POLL!! Do You Support A Congressional Bill That Would Make Illegal Immigrants Felons?

CBS News ^ | 3/26/2006

[Ladycalif]

Immigrant Rights Advocates Converge In Los Angeles

Do You Support A Congressional Bill That Would Make Illegal Immigrants Felons?

[Marine Inspector]

Do You Support A Congressional Bill That Would Make Illegal Immigrants Felons?

YES!

[khnyny]

"Not registering when required (and illegals are required) is punishable with a $250,000 fine and 5 years in a Federal Can."

I did not know that, thanks for the info. Obvious question, why isn't this law enforced?? Or is it selectively enforced? No pun intended. Statistics on enforcement would be interesting, including demographics.

[TheForceOfOne]

Do You Support A Congressional Bill That Would Make Illegal Immigrants Felons?

They were felons already, notice who the protesters are, Mexicans/illegals. There are enough of them here to form large protests, not a good sign. California is majority Spanish now and it will be hard to get laws to stop illegal immigration in that state, and others without voter identification.

[My Favorite Headache]

[Let's Roll]

If they put half this much pressure on the oligarchy running old meh-hee-co, they wouldn't have to demand that American tax payers support them (schools, hospitals etc.).

Oh, that's right - in meh-hee-co, they would be shot for what they did yesterday in Phoenix, LA etc.

They should feel shame for not straightening out their old country before they tell another country how to run itself, shame for breaking the laws of their host country and shame for biting the hand that feeds them.

[mvpel]

They're already felons if they make a second illegal entry into the US, as I understand it.

[Non-Sequitur]

No, we don't have 11 million plus jail cells or judges or police officers to handle it all. How about a bill that makes anyone employing an illegal alien a felon instead? Or better yet, the President or CEO of any company employing illegal aliens. Hit the powers that be over the hiring of illegals and you'll see a sudden interest on their part in enforcing current laws. Dry up the jobs and crack down on welfare and then there's no reason to cross the border in the first place.

[HawaiianGecko]

If the illegals have to stay...maybe the draft should be reinstituted.

I understand where you are going with this; but are you actually suggesting that we should train an army of illegals and give them access to the most sophisticated weaponry on the planet?

 

[ProfoundMan]

If illegal immigration isn't a felony, then I want to know what law I, as an American citizen can choose to ignore! "Equal Protection" would lead me to believe that as a citizen, I should have at least the same rights as a non-citizen.

So... is there a specific law I can just ignore? Or do I get to choose one?

[DJ Frisat]

Sure. Felons first, then deportees. Then, if they come back again - prisoners.

The concept of "illegal" isn't that hard to understand for those of us who believe in obeying the law.

[khnyny]

"I understand where you are going with this; but are you actually suggesting that we should train an army of illegals and give them access to the most sophisticated weaponry on the planet?"

No, they can peel potatos. Sigh, I guess it didn't work when the Romans tried to do it either. They conscripted their slaves to serve in the military so they (wealthy Romans) wouldn't have to. I understand there were some problems, lol.

[television is just wrong]

66% yes, 34% no. Sunday morning 3/26/2006

[Alia]

You're right. Dig this from Newsmax: Peter King: Immigration Bill Wouldn't Hurt Church --snips:

Last week Sen. Hillary Clinton picked up the cardinal's theme, saying the Sensenbrenner-King bill would "literally criminalize the Good Samaritan and probably even Jesus himself."

King fired back on Sunday, telling WABC: "I'd actually be curious to know what Jesus's position - how close that would be to Hillary's on abortion. But that's another story."

King blamed Democrats for another explosive aspect of the bill - a measure that would ratchet up the crime of illegal immigration from misdemeanor to felony status. "There is a provision in the bill that makes it a felony to overstay your visa. But the reason for that is, 191 [House] Democrats voted to keep it that way.

Jim Sensenbrenner and I introduced an amendment on the House floor to make it a misdemeanor," King explained. "And the Democrats - I assume for political reasons, so they could claim later on that we wanted call these people to be felons - they voted to keep it a felony."

