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Penalty Mitigation in the Immigration Reform Bill [White House Spokesman Responds: Post #53]
Free Republic ^ | 6-13-2007 | philman_36

Posted on 06/13/2007 6:57:12 AM PDT by philman_36

This morning on Fox and Friends there was made mention that much stricter fines are in the immigration reform bill. While this is true many folks may not know about a few words that follow the language about the tougher fines. Those words make a travesty of any "fines" as they can be waved and the employer could walk away owing nothing in penalties.

Here are the words I've got a problem with...

(D) The Secretary is authorized to reduce or mitigate penalties imposed upon employers, based upon factors including, but not limited to, the employer's hiring volume, compliance history, good-faith implementation of a compliance program, participation in temporary worker program, and voluntary disclosure of violations of this subsection to the Secretary.

So while we're being told that "the penalties are tougher" we aren't being told that under some circumstances employers can face reduced or even no fine whatsoever.
At this point of time in our history America can't afford our officials not being completely truthful to us and not stating that the possibility exists for employers to potentially be let off the hook completely is simply unacceptable.


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: aliens; amnesty; amnestytroll; beggingforamnesty; blowbackfordubya; deafrino; duncanhunter; illegalimmigration; immigrantlist; immigration; judicialbypass; nicholasthompson; noamnestyforillegals; nthompsonwhitehouse; sellouts; vampirebill; wontgetfooledagain
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To: nthompsonwhitehouse

“Amnesty Will Cost U.S. Taxpayers at Least $2.6 Trillion”

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Immigration/wm1490.cfm


101 posted on 06/14/2007 11:54:49 AM PDT by ScottfromNJ
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To: nthompsonwhitehouse
Sir:
With all the respect due his office and accomplishments, President Bush is wrong on this issue. Enforce ALL the current immigration laws and build a viable border fence, and then we’ll see about “immigration reform” and all of that. The individuals who post here and millions like them are the GOP base (not Senator Edward Kennedy), and should not be accused of xenophobia or racism. We merely want everyone to play by the same rules and have our nations laws enforced equally for everybody. Thank you for being a stand-up guy and posting here at the #1 conservative site.

Fred

102 posted on 06/14/2007 11:56:35 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (Fred Thompson/John Bolton 2008)
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To: nthompsonwhitehouse
Mr. Thompson,

I'm not buying what the president is selling. I was a "bush-bot" for years! But no more! I was part of his core supporters but you lost me some time ago on this illegals issue.

As a native Texan I've seen up close and personal what the illegals have done to this state. Our schools are being dumbed down, our prisons and jails are full of illegals, emergency rooms are being taxed, etc.

I'll agree that many illegals are not bad folks. Many are hard working people. But many are not and are the unproductive dregs and cast-offs of Mexico and South America. How many? I don't know and neither do you. You don't have a clue if it's 12 or 30 million people. Our government can't even count! Nor has it been able to enforce existing laws. So to me your entire post here has no value because you have already proved you can't perform. I have no confidence you can or will do anything you descibe in your post. Frankly, I don't believe you intend to anyway.

The general public is way ahead of you on this issue. All you have done with the post is insulted many of us that know that the administration is not serious about border security. Which makes me wonder about other things like the WOT. How can there be a war on terror is anyone can cross our borders?

I'm ashamed to say I supported George W. Bush.

103 posted on 06/14/2007 11:58:47 AM PDT by isthisnickcool (I believe that's my stapler....)
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To: nthompsonwhitehouse
In case you missed it, I'll repeat one of my important questions:

Since your bill makes it easy for people to sneak into the country, break or laws, and then stay, while at the same time forces law-abiding immigrant-applicants who have been waiting for 2 years to start the process over again, what does the President suggest families like mine tell our relatives who have been obeying our laws and waiting patiently for our broken process?

Never mind, it doesn't matter what any words say, because his actions say "screw the paperwork, just find a way to sneak in & you'll get everything you want once you're here"

104 posted on 06/14/2007 11:58:58 AM PDT by sanchmo
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To: nthompsonwhitehouse

In other words...GIVE IT UP!


