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A modern day "Thomas Paine" gives
his updated version of "Common Sense"!
The first article/speech by Governor Lamm will
remain as the introduction to this site --
establishes the "tone" for this website.
All new articles and
messages will appear immediately thereafter, most recent,
first. Following will be a link to another page
with access to all previously posted articles and
messages. This will enable those who visit this site on a
regular basis to locate new and recent postings
more quickly, while still providing access to all previously
posted articles and messages ...
Profoundly, the
former Colorado Governor, Richard D. Lamm, gave a stunning
speech on how to destroy America. He said, "... No nation in
history has survived the ravages of time. Arnold Toynbee
observed that all great civilizations rise and fall and that 'An
autopsy of history would show that all great nations commit
suicide.'"
"Here is how they do it," Lamm said: First
to destroy America,
"Turn America into a bilingual or multi-lingual and bicultural
country. History shows that no nation can survive the tension,
conflict, and antagonism of two or more competing languages and
cultures. It is a blessing for an individual to be bilingual;
however, it is a curse for a society to be bilingual. The
historical scholar Seymour Lipset put it this way: 'The
histories of bilingual and bi-cultural societies that do not
assimilate are histories of turmoil, tension, and tragedy.
Canada, Belgium, Malaysia, Lebanon all face crises of national
existence in which minorities press for autonomy, if not
independence. Pakistan and Cyprus have divided. Nigeria
suppressed an ethnic rebellion. France faces difficulties with
Basques, Bretons, and Corsicans." ...
To read a
complete copy of his speech, please click
How to
Destroy America.
Rooney Pushes Criminal Alien Removal Bill
Congressman Rooney
Pushes Criminal Alien Removal Bill
08/05/10
Washington, D.C.U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney (FL-16)
today discussed legislation he introduced last week to require
the Department of Homeland Security to remove criminal aliens
from the U.S. upon release from incarceration. Rooney said he
will urge Congress to take up the bill when the House returns in
September.
“If you’re here illegally and
you commit a crime, you should serve your
sentence and then go back to your home
country,” Rooney said. “You can’t stay here
and continue to commit crimes against our
citizens.
“A system where you can come here illegally,
get convicted of a crime, and then get
released back into our communities is
unacceptable. We’ve seen too many tragic
incidents where Americans have lost their
lives in crimes committed by illegal
immigrants who have already been through the
justice system.”
Rooney’s “Criminal Alien Removal Act,”
H.R. 6062, requires the Department of
Homeland Security to ensure that criminal
aliens are not released into the community
and are removed from the U.S. upon release.
The bill also allows officials to hold
criminal aliens after their sentence ends to
make sure they can be transferred into
federal custody and removed from the
country.
“My bill sends a message that we’re ready to
get serious about protecting Americans and
securing our border,” Rooney said.
ICE Agents Vote "No Confidence' in
Leaders,
Say Amnesty Coming!
ICE Agents Vote 'No Confidence' in
Leaders
Monday, 09 Aug 2010 09:36 PM
The union that represents rank-and-file field agents at
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has unanimously
passed a "vote of no confidence" for the agency's
leadership, saying ICE has "abandoned" its core mission
of protecting the public to support a political agenda
favoring amnesty.
The National Immigration and Customs Enforcement Council
of the American Federation of Government Employees,
which represents 7,000 ICE agents and employees, voted
259-0 for a resolution saying there was "growing
dissatisfaction and concern" over the leadership of
Assistant Secretary John Morton, who heads ICE, and
Phyllis Coven, assistant director for the agency's
office of detention policy and planning.
The resolution said ICE leadership had "abandoned the
agency's core mission of enforcing U.S. immigration laws
and providing for public safety," instead directing its
attention "to campaigning for programs and policies
related to amnesty and the creation of a special
detention system for foreign nationals that exceeds the
care and services provided to most U.S. citizens
similarly incarcerated.
"It is the desire of our union … to publicly separate
ourselves from the actions of Director Morton and
Assistant Director Coven and publicly state that ICE
officers and employees do not support Morton or Coven or
their misguided and reckless initiatives, which could
ultimately put many in America at risk," the union said.
In a strongly worded statement, the union and its
affiliated local councils said the integrity of the
agency "as well as the public safety" would be "better
provided for in the absence of Director Morton and
Assistant Director Coven."
The statement also noted that:
• The majority of ICE's enforcement and removal officers
are prohibited from making street arrests or enforcing
U.S. immigration laws outside of the jail setting.
• Hundreds of ICE officers nationwide perform no law
enforcement duties whatsoever because of resource
mismanagement within the agency.
• ICE detention reforms have transformed into a
detention system aimed at providing resortlike living
conditions to criminal aliens based on recommendations
not from ICE officers and field managers, but from
"special-interest groups."
• The lack of technical expertise and field experience
has resulted in a priority of providing bingo nights,
dance lessons and hanging plants to criminals, instead
of addressing safe and responsible detention reforms for
noncriminal individuals and families.
• Unlike any other agency in the nation, ICE officers
will be prevented from searching detainees housed in ICE
facilities, allowing weapons, drugs and other contraband
into detention centers — putting detainees, ICE officers
and contract guards at risk.
• Senior leadership ignores reports that ICE internal
investigations by the office of professional
responsibility conceal agency and supervisor misconduct
and are used to retaliate against employees who make
whistleblower-type disclosures or question inappropriate
policies and procedures.
ICE spokesman Brian Hale said the agency meets regularly
with representatives of the union to discuss its goal of
ensuring public safety by focusing on finding criminal
aliens and removing them from the country.
"We have fundamentally reformed immigration enforcement,
and we are removing record numbers of criminal aliens
because of it," Mr. Hale said. "Half of the people we
have removed so far this year have been convicted
criminal aliens — up from 35 percent a year ago.
"We understand the union's reason for engaging in
creative collective-bargaining tactics and, regardless,
we remain committed to working with them to address
substantive issues in the interests of making our
communities safer," he said.
ICE documents show that during the first nine months of
fiscal 2010, a total of 279,035 noncitizens were removed
from the U.S. as a result of ICE enforcement — a 10
percent increase over the total in fiscal 2008, the last
fiscal year of the Bush administration.
But according to the union, illegal immigrants now being
held in state and local jails seek out ICE agents for
deportation to avoid prosecution, conviction and prison
terms. It said criminal aliens "openly brag" that they
are taking advantage of a broken immigration system and
will be back in the United States within days to commit
crimes — while U.S. citizens arrested for the same
offenses serve prison sentences.
"ICE senior leadership is aware that the system is
broken, yet refuses to alert Congress to the severity of
the situation and request additional resources to
provide better enforcement and support of local
agencies," the statement said.
The no-confidence vote, taken in June and made public
last week in a letter by the union, said the agency's
senior leadership dedicated "more time to campaigning
for immigration reforms aimed at large-scale amnesty
legislation than advising the American public and
federal lawmakers on the severity of the
illegal-immigration problems."
The vote, first reported by the Washington Examiner,
said Mr. Morton and Ms. Coven also ignored the need for
more manpower and resources within the agency.
Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas, ranking Republican on the
House Judiciary Committee and a member of the House
Committee on Homeland Security, told The Washington
Times that the Obama administration is "simply not
serious about enforcing all of our immigration laws."
Mr. Smith said ICE doesn't have the resources because it
didn't ask for them, adding that "the Obama
administration did not request a single new detention
bed in their most recent budget request."
"So the limits on detention capacity that they now claim
hold them back from further enforcement are of their own
making," he said. "What's more, ICE is running under its
average daily detention capacity — the Obama
administration is not even using all the resources it
has."
Michael W. Cutler, a retired 31-year U.S. Immigration
and Naturalization Service (INS) senior criminal
investigator and intelligence specialist, said the
no-confidence vote "makes it clear that the leadership
at ICE has politicized a major component of national
security at the behest of the administration."
"It is clear that the marching orders coming from the
administration have nothing to do with securing our
nation's borders or enforcing the immigration laws," Mr.
Cutler said.
"It is an absolute absurdity to believe that our nation
can successfully wage a war against terrorists who are
determined to enter our nation and then embed themselves
in our nation with virtually no fear of being
identified, arrested or removed from our country," he
said.
Janice Kephart, director of national security policy at
the Center for Immigration Studies, described the
no-confidence vote in a statement last week as an
example of how ICE's mission was being "skewed towards
supporting an unflinching goal of amnesty by refusing to
allow agents to do their job."
Ms. Kephart, former counsel to the Sept. 11 commission
and a nationally recognized border-security authority,
suggested that ICE leadership — particularly Mr. Morton
— needed to pay attention to the no-confidence vote and
the concerns expressed by the rank-and-file agents.
"May I suggest that a significant problem with
dismissing a no-confidence vote from your entire
employee population is, when you run an agency of 7,000
officers and agents, you can't do your job unless they
do theirs?" she said. "Oh wait, that is the whole point,
is it not?"
Mr. Morton recently announced new guidelines telling ICE
agents to focus on apprehending terrorists and
criminals, causing many of agency's rank-and-file agents
to wonder who, then, is responsible for tracking down
and detaining the millions of other illegal
border-crossers and fugitive aliens now in the country.
The new guidelines noted that ICE "only has resources to
remove approximately 400,000 aliens per year, less than
4 percent of the estimated illegal-alien population in
the United States," and that as a result, it needed to
focus wisely on the limited resources Congress had
provided the agency.
He said the agency would "prioritize the apprehension
and removal of aliens who only pose a threat to national
security and/or public safety, such as criminals and
terrorists." Lesser priorities were given to foreign
nationals caught crossing the border illegally or using
phony immigration documents to gain entry, and those
identified as fugitives after failing to show up for
immigration or deportation hearings.
© Copyright 2010 The Washington Times, LLC
Contact Congress & Obama, "Demand
that ICE enforces our Immigration Laws!"
Also demand, "No form of amnesty for these LAWBREAKING
ILLEGAL ALIENS!
Links:
You
must have the zip code of a Representative to use
this contact form. Their zip codes are generally on
the email/contact form page, or another contact
page, or often at the bottom of the home page. This
way you can easily contact any/every Representative
in the House.
I'll bet you
didn't have a clue to the following!
An Electronic Pearl Harbor
August 6, 2010
Congressman Randy Forbes
In 2007, an unknown foreign power
broke into the Department of Defense, the Department of
State, and the Department of Commerce, and it likely
also broke into the Department of Energy and NASA,
although it cannot be known for sure. The foreign power
stole millions of pieces of government information,
equivalent to the amount of information held at the
Library of Congress. And they did it without stepping
foot into any one of the agency buildings. It was all
done electronically. The intrusion is one of the largest
known cyberattacks our nation has faced – it has been
coined the electronic Pearl Harbor.
Every day, some sort of cyberattack is
waged against our nation’s electronic systems. In fact,
cybersecurity attacks against the United States are
rising drastically every year. In 2006, there were 5,503
attacks on our nation, according to data from the
Department of Homeland Security. In 2007, it was 13,029.
By 2008, it was 16,483. In fact, during the first half
of 2009, there were reported at least 43,785 incidents
of malicious cyber activity directed against the U.S.
Department of Defense alone. These incursions came from
a variety of sources, ranging from criminal hackers to
foreign governments. The remediation cost the Defense
Department more than $100 million. That figure does not
even account for the significant cost of data lost to
cyber espionage.
Many individuals do not realize the
extent to which cyberattacks could impact us as a
nation. The United States is more dependent on our
computer systems than any other country – from military
readiness to transportation and energy grids to banking
systems to national security operations to civilian
infrastructure. An infiltration of any of these systems
could sabotage power plants or financial markets with an
online attack, stop transportation systems with a
hacking of communication systems, or result in billions
of dollars in annual losses to businesses around the
globe. The cyber intrusions reported by Google several
months ago are a reminder of just how closely these
attacks are to reaching American citizens on a very
personal level.
The most egregious actions – and
potentially the most dangerous to U.S. security – have
come out of China. Some of the more sophisticated
military analyses from China's armed forces propose to
enhance the ability to attack an adversary's satellite
communications and sensor systems, critical
transportation and energy infrastructure, ports of air
and sea embarkation, and military command systems.
Last year, President Obama labeled
cyberattacks “one of the most serious economic and
national security challenges” that the country faces and
FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III has said that “a
cyber-attack could have the same impact as a well-placed
bomb.”
Yet, we are being infiltrated every
single day with little being done to make cybersecurity
a top priority.
Just this week the Government
Accountability Office released
a report
stating that the United States approach
to cybersecurity falls drastically short. Among the
findings in the report, the GAO noted that there is no
coherent plan stating who is in charge at the federal
government level. They also noted that national goals
have yet to be established in terms of priorities in
protecting our cyber systems.
The alarming truth is this: when it
comes to cybersecurity, the United States is falling
behind. This weakness leaves us vulnerable to threats
emanating around the world. Make no mistake, the global
aspects of cyberspace present key challenges for our
nation and the establishment of a solid cybersecurity
initiative will take great effort. But it is not enough
to simply promise to deter and protect our national
systems; we need to have a whole-of-government and
state-of-the art strategic cyberdefense plan.
According to the GAO, one of the
critical challenges for us as we move forward is
developing such a comprehensive national strategy that
specifies overarching goals and a way to measure the
success of those goals. Because cybersecurity spans the
breadth of the public and private sector, it is
important that we create a dialogue now among business,
civil society, and government regarding the challenges
we face in cyberspace—spanning international law,
privacy and civil liberties, security, and the
architecture of the Internet.
Earlier this year, I requested
a hearing
in the House Armed Services Committee, on which I
sit, to begin that dialogue in Congress. The purpose of
the hearing would be to investigate the impact of
cyberattacks on the United States military so that we
can begin taking proactive steps at developing a
strategic cybersecurity plan. In addition, I am a member
of the
House Cybersecurity
Caucus,
whose purpose is to actively create
dialogue among members of Congress to identify
challenges and make recommendations on cybersecurity.
