Posted on 05/22/2007 3:09:46 PM PDT by anymouse
As your U.S. senators, we have been heavily involved in the congressional debate on immigration reform for several years. We have taken a leadership role on this issue because we represent a state that uniquely benefits from the contributions of legal immigrants, but is also uniquely vulnerable to the dangers of illegal immigration. Throughout this process, our principles have been clear and consistent: We must secure our borders, and we cannot encourage illegal behavior through amnesty.
Last week, the Bush administration, along with a small group of senators, announced a compromise immigration bill that would take a necessary first step in improving border security. We did not join in the announcement. While our efforts had a positive influence, we were not convinced the announced proposal guarantees repair of our current broken system. We are particularly concerned that we may be repeating the mistakes of the failed 1986 national amnesty.
As of late Friday, the actual text of the "grand compromise" had not yet been published. Major questions remain about details of the plan, and how it would work. We believe the bill, which was negotiated privately, deserves a full public airing before it's considered.
The bill promises some long-term positive changes, including significant border security measures, an end to chain migration and a switch to green card distribution based on merit.
But many problems have not been satisfactorily addressed. For example, we must make certain that convicted criminals are not eligible for any legalization, and if these individuals attempt to stay here, that they are arrested and promptly deported.
We must ensure that only those who have played by the rules and not those engaged in identity theft receive Social Security benefits. This proposal would enable illegal immigrants to collect Social Security benefits for the time they were unlawfully in our country. At a time when we are already facing major shortfalls in our ability to pay benefits for future retirees, this represents an unfair burden on the American taxpayer. We must end the rampant document fraud that plagues our workplaces today, and do it in a way that is legally enforceable.
Some of our colleagues, sensing the fragile nature of the proposed compromise, want to rush it through the Congress immediately. This would be a major mistake. It is too important and too complicated to rush. The legislation requires extended Senate debate, with full opportunity for public input and criticism, and an open process for amendments to strengthen its provisions.
In 1986, the Congress approved a similar compromise plan that, in return for amnesty for most immigrants here illegally, promised an end to porous borders and disregard for our laws. Those promises were not honored. The amnesty legislation instead actually encouraged further disrespect for our laws, and led directly to the situation we face today.
As the bill reaches the Senate floor this week, our goal will be restoring the integrity of our borders, providing guest workers with opportunity, not amnesty, and preserving our Social Security for all who legally qualify. Our contributions to the debate will continue to be positive and constructive.
Our country needs immigration reform. We must ensure that it's done, and done correctly.
Hutchison and Cornyn are both Republicans and represent Texas in the U.S. Senate.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hbtftjfXv1o
This is how I feel about this immigration stuff
I wrote this little song parody called “no no no”
I agree. Border Patrol is ran by career government employees who are democrats. They like seeing them come over cuz they know they are more votes for big government.
John
I would too. I would pay $2500 a head to local police departments.
The plus to that would be they would abandon their speed traps cuz they could make more money chasing down illegals.
John
Wow! And the reason this is not done NOW is?
>>In the mean time, why not enforce the laws that are already on the books?<<
I have tried to find something good in this bill, and have concluded that almost all of it is flawed. For those of you (including Goober Graham) who say, “If you don’t like this bill, what is your proposal”:
Strip out all the amnesty (Z Visa) and guest worker provisions and vote on those issues as a separate bill.
Leave in the bill: More border agents, border monitoring equipment. Leave the harsher penalties for employers and continued work on encrypted tamper-resistant (”tamper-proof” sounds a little optimistic) documents and employment verification systems, to be deployed when and if they make sense.
I’ll bet the amnesty portion would be easily defeated (or at least the public would be overwhelmingly opposed), and the bill with the enforcement would have a good chance of passing, although Bush might veto it because it didn’t include amnesty.
If Bush signed the new enforcement bill and there was no doubt that employer penalties worked exceptionally well, after a few years, introduce the amnesty again. But we might find that the illegals were going home.
