Posted on 08/16/2003 7:09:51 PM PDT by VU4G10
Illegal immigration into the United States threatens the future of the nation, a Colorado congressman told Mesa County Republicans on Friday. U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Centennial, drew two standing ovations from about 100 Republicans, even though he acknowledged his stand on illegal immigration runs counter to that of the party's leader, President Bush. Forcing a national debate over illegal immigration transcends party loyalty though, he said. At issue, he said, isn't so much whether the United States will have a Balkanized future, but whether it will have a future as a nation at all. Illegal immigration combined with "the cult of multiculturalism" and the welfare state threaten to undermine and bankrupt American institutions, he said. Tancredo joked that he actually was on his way to California to get in on the governor's race. In an exclusive interview with The Daily Sentinel, however, he said the stakes actually are a bit higher than a governor's race. He has visited California on several occasions with the hope of forcing illegal immigration to a top-level issue in the 2004 presidential race. One vehicle, he said, might be a referendum in the nation's most populous state that would limit access to any government services to citizens or legal residents only. "Even if I'm 180 degrees wrong," he said, "the subject at least deserves a debate." Tancredo said he advocates securing the nation's southern border using a 20,000-strong Border Patrol combined with high-tech equipment to prevent illegal border crossings. A guest-worker program might be in order for industries that couldn't otherwise find employees, but no such program could work without a secure border, he said. It's particularly important to secure the border, he said, because it isn't used only by Mexicans seeking employment. "Huge numbers" of Middle-Easterners frequently cross the border, often helped by Mexican drug gangs who charge $30,000 for the use of their expertise, he said. "I don't blame them," he said of illegal immigrants looking north for opportunity, but he noted the Mexican government relies heavily on money sent by illegal immigrants to their relatives to bolster the economy. That amounts to about $10 billion a year, a third of the Mexican gross domestic product, he said. Tancredo urged the Mesa County Republicans to insist that all candidates be held to account on illegal-immigration issues. Even if offices such as city council or county commissioner seem to have little to do with illegal immigration, candidates still should be forced to take a position. "Get them on record," he said.
P> According to FOX News, Last spring, he launched an e-mail petition drive calling for the deployment of as many as 20,000 federal troops to the 6,000 miles of northern and southern U.S borders.
So, that was for both borders. Plus, $50K sounds a little high for a typical soldier. Where did you get that number?
OK, just for kicks, lets say it costs a billion a year; Thats about $10 per taxpayer. With all the stupid things Bush has been spending our money on, (including sending $15 billion of our money to Africa just because those people cant it through their heads that youre not suppose to stick things where they dont belong) Id say $10 is a great deal.
If the federal government wont perform one of its most basic and vital functions - protecting out borders, then tell me where to send my $10 to someone who will. Ill even make it $20 to make up for people like you.
A country that does not enforce the security of its borders ceases to be a nation!
In 40 years, America will be so balkanized and socialistic as to be unrecognizable. Currently, it's barely the Constitutional Republic it was designed to be. Glad I'll be dead.
P.S., Where did you get that list?
Don't spoil the illusion, man. What will all the screamers have to whine about here on FR?
With my luck, Ill still be alive and at the mercy of those Bolsheviks. Even if Im not, I expect my children and grandchildren will be. That is if they survive the UN re-education camps.
If were screaming, its because were not blind, deaf or dumb.
Just curious.
You and me both. And apparently Elliott Gigantalope as well. Defies logic.
Subtlety isn't effective with most visitors to this type of thread. :o)
Maybe if the vast majority of these hundreds of millions of additional immigrants that you feel we have room for primarily settled in areas in those states that still have a lot of wide open spaces such as Montana, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Alaska, and parts of Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico, then maybe it could be workable. But if most of these hundreds of millions of additional immigrants follow the pattern of past immgrants and settle primarily in our major cities, then it would become hellish for all big city residents, Americans and immigrants alike.
Just for the record, I don't hate anyone, except Commies.
What many others and I object to is the simple fact many Hispanics are coming here illegally. They are criminals by their very presence here. Are politicians are not doing anything about it. I believe it's because many of them are bought off by interests who are profiting by the presence of illegal aliens.
That's what I have a problem with. I believe that some here on FR who don't what to hear it have a vested interests and ulterior motives as well.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.