Posted on 05/19/2007 6:12:26 PM PDT by Reaganwuzthebest
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made these statements on comprehensive immigration reform plan.
General Thoughts:
"Over the last few months, I have spoken with President Bush almost every week and met with him twice about immigration reform. Secretary Chertoff and Secretary Gutierrez have been there every step of the way. There would be no bill without their hard work.
"Today we charted a new path for our nation's immigration policies.
"We break the cycle of chain migration by placing a premium on the education and job skills of new immigrants coming to the United States. This new merit-based system is a major change in our nation's immigration policies and allows us to attract the best and brightest in the world.
"We reclaim control of our nation's borders by adding new Border Patrol agents and technology to stop illegal border crossings.
"We establish a new comprehensive employee verification system - for all workers including Americans -- to ensure people are in the country legally and eligible to work.
"We establish a temporary guest worker system to meet our nation's future labor needs. Temporary workers can come here and work for a defined period of time, but they must return to their home country.
"And we establish procedures to deal with the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants, allowing them to stay under our rules - not theirs. They will be placed on probation and pay fines, learn English, and assimilate into American society. If they want to become citizens -- a minimum 13 year process -- they will be forced to leave the United States and return to their country of origin. Only from there will they be allowed to apply for citizenship.
Is the Legislation Amnesty?
"Amnesty is a pardon and means all is forgiven. This legislation is not amnesty. President Bush made clear today he does not view it as amnesty and I agree with him.
"I hope all Senators, particularly those who were not part of the negotiations, will become more informed about the details of the bill before making incorrect statements.
"Here are the facts. Illegal aliens will have the opportunity to come forward and be fined, punished and placed on years of probation. Illegal aliens will not be allowed to jump in line for citizenship ahead of those currently waiting. If they want to become citizens they must pay fines, learn English, pass a civics exam, undergo background checks and leave the United States and return to their country of origin. The punishment is fair and just.
"The public expects Members of Congress to speak their minds, but be informed in their opinions. I would ask for everyone to take time to understand how the bill works."
I support some form of forgiveness with heavy fines for illegals, but even I call it amnesty. It’s just a word, it’s stupid to redefine it just to avoid the word.
If you want amnesty, have the guts to say so and the ability to argue for it. I think I can make a persuasive argument for my version of amnesty, and I don’t care if people call it amnesty or not.
There is no way that paying $1000 and then getting to stay here forever on an installment plan is anything but amnesty. Heck, I think it costs more than $1000 right now to get help processing to try to get your green card. It’s a bargain.
We shouldn’t even be considering the illergals that are here right now.
The only thing Congress should be focusing on is Closing The Borders. That’s it. Big wall. More border agents. Unmanned arial vehicles.
After that, when the border is secure, we can ralk about the illegals that are here.
You know what, it really doesn’t matter whether we focus on the “is it amnesty or isn’t it” argument. Just look at the merits of the bill, the pros and cons in terms of what it means to the country and the culture.
Unfortunately, no one has been able to see much of the actual bill yet, but Senator Sessions will work on it and he has a great staff that has dealt with this before.
The is it is or is it ain’t amnesty argument is a distraction from reviewing the actual text and considering the ramifications of the many, many aspects of our country and our culture and the public purse that will be affected.
I am going to listen to Sen. Sessions presentation on Monday. I have a very strong sense that all of the horrid things he ferreted out the last time are still going to be in this. I think it will be more productive and instructive to focus on what the actual effects of the bill will be than to let them have us waste our breath arguing over this one word.
Assume, arguento, that it’s not “amnesty” and let’s see what this “non-amnesty” is going to do to us. Move the debate off of the single word and take a look at the details. This is where I think the more appalling stuff will be found.
We need Fred sooner rather than later.
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
Exactly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let the punishment fit the crime.
Have Ted Kennedy personally give them a ride home.
Cheers!
Keep your powder dry and Molon Labe. It's coming and on the horizon.
FMCDH(BITS)
I still cannot believe how stupid politicians think we are
It’s AMAZING . Yea , ok , we didn’t really see what we just saw .
How dare you be rational. ;) I have only read a tiny part of the first page of the bill. There’s no hurry since this thing is going to be massaged and worked over a lot before it hits the President’s desk.
I put the chances of a bill passing and being signed at 80%.
The chances I will like it very much are much lower, but, I’m in the minority in this country, I’m a conservative.
And there are ways we can get them out of the country without deporting them.
- Go after companies that employ illegals the same way the IRS goes after tax evasion. Jail time and asset siezure.
- Withold federal highway funds from any State that offers social services like education and health care.
They’ll take themselves back to Mexico.
goldfinch wrote: “...rush it through in a week. Why is that Senator?...”
I have been wondering about that myself. Why are they in such an all fired hurry? And why are the Pubbies stupid enough to do it? Regardless of whether it passes or not, the MSM will frame it so that Pubbies are on the losing end.
Any one out there have any ideas?
I’ve yet to see the details on HOW they plan on enforcing this new plan . They haven’t ever enforced the present immigration law . They DO NOT HAVE A PLAN TO ENFORCE THIS >>THEY DO NOT INTEND TO ENFORCE THIS > THEY COULDN’T ENFORCE THIS PLAN ..It’s PURE bullshit.
Mr. Graham, you need a primary opponent.
I don’t want ‘punishment’. This is what I (and others) want:
-Secure the border FIRST. If you don’t shut the door first, you have a revolving door instead.
-While securing the border, crack down hard on employers. Not these little “See, we’re doing something!” raids. Let’s start assigning heavy fines and putting some of them out of business. When the businesses start thinking that they might actually get caught and there are serious consequences, most of them will be a little more responsible in their hiring practices. I believe that once the job opportunities start drying up, many of the illegals currently here will leave on their own. They’re here for more money, remember. Without the money, I don’t think they could care less about earning citizenship.
-Only after both of those things are actually done, can we start talking about those illegals that are left here.
“Mr President Put up that wall.”
LOL. Love the graphic.
I got the other stuff in my post, but holding up the federal funds is a good idea, I think.
Cheers!
Nuts.
Illegal aliens will not be allowed to jump in line for citizenship ahead of those currently waiting.
Hey, if you're gonna tell lies, tell whoppers.
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