Beginning this dialogue in Congress will help draw
attention to not only to the need for a cybersecurity
plan, but an understanding of the resources necessary to
get us there.
We cannot afford to wait until a
catastrophic event occurs before we take steps to solve
this challenge. We must make our cybersecurity a
national priority by implementing a lasting national
strategy now. Until we do so, the United States will be
at a disadvantage in protecting its national interests
in the realm of cyberspace.
How 'bout writin' Obama & Congress and demanding
security against these cyberattacks!
Don't forget to remind them that they are not providing
any real border security, or any control over ILLEGAL
IMMIGRATION! They have failed this country and
its CITIZENS, miserably!
And, let 'em know, in no uncertain terms, that we
want our immigration laws enforced, NOW!
Links:
You must have the zip code of a Representative
to use their email contact form. Their zip
codes are generally on the email/contact form
page, or on another contact page, such as their
office location page, or often at the bottom of
their home page. This way you can easily
contact any/every Representative in the House.
If you don't have their zip code you will not be
able to use their email contact form... you will
be rejected.
For Senators, I've found that using the State
the Senator represents, when using their email
form, seems to work best. Your zip code will
enable you to receive any return mail being sent
to you. Using the Senator's State seems to
catch their eye... thus your email is not
immediately rejected.
Arizona Immigration Law Author:
Failure to Enforce Law
Impeachable Offense
Breaking News from Newsmax.com
Thursday, 05 Aug 2010 07:16 PM
By: Jim Meyers
State Sen. Russell Pearce, the chief architect of
Arizona’s tough immigration law, tells Newsmax that the
recent court ruling on the law was a “huge win” for
Americans fighting to stem the flow of illegal aliens in
this country.
Pearce, a Republican who represents parts of suburban
Phoenix, also says the law “scares” the Obama
administration because it will lead to the enforcement
of immigration laws — and agrees that Obama’s failure to
enforce those laws is an “impeachable” offense.
A highly decorated former law officer, Pearce crafted
and co-sponsored Arizona SB1070, the immigration bill
that was passed in April. Federal Judge Susan Bolton
blocked some of the most controversial parts of the
legislation, but Pearce remains cheered by the results.
“It’s been a long battle,” he says. “I prepared for the
fistfight. I knew it was coming, getting sued by the
open border crowd, the left-wing folks who fight you on
any effort to enforce the law. So I knew what was
coming.
“But we won. It’s a huge win. We won everything we
really needed to win.
“The main thrust of 1070 was [against] sanctuary
policies” that restrict the enforcement of immigration
laws in certain jurisdictions. “They’re actually illegal
under federal law. But [federal officials] don’t sue
them, they sue Arizona because we decide to enforce the
law.
“The other parts that she blocked temporarily were
important tools, but what did go into effect, people
need to understand, is that sanctuary policies in the
state of Arizona are now illegal. She didn’t block that
piece. So law enforcement may enforce the federal law to
the fullest extent of the law.
“And if they don’t, we the people will sue government —
that’s also in the bill. If they block or interfere or
limit the enforcement of these laws in any manner, we
will sue.
“The other piece that stayed in there is on day laborer
issues. It’s a felony to hire them. We’re going to stop
the hiring of illegal aliens that take a job from
Americans. If you pick up an illegal alien day laborer,
you’re going to go to jail. Your car is going to be
impounded for 30 days, mandatory. So some significant
pieces are still in effect and are huge in this bill.
“This law has teeth. That’s what scares people. That
scares the Obama administration, which has a
non-enforcement policy.”
Pearce was asked how he reacted to Sarah Palin’s comment
that Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer “has the cojones that our
president doesn’t have.”
“I reacted very well to that comment,” he tells Newsmax.
“I appreciate the governor’s vigilance in defense of the
bill.
“During the debate over 1070, a good friend of mine was
murdered — right after [Janet] Napolitano, your Homeland
Security director, said the border is more secure than
ever. Simply not true.
“Fifteen Phoenix police officers, just to pick on
Phoenix, were murdered or maimed at the hands of illegal
aliens. Enough is enough. We spend $2.7 billion a year
in Arizona to educate, medicate, and incarcerate. It’s
the citizens that pay the price for this illegal alien
invasion that can no longer be ignored.”
Pearce cited one Arizona family that has been terrorized
by illegal aliens who come across the border, suffering
“18 burglaries, three home invasions, multiple vehicles
stolen. At night they hear a noise outside and they pray
for daylight. They have their doors boarded, their
windows boarded. And we have a federal government that
stands by and thinks that’s O.K., that’s just collateral
damage as they move forward with their agenda of
amnesty. Enough is enough.”
Pearce says he is encouraged by other states that are
following in Arizona’s footsteps and seeking to pass
immigration legislation.
“Over 20 states are going to model legislation after
1070, so I’m extremely encouraged. In fact, I’ve talked
to 34 states that would like to do it but don’t have a
legislature or governor that would sign a bill.
“That’s what scares the Obama administration. They’re
not worried about profiling. They’re not worried about
anything but enforcement. What scares them is the fact
that the laws are actually going to be enforced.”
He says the administration is worried about enforcement
for two political reasons.
“First of all you have the open border anarchists who
want to change the political makeup of America, and
that’s through change in the demographics. Their best
hope is open borders.
“Then you’ve got the other side, the corporate
oligarchy, the profits-over-patriotism crowd. They want
cheap labor. They don’t care what the cost is to
America, and they have a stranglehold on Washington
D.C., while 70 to 80 percent of Americans say close the
borders, enforce the law.”
Pearce agrees with South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham
that the policy established by the 14th Amendment — that
anyone born in the U.S. is a citizen — needs to be
changed because it was never intended to be applied to
aliens.
Sen. Jon Kyl says that when he asked President Obama to
secure the border, Obama’s response was that if he did,
it would remove the incentive for Republicans to
negotiate on comprehensive immigration reform. Former
Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo has called the refusal to
enforce the law an impeachable offense. Pearce was asked
if he agrees.
“Absolutely,” he declares.
“Five to ten thousand folks come across that border
daily, and what’s coming across — 20 percent have
criminal convictions — are gang members, drug smugglers,
human smugglers, child molesters, rapists. It’s an
invasion. It’s in violation of the Constitution. Yes,
it’s impeachable. He not only neglects to do it, now
he’s refusing to do it. It’s impeachable.”
As for reports that a Mexican drug cartel has placed a
$1 million bounty on the head of tough Maricopa County
Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Pearce says “the silence is almost
deafening from Washington, D.C.”
Labor
Department Protecting Illegal Immigrants?
Congressman Randy Forbes
Labor Department Protecting Illegal
Immigrants?
Friday July 17, 2010
I recently shared
on
my blog that the Labor Department is offering
assistance to illegal immigrants who believe they are facing
wage disparities. In the Public Service Announcement, Labor
Secretary Hilda Solis says workers -- legal or not -- have
the right to fair wages. You can view the PSA by clicking
here.