105 posted on 06/14/2007 11:59:07 AM PDT by xcamel ("It's Thompson Time!")
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To: nthompsonwhitehouse; kristinn
President Reagan said it best, "Trust but verify." President Bush and Secretary Chertoff have not been enforcing vigorously existing penalties against employers as stipulated in Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986". "8 USC 1101 note." How can we believe that you will enforce these proposed penalities?
106 posted on 06/14/2007 12:00:44 PM PDT by kabar
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To: nthompsonwhitehouse
Oh yeah.....

Welcome to FR...

Now......enforce the borders.

Enforce the current laws.

And eliminate anchor babies.

Propose/do those three things...and I will have a large donation to the campaign of your choice.

107 posted on 06/14/2007 12:02:11 PM PDT by Osage Orange (Ignore the Propaganda.....Focus on what you see...........)
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To: nthompsonwhitehouse

“For those employers who do knowingly hire illegal immigrants, please know that we intend to penalize these employers strongly,”

Double secret probation! “Del Monte, go and sin no more!”
(wink wink, eh, is she a goer, know what I mean? Eh? Eh?)


108 posted on 06/14/2007 12:02:40 PM PDT by tumblindice (Hey Nick, my cow died so I don't need your bull)
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To: nthompsonwhitehouse

Here is what I’ve been pushing for...

RICO lawyers could turn it around in a few years and MAKE MONEY at the same time. I’m surprised they haven’t done it already.

In the absence of enforcement,we can get the word out in the meantime that there is money to be made in filing RICO lawsuits against employers who hire illegal aliens.

Employers would have no trouble shutting down the border if they could get sued by someone under the RICO statutes for hiring these people in the first place. The next time an illegal alien kills someone in a drunk driving accident or somesuch thing, I’m going to point out that the victim’s family might be able to seek compensation from the employer under these statutes in the hopes that it would catch on. If this did catch on, would see such a swift backlash against illegal immigration that no employer would go near these people and they’ll all simply want to go back home.


109 posted on 06/14/2007 12:07:29 PM PDT by Kevmo (We need to get away from the Kennedy Wing of the Republican Party ~Duncan Hunter)
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To: nthompsonwhitehouse
Welcome to Free Republic, sir. You’ll get a good idea where your base stands on the issues here. FWIW, securing the border and stopping the flow of illegals is non negotiable. Even most of the moonbat lefties out there are with us on this issues.
110 posted on 06/14/2007 12:07:36 PM PDT by DogBarkTree (The correct word isn't "immigrant" when what they are doing is "invading".)
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To: nthompsonwhitehouse

Dear Sir,
Enforce the laws we have now please.
What is happening to the fence that was supposed to be built by 2008? I heard nothing has been built yet.

Do not attempt to pass this bill, you are going to lose all financing of the Republican party and most power for probably 20 years.

Have a nice day. :-)


111 posted on 06/14/2007 12:09:13 PM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: nthompsonwhitehouse; Duncan Hunter Ambassador

Sam:

Did you know that N Thompson posts here on Free Republic from the WHITE HOUSE?

For Nick’s benefit, y’all should know that Sam Hunter, Duncan Hunter’s son, signed up here on Free Republic as “Duncan Hunter Ambassador” a few months ago as our liasion to DH’s campaign.


112 posted on 06/14/2007 12:09:43 PM PDT by Kevmo (We need to get away from the Kennedy Wing of the Republican Party ~Duncan Hunter)
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To: nthompsonwhitehouse
With all due respect to you and to President Bush, I am 100% against the proposed bill, or any modification to it that does not first require that the border be secured before any of the other provisions can come into force. I say this as someone who has voted for President Bush twice before, and who still believes him to be a good leader.

I am in no way against immigration - legal immigration, that is. In the early 20th century 3 of my 4 grandparents and 6 of my 8 great grandparents (and numerous other relatives) came to this country. Most of them and their children would, but for being able to come here, have been murdered in Hitler's gas chambers or just shot in the back of the head. My mother would have never made it to her 8th birthday, so I would not be alive but for the generosity of this country in admitting my relatives. Further, my wife is a Mexican citizen, and but for the generosity of this country in admitting her, I would not only not be married (at least to her), but my kids would never have been born. It is, therefore, utterly clear and without doubt that I favor immigration.