If Bush vetoed the new enforcement bill and congress could not override, see if the public was sufficiently infuriated to elect a sane president and congress.
I am still interested in knowing how we are going to find, catch and deport over 10,000,000 people.
The police cannot issue a summons without being brought up on racism charges by the ACLU.
Simple solution.
Cut welfare, hospital treatment and school admission to illegals.
They will go home on their own.
One place to start is with the criminals who hire illegals. I don’t mean fines they pay out of petty cash, I mean prison terms. The illegals themselves can be deported as they’re found.
I'll bet my definition of border security is magnitudes different than how most Senators define it.
Until the dimwit Republicans take control of the debate by SEPARATING immigration reform from the invasion of illegals, they have no hope of changing anything. These are two different issues and must be dealt with separately. Illegals first.
Why, for God's sake, do Republicans refuse to learn that they must shape the terms of a debate or lose? They could do it, but they are naive and weak. And sorta just plain dumb.
Amen!
Patriots....Pray tell.....how could anyone support chicken ranchers, motel owners, turkey pluckers, under the table contractors and attorney slime who want American tax payers to pay for illegal alien health care, college educations, their legal bills etc.
Put them out of business...Hunt them down with impunity. Turn them into the IRS, State Labor Law Agencies.... make every Patriot a whistle blower....
Remember it is us against them. They are out to ruin our culture and make us pay for it before we are put into poverty too. They are slave masters making slaves out of immigrants and we get to pay the welfare bill...
How could anyone in power sell us down the river like this...disgusting.
Kay is already a lost cause...She’s for reform...Amnesty...
John Cornyn was at the time on this “deal” in the senate about a 50/50 bar on the issue...
I believe the pressure will build upon Cornyn, Hutchison will not reverse...
So Texas will probably split on the senate version...
But with the backlash that is not being reported by the MSM, no big secret there...I don’t think this latest effort to destroy this county has an appreciable amount of votes in either house...
The backlash and pressure though are being felt where it needs to be felt...
I guess this is a way that those who crossed the border illegally can be exempted - they have not been convicted.
'We must ensure that only those who have played by the rules and not those engaged in identity theft receive Social Security benefits.'
If they played by the rules, they did not cross the border illegally. I don't think any of them should be eligible until they become citizens - not depending on how long they have been in the country.
“In the mean time, why not enforce the laws that are already on the books?”
That is what Bill Bennett was proposing. Secure the borders and start deporting illegals that are located through traffic stops, arrests, etc. Over time, many will have been deported and won’t be able to come back in. A crackdown on employers who hire illegals will dry up the jobs for illegals. It won’t take care of most of them, but it will send the criminals and those who won’t work back home. We don’t need new legislation for this. Just enforcing the existing laws will work.
KLBJ here just had Senator Cornyn on their news show a few minutes ago. He is definitely against amnesty and will vote against this bill.
KEEP CALLING!
Cornyn has been shown the light...And thats good!!!
Kay...Well...Miss Rangerette I believe is on her last high leg kick...I like her as a person, and met her quite a few times...And we used to agree, and dissagree fairly equally on issues...Now I find myself dissagreeing with her more than agreeing...Its a sad state of affairs...
I hope she finally realizes this real soon, and falls on the “legal” constituency side of this argument...
Every single border state needs to be on the no amnesty side...
I feel sorry for the good folks in California though...Looks like the message they (Fienstien, et. al.) want to send to the people is the pathway to citizenship is to illegally enter through California...
One after another...Its job security...
And why are you sweating the ACLU??? Let them pound sand as far as I am concerned...
As long as we are catching and deporting, one of these days someones going to figure out that if you do something illegal, like enter a country illegally...Its not going to be a pleasant ride...
Just think...If we were Mexico...Those central Americans coming into Mexico are lucky if they get caught and sent to the local jail...Most of the time they are shot and killed and left to rot out in the scrub...
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.