I believe this is wrong. Not only are American citizens
suffering as we are facing almost 10% unemployment, but it
is against the law to hire workers that are in our country
illegally.
I received overwhelming feedback from my constituents on
this issue. As a result, I signed a letter to Secretary
Solis condemning the Labor Department’s new Public Service
Announcement that asserts that “undocumented workers” have
the right to equal pay just as American citizens have.
You can read the letter
here.
Or, read it here:
Randy's Blog
You Weigh In: Labor Dept Offers Assistance to Illegal
Immigrants
Posted by Randy
| June 24, 2010
This week, the Labor Department
kicked off a campaign to offer assistance to illegal
immigrants who believe they are facing wage disparities.
In the Public Service Announcement, Labor Secretary
Hilda Solis says workers -- legal or not -- have the
right to fair wages.
"You work hard, and you have the right to be paid
fairly," she says. "And it is a serious problem when
workers in this country are not being paid every cent
they earn. Remember, every worker in America has the
right to be paid fairly, whether documented or not. So
call us."
You can watch the PSA
here.
At a time of almost 10% unemployment, I believe our
Department of Labor should be focusing all of their
energies on protecting American jobs and enforcing our
labor laws. It is illegal to hire workers that are
in our country illegally.
More troops needed on
border!
US senators: 3,000 more troops needed
on US-Mexico border
WASHINGTON (AFP) – Two Republican senators proposed Monday
sending 3,000 more US
National Guard
soldiers to quell violence spilling over the border
between their home state of Arizona and
Mexico.
In a 10-point plan for beefing up security in the area,
Senators John McCain and
John Kyl also called for permanently adding 3,000 US
Custom and Border Protection Agents to the Arizona/Mexico
border by 2015.
They also called for completing construction of 700 miles
of fencing along the border and beefing up
unmanned
aerial vehicle patrols so that they could be run 24
hours a day.
"Violence has dramatically increased over the last two
years," McCain said at a
joint press
conference with Kyl and two sheriffs from Arizona
border areas.
Of the roughly one million people detained after
illegally crossing into the United States from Mexico,
600,000 were nabbed in Arizona, and 17 percent of them had
existing criminal records in the
southwestern state, said McCain.
Moreover, "those
crossing the
border are increasingly armed," he warned.
"You can't live in
Arizona and not have this problem everyday in the
newspapers. People are fed up," said Kyl.
McCain, once an ardent supporter of overhauling US
immigration laws, faces an unusually vigorous
challenge for the Republican Senate nomination this year
from conservative former
representative JD Hayworth.
Contact Obama &
Congress, "Increase security on our borders & actually
enforce our laws!"
Links:
You
must have the zip code of a Representative to use
this contact form. Their zip codes are generally on
the email/contact form page, or another contact
page, or often at the bottom of the home page. This
way you can easily contact any/every Representative
in the House.
Illegal Immigration is a Tax-dollar Drain!
They entered this
country ILLEGALLY! They have stayed here ILLEGALLY! Millions
work here ILLEGALLY! And, our Congress and Obama aid, abet and
harbor them... which, as you know, is also breaking the law! We
have millions unemployed, these ILLEGALS must go, freeing up
these millions of jobs for the LEGAL, unemployed CITIZENS of
this nation! NOW! NO more delays and excuses!
And, why are there
ILLEGAL ALIENS in our prisons. Why haven't they been
deported... they should have been deported immediately. It is
estimated that the cost to TAXPAYERS is between $50,000.00 to
$75,000.00 per ILLEGAL ALIEN, per year, to house and maintain
these ILLEGALS, these LAWBREAKERS! This would free up prison
cells, thus no new prisons would have to be constructed,
possibly for years.
Just these steps,
alone, would do wonders to restore the economy of our country
and put our LEGAL CITIZENS back to work -- yes, taxpaying
CITIZENS! And, think about this... no new schools or teachers
would be required, possibly for years!
The following article
says it much more eloquently, supported by facts and figures.
Then
there’s health care. If illegal immigrants are covered
in the health care bill (there is not a strong
verification mechanism to ensure they won’t get
benefits), it would increase the bill’s costs between
$10-$30 billion. Of course, it won’t matter if illegal
immigrants receive amnesty since the new law requires
health care coverage for everyone.
Social
Security is another area of great concern. Claims by
amnesty advocates that illegal immigration can “save”
Social Security are false.
Last
year, the Social Security Administration (SSA) ran the
numbers at my request. Here’s what they found: For a
single 25-year old male with very low earnings, today’s
value of his and his employer’s contributions to the
Trust Fund will fall $15,596 short of the value of the
Social Security retirement benefits he will eventually
receive. A single female will receive $20,936 more in
benefits than she pays into Social Security. If the
immigrant is married but the sole wage-earner, the
couple will eventually drain the Trust Fund by $52,460;
if the immigrant is married to another very low earner,
the drain on the trust fund will be $39,037. The
legalization of one million illegal immigrant couples
who work for very low wages would be a $101 billion blow
to taxpayers. And amnesty for all illegal immigrants
would multiply this figure many times!
When it
comes to taxes, amnesty supporters like to say that
illegal immigrants will pay their “fair share” of taxes
after being granted amnesty. This is deceptive.
Low-skilled workers often pay no taxes and receive a
check from the Internal Revenue Service in the form of
the Earned Income Tax Credit. Putting illegal
immigrants on the IRS rolls will actually cost the
federal government money.
Since
most illegal immigrants have less than a high school
education and have well below average incomes, even
those illegal immigrants who pay taxes pay far less in
taxes than they (and their families) consume in
taxpayer-supported benefits. Robert Rector of the
Heritage Foundation found that the average illegal
immigrant household headed by an immigrant without a
high school degree receives over $19,000 more in total
government benefits each year than it pays in federal,
state and local taxes!
But the
impact goes far beyond these direct costs.
There
are nearly 16 million Americans out of work, and about 8
million jobs are held by illegal immigrants. By simply
enforcing immigration laws already on the books, we
could create millions of job opportunities for American
citizens and legal immigrants who played by the rules
and entered the U.S. the right way.
Instead, the Obama administration has all but abandoned
worksite enforcement efforts. Administrative arrests
are down 87 percent; criminal arrests of employees are
down 83 percent; criminal arrests of employers are down
73 percent; the number of criminal indictments are down
86 percent; and the number of criminal convictions is
down 83 percent since 2008. This insults unemployed and
underemployed American workers who need the jobs held by
illegal immigrants.
The hit
is on your wallet! Illegal immigrants are a fiscal
drain on American taxpayers. And the Obama
administration’s policies only make it worse.
Lamar Smith is the Ranking Member of the
House Judiciary Committee.
It's way past time to "raise hell," but Congress and
Obama must hear from us, NOW!
Links:
You
must have the zip code of a
Representative to use this contact
form. Their zip codes are generally
on the email/contact form page, or
another contact page, or often at
the bottom of the home page. This
way you can easily contact any/every
Representative in the House.