However, ALL of these people - repeat ALL - came here legally, gladly learned English, obeyed our laws, paid their taxes and raised their kids to be good Americans and to contribute to this nation. NONE of them marched in the streets with the flag of their birth nation, protesting this country, and none of them demanded any aid or preferences of any kind. NONE of them committed any crimes, or placed any kind of burden on our judicial system or health care system.

Simply put, this bill spits in the face of every person who ever came here legally, who did things the right way. It gives preference and AMNESTY to people who have violated our laws, it puts them ahead of others who have waited patiently to come here legally, and it assaults our taxpaying citizens with the certainty of massive increases in the cost of welfare, healthcare, Social Security and policing costs. It is a giant insult to all of us who pay taxes and who obey court orders, because these illegals don't have to pay back taxes under the bill in question and it doesn't make those who have ignored deportation orders ineligible for the Z visas.

I don't believe that it is impossible to control our border.

I don't believe that "regularizing" (i.e. granting AMNESTY) to 12-20 million lawbreakers is wise or just in ANY sense of those words.

I DO believe that this bill will only encourage massive additional disrespect and contempt for the rule of law, and discourage millions of additional people from participating in the political process - because it will be viewed as corrupt and completely unresponsive. It will be a signal to EVERYONE that obeying the law is strictly optional.

I am astounded beyond my capacity for belief that anyone who cares about the future of the Republican Party could even consider the "regularization" of 12-20 million under-educated and under-paid people who grew up (for the most part) in Socialist economic systems. For crying out loud, TED KENNEDY is a sponsor of this bill - President Bush should run the other way as fast as he can!

If this bill is passed and signed into law, it will be like a giant bell being rung to announce the death of the Republican Party. Our country will also cease to be what it is today or what it was when I grew up in the '60s and '70's.

I implore President Bush to stop pushing this bill, and to enforce the sanctity of our borders (which is necessary to succeed in the War on Terror) and existing laws.

113 posted on 06/14/2007 12:12:49 PM PDT by Ancesthntr
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To: nthompsonwhitehouse
Mr. Thompson,

Thank you for visiting here. I think more White House staffers should visit and read what's being said here.

That said, I won't support any dealing with illegals already here until the entire fence is built and a mechanism is in place to facilitate legal immigrantion. Those that have tried to follow the laws of our country should come before those that have not.

Second, why does this bill give a person who has broken the laws of our country a Z visa after a 24 hour check? It is taking 10-12 WEEKS for me to get a passport and I am a Citizen!

Third, this bill is amnesty. Please ask that our intelligence not be further insulted by pretending it's not.

Please enforce the laws already on the books and maybe we can deal with those here illegally sometime in the future (but starting to deport them now would be a good start).

Thank you.

114 posted on 06/14/2007 12:15:26 PM PDT by TopDog2 (Onward Christian soldiers...)
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To: nthompsonwhitehouse

I like my amnesty plan!
Please call them INVADERS and don’t compare them to people who are legal aliens!
IF you aid and abet CRIMINALS, you are a criminal!

President Bush has been great on most things except for our border.
He has been great on the war on terrorists.
But on the border he is a gross failure.
He acted fast and correct on the 3,000+ people murdered at the world trade center.
He ignores the many rapes, murders and robberies which might be larger than the murders and money loss at the world trade center.
More Americans are abducted on the border of Mexico than in Iraq!

Start building the fence.
It should be made a felony for Criminals who overstay their visas and Invaders.

I believe we should give amnesty to these poor CRIMINALS or INVADERS.
This should be a 2 week amnesty to get the heck out of our Country.
The ones who ignore this amnesty should be buried in a tent city jail and fined $10,000 or buried elsewhere.
All aiders and abettors of these CRIMINALS or INVADERS should get 1 year in a tent city jail and a $10,000 fine for each CRIMINAL aided.
Those in government should be the first ones charged.


115 posted on 06/14/2007 12:15:40 PM PDT by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (Remember the Alamo, Goliad and WACO, It is Time for a new San Jacinto)
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To: nthompsonwhitehouse
6 months?

Bwahahahahahahahahahahaaha!

You get that for too many parking tickets in some states, and Indiana will stick you away for more than that if you toss a bag of trash out your car window inside the limits of an incorporated city or town.

The penalty for employing illegal aliens has go to include serious jail time, e.g. 10 to 20 years, with corporate presidents and board members subject to penalty as well, and possibly even stockholders with 1% or more of outstanding stocks or options.

