[Spiff]

"It is not an amnesty program," Kolbe said during a telephone press conference Friday afternoon.

No - not yet. But you and I both know that is what it will become.

[Spiff]

Published Letter to the Editor

Note: AThis letter was published in the July 29, 2003 print edition of the Sierra Vista Herald. The letter pertains to a story published online on July 27, but this letter correcting the story does not appear online. Go figure.

Re: Kolbe introduces foreign worker bill
By Bill Hess -- Sierra Vista (Arizona) Herald -- Sunday, July 27, 2003 -- CLICK TO READ STORY

The referenced story contains the following: "If the U.S. government can prove to him that the border can be controlled, he said he possibly could support the proposed bill. Right now it does not appear to be anything that will stop the flow of illegal immigrants from coming into the U.S., Spencer said." If I really said those things, I would be soliciting tax deductible donations to American Border Patrol under false pretenses because the purpose of the organization is, among other things, to show how the flow of illegal aliens can be stopped.

There are many things that can be done now to stop the flow of illegal immigrants, including the use of high technology to identify each and every border crosser, the use of the National Guard for support duties, sophisticated barrier systems, and effective prosecution, to name just a few.

As to the Kolbe proposal, I have fought against amnesty for years and would never support the his bill because that is what it is. I told your reporter that before any such proposal could be considered, the government must shut down the border for six months. Why on earth would I say, in effect, "...it (sic) does not appear to be anything that will stop the flow of illegal immigrants..."? It doesn't make any sense, because it isn't true. This is very disturbing. Since your reporter has demonstrated a keen ability to get the facts straight, I am concerned that this may be a deliberate attempt by someone to distort my views.

In the coming weeks, American Border Patrol will be demonstrating that high technology can find and identify border crossers and provide the data upon which an effective border control system can be based. When we begin to report the data from our sensors and UAVs live on the Internet, there will be no opportunity for "spin" or misinterpretation, and that's the way it should be.

Glenn Spencer
President
American Border Patrol
Sierra Vista, AZ

[Spiff]

Ping!

[BeerSwillr]

The White House has not indicated if it will support the bill or oppose it, Kolbe said.

Of course the White House won't indicate support, pro or con. They know this is an important issue and are willing to waffle on it. If no commitment is made then no foul. Just ignore the problem. Nothing to see here, move along.

If that's the way they play it then they don't deserve our support in 2004.

[CaptIsaacDavis]

DISGUSTING...When is a Republican or Dem going to introduce a bill to subsidize relocation and training for AMERICAN workers to fill any identified "shortages." The very concept of labor "shortage" is PREPOSTEROUS. We have a free market economy -- if companies really, really, need someone they can raise their salary levels to attract workers (or train them). If they don't, and claim they need to import labor, well then they are demanding the economic benefits of parasitism...

[GovernmentShrinker]

I could deal with this if we simultaneously slammed the door on ALL able-bodied welfare recipients, and made issuance of these work visas contingent on there being NO able-bodied welfare recipients in the U.S. at the time the visas are issued. It strains credulity past the breaking point when we're handing out welfare payments to able-bodied people who "can't find jobs", while admitting hordes of immigrants to fill jobs we're told Americans "won't take". They'll take 'em if they get hungry enough.

[tbpiper]

three Arizona Republicans

I'm not sure that when one speaks of elected officials that the words "Arizona" and "republican" can actually be used together.

[Those_Crazy_Liberals]

"jointly introduced in the House by U.S. Reps. Jim Kolbe and Jeff Flake with a companion bill presented to the Senate by Sen. John McCain."

A fruit, a flake and a nut. These three make better breakfast cereal than law makers.

[BayouCoyote]

"A visa for an illegal immigrant can be denied for a number of reasons to include if they have committed a felony or misdemeanor."
Wouldn't that include breaking the law to get here in the first place???