The
Corrosive Effects of Illegal Immigration
(with added commentary)
The Corrosive Effects of
Illegal Immigration
By Doug Patton
March 08, 2010
Most Americans realize that our federal government's
deliberate refusal to control the influx of illegal aliens,
primarily from Mexico, has had a deleterious effect on our nation's
economy. Scores of California hospitals have had to close their
doors because of a tsunami of illegals seeking "free" health care --
and receiving it.
Schools across the country are being forced to deal with
the children of those here illegally, with many states now fighting
over whether to offer these children in-state tuition to attend
state colleges and universities.
Two of the largest business associations in the country
are at odds over this issue. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which
sees cheap, illegal labor as a boon for big business, favors a
program that keeps our southern border open. But the National
Federation of Independent Business, which represents small business
owners, says its members frequently see illegals as competition with
legitimate enterprise.
We even see sharp divisions in our politics over this
issue, as challengers such as former Arizona Congressman J.D.
Hayworth take on former Republican presidential candidate John
McCain in that state's primary election this year for the GOP
nomination for McCain's Senate seat.
But these are only the most obvious consequences of a
misguided policy that has overburdened the most prosperous society
on earth, and now the corrosive effects of not enforcing our
immigration laws is taking a toll on our body politic at a whole new
level.
In my home state of Nebraska, Republican Gov. Dave
Heineman currently enjoys sky-high approval ratings from
constituents, thanks in large part to his stubborn resistance to tax
increases, his principled opposition to Democrat Sen. Ben Nelson's
"Cornhusker Kickback," and his veto of a bill that would have
provided in-state college tuition for the children of illegals -- a
stand that helped him beat back a 2006 primary challenge from former
congressman and Nebraska football deity Tom Osborne. Now Heineman
has taken another courageous position on behalf of taxpayers by
threatening to veto a bill in the Legislature that would provide
state-funded prenatal care for illegal immigrants.
Unfortunately, Nebraska's Catholic Bishops have come out
in favor of the legislation, thereby causing a powerful,
Catholic-dominated pro-life group, Nebraska Right-to-Life, to issue
an ultimatum: candidates opposing the bill will not receive their
endorsement in the upcoming fall election campaign.
"We want to assure that innocent, unborn children will
receive prenatal services," says Brenda Eller, president of the
group. The group's board voted unanimously to support the bill.
"This is the right thing to do from a pro-life position, regardless
of the immigration status," Eller declares.
But Gov. Heineman is standing firm. "After a careful and
thoughtful review of the various aspects of this issue, we are
opposed to illegal immigrants receiving taxpayer-funded benefits,"
the governor said in a letter read at a public hearing on the
prenatal care plan. This once again stands him in good stead with
Nebraskans.
"The idea that society is responsible for people who are
breaking the law is completely ridiculous and completely false,"
says Dimitri Krynsky, who emigrated legally from Czechoslovakia
thirty years ago. "What the state should do is make sure these
people do not find work here, do not find apartments here," he says.
"Nebraska should create an environment that will send them home."
Krynsky speaks for the overwhelming majority of
Nebraskans, including the many legal immigrants who resent the fact
that illegals are being granted all the rights of citizenship
without having complied with the law. Since immigration is a federal
issue, and it has become obvious that bureaucrats at the Immigration
and Customs Enforcement (ICE), have no intention of enforcing the
law, state officials have two choices. They can capitulate to the
pro-illegal cause or defend the law. Gov. Heineman is one leader who
has chosen to do the latter.
---
Doug Patton is a former speechwriter and public policy
advisor who now works as a freelance writer. His weekly columns
appear in newspapers across the country and on various Internet
websites, including Human Events Online and GOPUSA.com, where he is
a senior writer and state editor.
The following are
additional observations and comments:
Why does our Congress
ignore the obvious solutions to unemployment, the economy and
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION?!
Yes, there truly
are "Quick-Fixes for Unemployment, for many of the Problems with
the Economy of this Country, and ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION!"
Congress, how about STOPPING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION and
securing our borders?! The laws are in place, but Congress does
nothing to send the ILLEGALS
back to their homelands, especially those taking jobs from LEGAL
citizens. Thus, Congress is part of the problem... a very LARGE
part of the problem. In fact, by doing nothing, Congress is
breaking the law by aiding, abetting and harboring these
LAWBREAKERS! But, as we all know, it would take courage to
actually enforce our laws regarding ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION!
And, as you know, sending those ILLEGAL ALIENS, who are
ILLEGALLY employed, back to their homelands will go a very long
way to solving the unemployment problems in this country, as
well as boosting our economy -- taxes will actually be paid, and
millions of those free-loading on our healthcare, welfare and
school systems would be gone!
Congress admits there are approximately 7,000,000 to
8,000,000 ILLEGAL ALIENS ILLEGALLY employed in this country!
Well, there are about that many legal citizens unemployed in
this country. Therefore that would go a very long way to
solving the majority of our unemployment problems, and do it
immediately! Therefore, the full implementation of E-Verify is
paramount! The laws are already on the books, but, again,
Congress fails to execute -- to follow through and do its job!
Just think about the dollars in
unemployment benefits that would be saved, and how much it would
help to reduce the deficit. And, don't forget those
ILLEGAL ALIEN dollars would no longer be sent back to Mexico,
and would be recycled in this country -- another big plus for
our economy! But again, quiet obvious... well, at least to the
average American.
Another obvious solution, and this
involves solving our prison problems. Send those ILLEGAL ALIENS
in our prisons back to THEIR homelands... this is a horrible,
unjustified expense to the LEGAL, TAXPAYING CITIZENS of this
nation. These LAWBREAKERS should never have been placed in our
prisons in the first place, they should have been immediately
deported! This would not only reduce the cost to the taxpayers,
but it would open cells to house new prisoners -- new prisons
wouldn't have to be built.
Then, send the rest of these LAWBREAKER ILLEGAL
ALIENS back to THEIR homelands... and that also will
certainly go a very long way to solving our HEALTHCARE
problems/costs! Then, Congress can forget about Obamacare, and
simply address the basic problems with fraud and out-of-control
and spiraling costs in the healthcare industry!
Summing it up, by sending the ILLEGALS back to THEIR
homeland would, number 1, pretty much solve the majority of the
unemployment problems in the U.S., and 2, go a very long way to
solving the problems with our economy... taxes would actually be
paid, and those LEGAL CITIZENS receiving unemployment and
welfare benefits would no longer be on the dole. And,
magically, a major, ILLEGAL drain on our healthcare and welfare
systems and our schools would be stopped, gone! That's
right, not only would the unemployment problems in this country
be solved, but there would be a huge infusion of tax dollars
into the treasury, and, of course, there would be this
tremendous reduction in the drain on our healthcare and welfare
systems, as well as on our schools. And then, we certainly
wouldn't need any form of Obamacare, would we?! Socialism
defeated!
And, just one final footnote! Just how many
terrorists are imbedded in those millions of ILLEGAL ALIENS?!