King said that only 60 House Republicans voted with the nearly 200 Democrats to keep the felony provision. Just 20 Democrats voted with 165 Republicans to reduce the crime to misdemeanor status.

[ronnied]

Uhhh. Whats a roit???



an aussie ute???

[Proud Conservative2]

"If these people are so wanting to be real Americans"

I don't think they want to be Americans. I think they want to reclaim what they think is theirs.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

This is what President Bush said yesterday, March 25, 2006

"Comprehensive immigration reform begins with securing our borders."

"To keep the promise of America, we must enforce the laws of America."

"One thing the temporary worker program would not do is provide
amnesty to those who are in our country illegally."

---

President's Radio Address March 25, 2006

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060325.html

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. On Monday, I will attend a
naturalization ceremony here in Washington. It's always inspiring to
watch a group of immigrants raise their hands and swear an oath to
become citizens of the United States of America. These men and women
follow in the footsteps of millions who've come to our shores seeking
liberty and opportunity, and America is better off for their hard
work and love of freedom.

America is a nation of immigrants, and we're also a nation of laws.
And our immigration laws are in need of reform. So at Monday's
ceremony, I will discuss my vision for comprehensive immigration
reform that will secure our borders, improve enforcement of our
immigration laws, and uphold our values.

Comprehensive immigration reform begins with securing our borders.
Since I took office, we've increased funding for border security by
66 percent, and the Department of Homeland Security has caught and
sent home nearly 6 million illegal immigrants. To improve security at
the border, we're hiring thousands more Border Patrol agents. We're
deploying new technology, like infrared cameras and unmanned aerial
vehicles, to help our agents do their job. And we're installing
physical barriers to entry, like fences in urban areas.

We're also working to end the unwise practice of catch-and-release.
For decades, many illegal immigrants were released back into society
soon after they were caught, because we did not have enough detention
space. So we're adding more beds so we can hold the people we catch,
and we're reducing the time it takes to send them back home. When
illegal immigrants know they will be caught and sent home, they will
be less likely to break the rules, and our immigration system will be
more orderly and secure. We're making good progress, but we have much
more work ahead, and we will not be satisfied until we have control
of our border.

Comprehensive immigration reform also includes strengthening the
enforcement of our laws in America's interior. Since I took office,
we've increased funding for immigration enforcement by 42 percent.
We're increasing the number of immigration enforcement agents and
criminal investigators, enhancing work site enforcement, and going
after smugglers and gang members and human traffickers.

Finally, comprehensive immigration reform requires a temporary worker
program that will relieve pressure on our borders. This program would
create a legal way to match willing foreign workers with willing
American employers to fill jobs that Americans will not do. By
reducing the number of people trying to sneak across the border, we
would free up our law enforcement officers to focus on criminals and
drug dealers and terrorists and others who mean us harm.

One thing the temporary worker program would not do is provide
amnesty to those who are in our country illegally. I believe that
granting amnesty would be unfair, because it would allow those who
break the law to jump ahead of people who play by the rules and wait
in the citizenship line. Amnesty would also be unwise, because it
would encourage waves of illegal immigration, increase pressure on
the border, and make it more difficult for law enforcement to focus
on those who mean us harm. For the sake of justice and for the sake
of border security, I firmly oppose amnesty.

In the coming days, the United States Senate plans to consider
proposals on immigration reform. This is an emotional debate. America
does not have to choose between being a welcoming society and being a
lawful society. We can be both at the same time. As we debate the
immigration issue, we must remember there are hard-working
individuals, doing jobs that Americans will not do, who are
contributing to the economic vitality of our country.

To keep the promise of America, we must enforce the laws of America.
We must also ensure that immigrants assimilate into our society and
learn our customs and values -- including the English language. By
working together, we can meet our duty to fix our immigration system
and deliver a bill that protects our country, upholds our laws, and
makes our Nation proud.

Thank you for listening.

[aureliusk]

Excellent post ..I'll have to save that quote .

[Cvengr]

Mexicans, Canadians, even Nicaraguans are Americans. They aren't US citizens.