Otherwise, it's not a penalty for your resolute criminally inclined employer.

You are going to have to get such legislation in place and prosecute several dozen employers before anyone here is going to agree that unlawful border crossers and visa jumpers should have first place in the "lawful resident" line ahead of honest applications for legal immigration.

116 posted on 06/14/2007 12:19:00 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: nthompsonwhitehouse; joanie-f; B4Ranch; Travis McGee; Spiff; calcowgirl; nicmarlo; Borax Queen; ...
First, let me tell you that any spokesman for the federal government, especially the White House, has zero credibility with me (and most of Free Republic) when talking about illegal aliens (for your future reference, we don't like the politically correct but factually ridiculous term "undocumented immigrants").

I recognize that living and working among Washington's political elite has probably left you with the touching but thoroughly mistaken notion that there are some Republicans left who actually trust the federal government when it comes to illegal alien issues. Let me disabuse you of that notion. Your boss has now managed to completely lose his conservative base, and now seems determined to destroy the Republican party or what's left of it (RINOs excepted). Every true conservative I know, and most Republicans, now have a very high level of distrust when it comes to the federal government--this includes the administration and Congress, as well as the embarrassing herd of federal bureaucrats working hard to accomplish absolutely nothing the people want.

When it comes to illegal alien issues, general statements of intent by the federal government are worthless based on the record. You have told us how essential it is that we support the War on Terror while completely ignoring border security here and intentionally failing to enforce the immigration laws of the United States. In this respect, you have been contemptuously blatant in your disregard both for the national sovereignty of the United States and for the clearly expressed wishes of the American people.

Now, please explain to us why we should accord any level of credibility to anything coming out of the mouths of federal government representatives on illegal alien issues? After that, feel free to attempt to persuade us that it really is beneficial to reward 20 - 30 million illegal alien lawbreakers with amnesty and citizenship as well as permit--if not encourage--another 50 - 75 million or so citizens of Mexico to flood into the United States to dilute our culture, ignore our language, and to further clog our infrastructure, increase our taxes, clutter up our streets and freeways, and our medical and school facilities.

Come right ahead, Mr. Thompson. We'll be waiting to hear what you have to say. Please try to remember, though, that you're no longer talking to the uninformed. We understand the issues. All of them.

117 posted on 06/14/2007 12:19:36 PM PDT by Czar ( StillFedUptotheTeeth@Washington)
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To: nthompsonwhitehouse

Millions for de Fence. Not one cent for amnesty!


118 posted on 06/14/2007 12:20:02 PM PDT by MARTIAL MONK
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To: philman_36

Sorry I’m not buying it.

First, why is it the US should be the ONLY country that MUST accept illegal aliens as full citizens when Mexico, Spain, France etc does not. A quick read of the Mexican Government laws on immigration, both legal and illegal, is a good starting point.

Secondly, since when have we become a nation of ILLEGAL immigration. For the millions of us who came from legal immigrants, this amnesty (let’s not mince words this is amnesty) is a slap in the fact to their plight to come to this country, assimilate and help make the US what it is today.

Third, don’t give me this garbage that border laws will be enforced, the immigrants must pay a fine, the employeers will be fined or worse for violations. We’ve been hearing that for years and nothing has been done. There are only so many times you can lie to the American people and expect them to believe it.

Remember, you’re now talking to a group of conservatives, ones that used to be the primary and respected base of the GOP. The ones that handed you all the White House, Senate and House on a silver platter, just to have it thrown away like a piece of garbage. We’re not a bunch of liberals who believe the government is the cure for all ills. No cradle to grave mentality here.

You fooled us once in the 80’s, we’re not stupid enough to be fooled again.


119 posted on 06/14/2007 12:22:04 PM PDT by Brytani (Keeper of the FR Loofah, Bath-cap and Rubber Duckie)
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To: nthompsonwhitehouse
fines for hiring an illegal worker are $5,000 maximum per illegal worker

It's been awhile since the Mrs. worked in HR, but I was always led to believe that a (single/one/per illegal) fraudulent I-9 carried a $10,000 penalty as far back as 10 years ago.

Does the new legislation reduce the penalty?

120 posted on 06/14/2007 12:22:36 PM PDT by HiJinx (Ask me about Troop Support...)
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