Think about it... a half of 1% of 12,000,000 ILLEGAL ALIENS
would mean there are no less than 60,000 terrorists (and
remember, there are estimated to be as many as 20,000,000 in
this country). To make a point, what if there were 20,000,000
and 1%, yes, just 1% were terrorists, that would amount to
200,000 terrorists. That invasion of terrorists would be equal
to the amount of troops we have in Iraq and Afghanistan! But,
we'll remain conservative, and use the lower number. Yes, those
numbers could equal the size of the army of terrorists may have
already invaded this country. We all know that many ILLEGALS
cross the border daily, and little is done to stop all of them.
What is sad is the fact that those who are caught are NOT
immediately returned
And then, mull this around for a few
minutes, Congress and Obama made a big deal out of the one
terrorist who failed to blow up a plane, recently! That's
right, Congress, Obama and the press, got all upset about one
failed attack on an airplane -- ONE TERRORIST! And then, there
was all the press given to the 2 party crashers... big
deal. Yes, while they ignore the millions who have already
entered this country ILLEGALLY and continue cross our borders
ILLEGALLY, with impunity!
Along with the deportation of the ILLEGAL ALIENS
already in this country, increased border security and the
interception and return of ILLEGALS attempting to ILLEGALLY
enter/invade this country are truly the solution to a great deal
of what troubles this country. Of course, the politicians would
actually have to do what is right... return the ILLEGAL ALIENS
to their homelands! Plus, there canNOT be any form of amnesty
for these LAWBREAKING ILLEGAL ALIENS! THEY ARE LAWBREAKERS...
and you don't reward lawbreakers!
Pasadena Anti-Amnesty Tea
Party
What I Said & Saw at Pasadena Anti-Amnesty Tea Party
By
Chad MacDonald, Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 4:01 PM EST
- posted on
NumbersUSA
Over 80
peaceful activists gathered at City Hall in
Pasadena, CA for a Tea Party Against Amnesty.
It was one of 53 rallies held coast-to-coast
last Saturday...
My Speech:
Hello Pasadena. Hello California. Hello
fellow Americans! We stand here today, united,
over 1 million strong across this great nation
as a voice of reason, as a voice of power, and
as a voice against amnesty. There are over 50
events just like this one happening across the
country today, and this is one of the largest.
What is happening today in Congress is
unacceptable. Health care for illegal aliens is
unacceptable. Illegal immigrants’ taking our
jobs is unacceptable. Any kind of blanket
amnesty is unacceptable… and we will not stand
for it. If anyone from the press is here today,
I want you to take out your pen and write down
this seven letter word: Liberty… Liberty…
Liberty and justice for all. This is a Democrat
issue, this is a Republican issue, this is a
Conservative issue, and this is a Liberal issue.
Immigration is a dynamic issue and by God we are
going to lock down those borders, support our
local law enforcement agencies, and we are going
to stop amnesty in its tracks!
Today we stand here on the steps of city hall
with our nation in a fragile state of the union.
These are not good times California. 10.2% of
this great country is out of work today. 1 in
every 10 Americans is out of a job, and in many
districts and states the number is higher, much,
much higher. And still every month illegal
aliens cross our borders, illegal aliens take
our jobs, 60,000 illegal aliens come into this
country every month, and you tell me today
Pasadena is this right? No. There are somewhere
between 11-20 million illegal aliens in the
United States today. Is this right? No.
Will we stand for illegal aliens taking our
jobs? No. Will we let tax payer money pay for
healthcare for illegal aliens? No. And will we
let Congress pass another amnesty? No.
I want each of you to call your Congressman
and Senators on Monday and say: No amnesty for
illegal aliens. I want each of you to fax your
Congressman and Senators on Tuesday and say: No
amnesty for illegal aliens. I want each of you
to e-mail your Congressman and Senators on
Wednesday and say: No amnesty for illegal
aliens. I want each of you to go visit your
Congressman and Senators on your lunch break on
Thursday and say: No amnesty for illegal aliens.
And then I want each and every one of you to
call me on Friday and repeat to me: No amnesty
for illegal aliens.
And I will tell each of you to keep fighting,
keep calling, keep faxing, keep e-mailing, and
to keep visiting your district office. Keep
doing what you are doing! Keep up the good work!
And go out there next week and do it again! I
want every one of you to sign our mailing list,
become a quick member if you are not already,
read our Newsletter every Friday, and take
action. And I want all of you to yell out right
now: No amnesty for illegal aliens.
My great grandfather Kuzdrowski was a legal
immigrant from Poland. When he arrived to
Chicago, he kissed the ground and said “I’m
proud to be an American.” My great grandfather
Vicario was a legal immigrant from Italy. When
he arrived to New York City, he kissed the
ground and said “I’m proud to be an American.”
In their honor I claim: These steps that we
stand on today, and kiss the ground and say… We
are all “Proud to be an American.” And together
we pledge allegiance.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United
States of America, and to the republic for which
it stands: One nation under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.
Now let me tell you another personal story.
You may have heard people saying “We don’t want
those jobs.” Have you heard this?
At 16 when I got my first job at Renicks Tree
Farm in West Sunbury, Pennsylvania working in
the fields trimming Christmas trees… I wanted
that job. At 18 working the drive-thru window at
Arby’s Roast Beef in Butler, Pennsylvania… I
wanted that job. When I served in the US Army
and the US Army Reserves in Ft. Dix, New Jersey
and Ft. Lee, Virginia… I wanted that job.
Waiting tables at BJ’s Restaurant Brewhouse here
in Woodland Hills while I was living in Reseda,
California … I wanted that job. My internship
and job at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, CA… I
wanted that job. And my job today in Washington
DC… I want that job. Don’t ever let anyone tell
you that we don’t want those jobs. Now let’s
take this rally to the streets and march around
the block: No amnesty for illegal aliens!
The list of solutions to keep the long-term
viability of the American citizen has to include
the following: (1) Nationwide implementation of
E-Verify, (2) Full support for 287(g) for our
national and local law enforcement agencies to
share resources, (3) Guarantee that any legal
immigration law changes promote lower levels of
immigration, and (4) Defeat of any blanket
amnesty legislation. Wake up Pasadena. Wake up
California. Wake up my fellow Americans. No
amnesty for illegal aliens!
Do I hear an echo in here...
The following is what I've been
saying for the last couple of years!
But far more eloquently stated by
"Thomas Paine" in this recent presentation:
Joe Legal vs.
Jose Illegal
Here is an example of why hiring illegal aliens is not
economically productive for the State of California...
You have 2 families..."Joe Legal" and
"Jose Illegal". Both families have 2 parents, 2 children
and live in California.
"Joe Legal" works in construction, has a Social Security Number,
and makes $25.00 per hour with payroll taxes deducted...."Jose
Illegal" also works in construction, has "NO" Social
Security Number, and gets paid $15.00 cash "under the table".
Joe Legal...$25.00 per hour x 40 hours $1000.00 per week,
$52,000 per year
Now take 30% away for state federal tax
Joe Legal now has $31,231.00
Jose Illegal...$15.00 per hour x
40 hours $600.00 per week, $31,200.00
per year
Jose Illegal pays no taxes...
