Posted on 11/14/2004 12:26:55 PM PST by primeval patriot
November 14, 2004
Bush Faces Early Test on Immigration PolicyBy REUTERSFiled at 10:28 a.m. ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush faces an early test on immigration policy this week as Congress considers legislation denounced by Latino groups as anti-Hispanic and anti-immigrant. Several provisions that would affect the lives of immigrants and asylum seekers found their way into a bill passed by the House of Representatives to reform the nation's intelligence services. The bill stems directly from recommendations by the bipartisan commission which investigated the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington. The Senate version of the bill does not contain these immigration clauses. House and Senate conferees will try once again to reconcile their differing bills when Congress reconvenes for a lame duck session this week. The White House is on record as strongly opposing some of the House provisions but it remains to be seen whether Bush is willing to expend any political capital by putting pressure on Republican legislators to drop them. ``The House Republicans think they have a strong hand on this and seem ready to go to the mat. They seem to want to paint immigrants as the bad guys in the war on terror,'' said Angela Kelley of the National Immigration Forum, a pro-immigration group. Opponents of the House bill say it would make it more difficult for refugees to obtain political asylum in the United States by raising the standards of proof required. It would also make it easier for the authorities to deport non-citizens, including legal residents. ``The bill is the biggest assault we have ever seen on political asylum. If passed, it would make it incredibly difficult for anyone to be granted asylum in this country,'' said Erin Corcoran of Human Rights First. The bill also seeks to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining drivers' licenses and would withdraw recognition of ID cards issued by Latin American embassies that many immigrants carry that now allow them to open bank accounts, obtain drivers licenses and even board aircraft. Mexico has issued over 2 million of the cards, known as the ``matricula consular'' to its nationals, whether they are in the United States legally or illegally, and several other Latin American countries also issue ID cards. LATINOS DENOUNCE BILL Four major Latino organizations issued a joint statement last month denouncing the provisions as ``anti-Latino and anti-immigrant.'' ``These provisions will have a profound, negative impact on Latinos and other immigrants communities. They will not make us safer and, in fact, may make us less safe by driving a wedge between American communities and law enforcement,'' they said. Wisconsin Republican Rep. James Sensenbrenner, a leading advocate of the bill, said all its provisions stemmed directly from the report of the 9/11 Commission. ``The legislation enhances security around our borders, and reduces opportunities for terrorists to enter and stay in the United States,'' he said. ``Every provision in this bill that is within the Judiciary Committee's jurisdiction, is tied directly to a specific recommendation made by the 9/11 Commission.'' Dan Stein of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which favors reducing immigration, said the provisions would close loopholes in the nation's defenses by making it easier to identify, track and deport illegal immigrants. But the 9/11 Commission itself said the immigration clauses were not part of its report. ``We believe strongly that this bill is not the right occasion for tackling controversial immigration and law enforcement issues that go well beyond the Commission's recommendations,'' Commission chair Thomas Kean and vice chair Lee Hamilton said in a letter last month. Bush won 44 percent of the fast-growing Hispanic vote in the Nov. 2 presidential election, up from 35 percent in 2000 according to exit polls. His administration has said it wants to make immigration reform a major focus of his second term. However, there is a strong element in the Republican Party that opposes any concessions to illegal immigrants and would like to see restrictions placed on legal immigration as well.
|
There's hope yet.
It's impossible to seal our borders. Think about it. You would need to have millions of US soldiers, patrolling both Mexico & Canada. You would need to build millions of miles of wall barriers, which would take a couple of decades. The manpower requirement would mean a draft. That won't happen. You would have to reduce shipper container access to US ports. That would tank our economy. Also, everyone focuses on the Mexican border. However, what about OBL & company using a submarine to smuggle a nuke somewhere on the East or West coast? Let's suppose you could seal the US borders. This would prevent millions of Mexicans who work here from making a living. This would cause an economic collapse in Mexico. This could give rise to a communist Mexico. President Bush has the right attitude. We must be on the offensive. You try to manage the borders, like a funnel.
Big fat BUMP
Ping.
Bush won. Get over it.
And your answer to the concept that foreign nationals (if you believe there is such a thing) coming into the country uninvited and taking up residence is.....?
Piss off.
Keep those calls/faxes/emails coming.
I'd like to see the numbers of legals allowed be lowered. I'd like to see companies who "hire" illegals be prosecuted. I'd like to see the laws giving legal status to babies born on American soil rescinded. I'd like to see a list of companies who "hire" illegals printed in the paper. I'd like to see Vicente Fox fall flat on his face. I'd like to see a rounding up and deportation of the Reconquista-type groups. I'd like to see more support for our Border Patrol. Hey, I can dream, can't I?
<><
No, you are wrong!!
Two Walls/Fences approx 15 ft high with land mines and motion detectors in between the Walls/Fences! Razor wire in front of the fence facing Mexico- Canada with motion detectors. Quick response teams with choppers placed about 10 milesor more apart. Work on it it will work a few land mines can go a long way!!
We can put warehouses just inside the borders so that trailers from the outside countries can drop off their trailers, unload them inspect them and out them on US Trailers for distribution in the US. IT CAN BE DONE -- We just have to want to do it!!
I am not a Defeatist. Do you think you can secure our borders with a couple hundred thousand troops? If you do, you live in a dream world. Look at the facts.
Free faxing privileges, faxes addressed to all the usual open borders suspects in the White House and Congress. The pre-written faxes cover all the subjects you listed. Good place to blow off some steam like I do!
You need to build what Israel is building, not fences, but concrete walls. You would need a large (Millions) standing army to monitor the barrier. If I were OBL, I would love your barrier concept.
LOL, the circumference of the earth is only 25,000 miles.
Good point.
Thanks for the info!
<><
We'll starve. It's too expensive. It can't be done so don't bother trying.
You're right. It's defeatist bunk.
I agree, bud! It's truly unreal.
<><
Ooh good old Bayousnot
I see your intelligence hasn't improved any.
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.