime, misdemeanor or otherwise. The adults may have, but the children have not – and that is not an expression of compassion, that is the execution and the application of the law.
There are an estimated 1.35 million undocumented children under the age of 18 and an estimated 1.6 million between the ages of 18 and 24 in this country. In recent months I have heard from many organizations and individuals regarding legislation aimed at granting a legal status for this subset of undocumented immigrants. Children from South Carolina and children as far away from South Carolina as California, when my good friend Jeff Denham was gracious enough to let me visit him in his district. Jeff, I remember a young lady at your town hall coming up to us afterward. For virtually all of her life, this young lady grew up thinking she was an American citizen. She never knew any differently. She has led a virtuous life with good grades, hard work, community involvement, active in her church, loves her family – exactly the kind of person we want to be our fellow citizen. She was polite and persuasive. She just had one question: “what country am I supposed to go back to?” “This is the only country I have ever known.”
So while there is obvious openness with respect to children who have done nothing wrong, those same equities do not apply in the same regard to the remainder of the 11 million undocumented immigrants. They may or may not have other equities to argue but let me say this as plainly as I can: attempts to group the entire 11 million into one homogenous group in an effort to secure a political remedy will only wind up hurting the most vulnerable. And to earn the trust, respect and support of our fellow citizens we must ensure there are sufficient anti-fraud measures and sufficient screening mechanisms so those who seek to benefit unjustly and without a factual basis are identified.
In conclusion, let me say this: We are a nation of laws because law provides order, structure, predictability, peace, equality and justice. Compassion is good. But it can ebb and flow with the vicissitudes of life and the perspective of the individual. The law remains, sturdy and strong as the foundation upon which we live.
I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law;
That is not an oath for Congress. That is the oath of citizenship. That is the pledge and the promise each made, hand on heart to their soon-to-be fellow citizens. Five distinct references to the law in just a single paragraph of the oath. If we expect people to support, defend, and live by the law after they become citizens, what possible explanation can exist for not applying the law during the process of becoming a citizen?
The equities are on the side of these children in my judgment, but equities can be debated. The law is also on the side of these children. Law stands above opinion. America is different. We are compassionate and free, but most of all we are a nation of laws. I presume that is one reason people so desperately want to come here in the first place.
Gowdy is clearly in support of the Dream Act and Obama's illegal backdoor amnesty. The parents and their children should be deported, which is currently the law of the land.
Gowdy is using religion to pimp amnesty on behalf of his corporate donors. You can’t get much lower than that.
an 18 year old is not a child..
Once that “innocent” underage person who was brought here illegally by their parents has that 18th birthday he or she is now here illegally and the parent is not solely responsible for his or her illegal presence in our country
Now the new adult is breaking the law intentionally along with the parents..
If he or she were “upstanding” he or she would immediately leave the America and go back to the country of his or her own birth...he or she is now old enough to travel alone..
Then if he or she wants to live here he or she would apply and go through the channels the right way..
How about you back up that statement? Gowdy isn’t in my district but at least I’m in the same State unlike you. Give me some evidence that he supports illegal immigration. I’ve posted opposite opinion below...
WASHINGTON — House leaders chose a vocal opponent of illegal immigration to head up the chamber’s immigration subcommittee, which will play an integral role in the upcoming debates on how to reform the nation’s immigration laws.
Incoming House Judiciary Chairman Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., announced Tuesday that Rep. Trey Gowdy, a former South Carolina prosecutor who was part of the GOP freshman wave of 2010, will head the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
Gowdy wants to treat illegal alien children differently, i.e., give them amnesty (legalize their status), a work permit, and a path to citizenship. He uses the language of the Left by calling the illegal aliens as undocumented children and undocumented immigrants.
His statement about compassion for the "children" is clearly emotional and not according to our existing immigration law. He wants to treat the "estimated 1.35 million undocumented children under the age of 18 and an estimated 1.6 million between the ages of 18 and 24 in this country" differently than other illegal aliens. So is the new policy that any illegal alien parent who brings in their children can rely on the fact that their children will have a path to legal status regardless? Is this going to mean a rolling amnesty that has no end? And can these children sponsor their illegal alien parents when they reach age 21? What happens to the parents once the illegal alien children are legalized? Are the parents allowed to stay to keep the family together? Isn't that the "compassionate" thing to do?
We already have 300,000 to 400,000 anchor babies born to illegal aliens annually. They receive immediate citizenship and are entitled to Medicaid, food stamps, and any other welfare benefit given to American citizens.
I don't trust Gowdy on immigration and his words are ample enough proof to justify that distrust.
The parents and their children should be deported,...
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Not realistic nor is it in accord with the American spirit. BECAUSE all of us have allowed the constant flow of immigrants for such a long time and taken advantage of what they offer (speaking in general)...we need to deal with its results. I agree with the stand that Trey Gowdy has taken and I see (and have seen for many years) a great need for reform of our exceedingly inefficient system of immigration.
Please note that the liberals and leftists do not agree with Gowdy:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paromita-shah/safe-act_b_3468163.html
http://www.ontheissues.org/house/Trey_Gowdy_Immigration.htm
How is he *using* religion and where is the proof that his motive is to help his donors?
Republican leaders pushing door open for immigration deal
It would seems they would have to work through Gowdy's Subcommittee.
I like Trey, I hope he holds firm.
“If we are going to damn the bad guys for their treason and treachery — and we should, we also owe the good guys our encouragement and thanks when they stand up for us.
I agree and I do admire love watching congressman Gowdy but pissing in the wind is still pissing in the wind.
What is not realistic? We certainly can deport the parents and their children if they are here illegally. It is done all of the time. It is the law.
The "American spirit" rests on the premise that everyone is treated equally under the law. The Rule of Law is what sets us apart from most of the countries in the world.
BECAUSE all of us have allowed the constant flow of immigrants for such a long time and taken advantage of what they offer (speaking in general)...we need to deal with its results.
I never expected such Leftist drivel to be spouted on FR. Are you suggesting that since we have not enforced our immigration laws properly, then the lawbreakers should be excused for their crimes? The vast majority of these lawbreakers have committed many crimes besides just entering illegally, e.g., working illegally, ID theft/fraud, tax evasion, etc.
I guess that if we don't enforce our laws effectively against murderers, thieves, drug dealers, etc., then we should excuse their crimes and not prosecute them because we have done a bad job of enforcing the laws. I guess if you forgot to lock your front door and a thief enters in the night and robs you, it is your fault that you were robbed and the thief should not be charged.
As someone who has worked on the immigration issue for over 6 years and lobbies on the Hill and in Richmond on immigration, I just can't stomach the Leftist propaganda you parrot.
I agree with the stand that Trey Gowdy has taken and I see (and have seen for many years) a great need for reform of our exceedingly inefficient system of immigration.
Besides doing a lousy job of enforcing our existing laws, what reforms are you advocating to our immigration system? What needs to be fixed?
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