Jose Illegal now has $31,200.00
Joe Legal pays Medical and Dental Insurance with limited
coverage
$1000.00 per month
$12,000.00 per year
Joe Legal now has $19,231.00
Jose Illegal has full Medical
and Dental coverage through the state and local clinics at a
cost of $0.00 per year
Jose Illegal still has
$31,200.00
Joe Legal makes too much money is not eligible for Food Stamps
or welfare
Joe Legal pays for food
$1,000.00 per month
$12,000.00 per year
Joe Legal now has $ 7,231.00
Jose Illegal has no documented
income and is eligible for Food Stamps and Welfare
Jose Illegal still has
$31,200.00
Joe Legal pays rent of
$1,000.00 per month
$12,000.00 per year
Joe Legal is now in the hole
minus (-) $4,769.00
Jose Illegal receives a $500 per
month Federal rent subsidy
Jose Illegal pays rent
$500.00 per month
$6,000.00 per year
Jose Illegal still has
$25,200.00
Joe Legal now works overtime on Saturdays or gets a part time
job after work.
Jose Illegal has nights and
weekends off to enjoy with his family.
Joe Legal's and Jose Illegal's
children both attend the same school. Joe Legal pays for his
children's lunches while Jose Illegal's
children get a government sponsored lunch.
Jose Illegal's children have an
after school ESL program. Joe Legal's children go home.
Joe Legal and Jose Illegal both
enjoy the same Police and Fire Services, but Joe paid for them
and Jose did not pay.
We won't
vote for or support any politician who supports illegal aliens!
So, stand up and be counted and take a stand
for American Citizens, LEGAL Citizens!
Congress & Obama Should Secure Our
Borders
Not Reward Lawbreakers with Amnesty!
Dear Friend,
A recent Roll Call newspaper article reported that
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid believes he has “the votes
and support” to take up immigration legislation this year.
In the same article, Senator Charles Schumer from New York
said that the key principles to this legislation must include
“a direct path to citizenship.”
In spite of the fact that the American people have spoken
clearly that amnesty is an unacceptable means to address our
ever-growing illegal immigration problem, liberal leaders in
Congress keep pushing it.
As the Chairman of the Border Security and Enforcement
First Caucus I will keep working with my likeminded Senate
colleagues to stop this amnesty legislation.
Amnesty sends the wrong message – that of a reward – to
those who have been evading our laws. And it is extremely
unfair to all of the legal immigrants who came to this nation
and obeyed our laws to become citizens.
Congress and the president should focus on securing our
borders and strengthening our interior enforcement, not
rewarding law breakers with amnesty.
We need to dramatically improve our border security by
having more agents patrolling our borders and making major
investments in infrastructure improvements, such as strategic
fencing and increased detention space, and I’ll keep fighting
for these principles in the Senate.
Sincerely,
David Vitter
U.S. Senator
Mexico Meltdown
Mexico Meltdown Part II -
Are We Serious Yet?
March 19, 2009
by Bay Buchanan
Could America finally be getting serious about our southern
border?
Recently, Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, was in Mexico to offer military
assistance in their escalating war against the drug
lords. This after several US intelligence reports found
that Mexico now presented a worse threat to our national
security than Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan or Pakistan. And
President Obama says he's considering putting troops on
the border.
According to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Mexico now
appears ready to accept the kind of help they shunned
only months ago. Last week on NBC's "Meet The Press"
Gates said, " I think we are beginning to be in a
position to help the Mexicans more than we have in the
past.....I think some of the old biases against
cooperation between militaries and so on, I think, are
being satisfied."
Let me translate.
President Calderon and his government are down for the
count and without a U.S. rescue operation Mexico will
soon be a narco-state. One defense official, according
to The Washington Times, explained that Mexican
President Felipe Calderon was "fighting for the life of
Mexico" and the situation could take a turn for the
worse in coming months.
The Times reported that the two largest and most violent
cartels, the Sinaloa Cartel and "Los Zetas", the
enforcement arm of the Gulf Cartel, are negotiating a
merger of sorts. Together these vicious rivals have
100,000 heavily-equipped ground troops, a force that
would be better armed and nearly as large as the Mexican
military. In addition the Sinaloa Cartel has
successfully infiltrated most all levels of Mexico's
federal government.
Admiral Mullen acknowledged the sense of urgency. After
meeting with his Mexican counterparts he told the media
he would be expediting the delivery of sophisticated
military equipment, including helicopters, to Mexico as
part of the three year 1.4 billion dollar initiative
approved last November. In addition Mullen spoke of the
Pentagon's willingness to provide Mexico with new
surveillance and reconnaissance support, such as
unmanned drones to spy on armed drug gangs, especially
along the US border.
Sophisticated aerial surveillance on the
border! This is outstanding news--for Mexico and the
U.S. if both countries are serious about stopping the
flow of all illegal traffic.
But that's not the case.
Last week President Calderon blamed America for
the drug war. The primary cause, he said, was having
"the world's biggest consumer' of illegal drugs" as his
neighbor. "Drug trafficking in the Untied States," he
added, "is fueled by the phenomenon of corruption on the
part of the American authorities." (Talk about calling
the kettle black!) Here is what he wants done: "I
think that weapons and cash cross from there to here,
and that both countries should strive to make their
borders safe and open to trade and workers, but closed
to illegal drugs, weapons, and money trafficking."
There you have it-Mexico wants our border "safe
and open to...workers", and, of course, their families
and friends. But along side these folks come the
gangbangers, the drug runners, the criminals-and the
drugs. The openness of our border is precisely why the
drug cartels set up shop in Mexico.
Law enforcement officials have told us that
cartel thugs disguise themselves by hiding among the
migrant communities. It is how they get here; it is how
they hide in plain sight and safely operate in our
communities. And they are here.
Just last week the Houston Chronicle ran a story
titled "Mexican Cartels Infiltrate Houston" while USA
Today ran one led: "Mexican Cartels Plague Atlanta".
"The same folks who are rolling heads in the streets of
Ciudad Juarez are operating in Atlanta", says Jack
Killorin, the head of Atlanta Office of National Drug
Control Policy's Task Force, "here they are just better
behaved."
The only way we have a chance to stop the drug
industry from thriving in this country is to stop the
illegal invasion.
Calderon is correct that the cartels'
sophisticated equipment and the billions in drug money
fueling the war originate in the US and travels south
across the border. But again the only way to stop its
flow is to tighten control of the border. While not a
sufficient step it is a necessary one.
So what kind of deal have our bold leaders made
with Mexico? We know Calderon would never allow
surveillance designed to help him be used to disrupt the
flow of illegal aliens he is sending north. If aerial
surveillance detects, as it surely will, hordes of
illegals making their way north, do we simply hope no
drug runners are hiding in their midst?
The question needs to be asked. If the U.S.
military's surveillance detects crimes occurring on the
border-including illegal entry into our country-will
they share the information with our border agents? And
will the agents be instructed to apprehend the
violators? Put another way: Now that open borders have
exposed us to an increasingly grave and imminent
national security threat are we ready to secure them?
Don't count on it-it would offend Mexico.
You should be outraged!
Speak out!
Contact Congress & Obama!*
Friday, February 13, 2009
Dear Friend,
I was outraged to hear that two E-Verify provisions
were removed from the final stimulus. This means that there will
be no special restriction to keep illegal aliens from getting
new jobs created by the bill or in the future.
The E-Verify program is an important internet-based
tool that gives employers a quick process to verify the work
eligibility of new employment hires. According to U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Service, nearly 80,000 employers use
the program and more than 1,000 employers voluntarily sign up to
use E-Verify each week. The program has seen remarkable
improvements in the last 12 years.
There were two provisions in the stimulus aimed to
use the E-Verify system to cut down on illegal immigration. The
first provision would have reauthorized the current, voluntary
E-Verify program, which expires in March. The second provision
required local governments or businesses receiving stimulus
funds to run their new hires through the electronic, 99.5
percent accurate E-Verify system.
But liberals looking to advance their broader
immigration reform agenda, including amnesty, removed these
provisions from the bill.
These provisions were designed to project jobs for
American workers, but with their removal the stimulus is now
handing jobs over to illegals when American workers in the
unemployment line need it more.
Many Americans have voiced their unyielding support
for employment verification, specifically on government
contracts. Workplace verification is one of the most important
actions to curb illegal immigration, and I will keep working to
make this program permanent and to put the tools in place for
American businesses to hire legal workers instead of illegal
immigrants with false documentation.
Sincerely,
David Vitter
U.S. Senator
*House of Representatives:
House
Mexico on brink of chaos!
Obama to study environmental impact of
fence.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Dear Friend,
Recent reports of the escalating violence on our border
are terrifying, and the conditions are deteriorating by the day.
Mexico's drug war claimed over 6,616 lives last year and these
weren't all bad guys. Last week Police Commander Martin Castro
was decapitated and his head was found in a cooler outside the
police station. A calling card of the local drug cartel was
enclosed.
Decapitation is now commonplace in Mexico-just last month a
police chief and eight soldiers were found decapitated in the
state of Guerrero. And to assure the young people know who is in
charge these narco-terrorists are web casting the beheadings.
"There is a new and different violence in this war," said Victor
Clark Alfaro, the founder of the Binational Center for Human
Rights. "Each method is now more brutal, more extreme than the
last. To cut off heads? That is now what they like. They are
going to the edge of what is a possible for human being to do."
The situation is so
severe that the U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, VA, has
warned that the Mexican government could fail and that an
unstable Mexico "could represent a homeland security problem of
immense proportions to the Untied States." The report goes on,
Mexico's "government, its politicians, police, and judicial
infrastructure are all under sustained assault and pressure by
criminal gangs and drug cartels."
According to the National Drug Threat Assessment for 2009
Mexican drug cartels now "control most of the U.S. Drug market"
and they do so with an unimaginably sophisticated communication
systems used to reach organizations in some 230 American
cities.
General Barry McCaffrey, former drug Czar, describes the
situation: "The outgunned Mexican law enforcement authorities
face armed criminal attacks from platoon-sized units employing
night vision goggles, electronic intercept collection, encrypted
communications, fairly sophisticated information operations,
sea-going submersibles, helicopters and modern transport
aviation, automatic weapons, RPG's, Anti-Tank 66 mm rockets,
mines and booby traps, heavy machine guns, 50 cal sniper rifles,
massive use of military hand grenades, and the most modern
models of 40mm grenade machine guns."
Heaven help us if they move their attention north and our
military isn't there to meet them.
Our government admits the threat is eminent, but they are doing
nothing. Our border
must be secured now. Otherwise hordes of Mexican
refugees-looking for homes, services and jobs are going to come
pouring over our border in larger numbers than ever before. And
along with them will be the violent enforcers of the drug
cartels.
This is deadly serious. But you would never know that from the
response of new Administration to the border.
Yesterday DHS announced they were going to
allocate 50 million dollars to "mitigate the environmental
impact of the U.S.-Mexico border fence." Are they joking? This
is nothing but an old left wing stall tactic. Narco-terror
is on our border and the best they can do is another
environmental impact study! (This is how they held up the fence
in California all those years.) These guys are no more serious
than the crowd just tossed out.
I could spend pages condemning those whose job it was to secure
our border anytime during the last 20 years but that won't keep
America safe. It is our responsibility as citizens to do
everything in our power to get the job done now.
We simply must turn up the heat on Congress and this
Administration. Let them know Americans want the border secured
NOW! Already Obama is expressing concern for getting re-elected
and keeping his Congress Democratic. We must begin the calling
and the writing again and we must find opportunities to
personally confront our congressman and Senators.
...
God bless you for all you do to keep this country strong.
Bay Buchanan
Legislation Recently Introduced
To Combat The Growing Illegal Immigration
Problem!
Dear Friend,Knowing of your interest in fighting
illegal immigration and securing our borders I wanted to let you
know about legislation I recently introduced to combat the
growing illegal immigration problem. Last week as Congress
started its work in the new year, I filed three bills to
continue working toward our goal of reducing illegal
immigration.
The first bill I introduced would prohibit aliens and
their spouses and dependents from claiming social security
credit for work performed while in the United States illegally.
Each year hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens cross
our borders into the United States. Unfortunately, a loophole
exists that allows them to draw social security benefits based
on their working illegal jobs. We should not be rewarding
illegal aliens for breaking our laws, and this bill will help
remedy this situation.
U.S. law prohibits illegal aliens from receiving social
security benefits, but some benefits can be applied
retroactively if the illegal alien leaves the country and
legally reenters at a later date, or if he or she obtains legal
status to reside in the United States. My bill would prohibit
illegal aliens from being credited for income earned while
living and working in the United States in violation of U.S.
immigration law.
I introduced another bill that would restrict Community
Oriented Policing Services funding from going to cities with
sanctuary policies that bar local law enforcement officials from
asking about the immigration status of suspects or reporting
illegals to Immigration and Custom Enforcement for deportation.
Some municipalities across the country have put in place
sanctuary policies that stand in clear opposition of federal
requirements. Despite laws requiring them to verify the
immigration status of suspected illegal aliens, these
municipalities have instructed city employees and law officers
to not report illegal aliens residing in their communities to
the federal government. To ensure compliance with federal law,
my bill withholds COPS federal funding for cities that do this.
I also reintroduced legislation that requires that the
identify of all individuals who are not American citizens to be
verified through a social security number, a passport number and
the country of issuance, an alien identification card number or
any combination of the three in order to ascertain their
immigration status for the purposes of opening banking or credit
card accounts. To prevent the use of matricula cards as a form
of ID, the bill specifically designates unexpired passports as
the only acceptable form of identification issued by a foreign
government.
We have already seen several instances in Louisiana of
banks stating their intent to accept matricula ID cards for the
purposes of opening bank and credit card accounts. The
governments that issue these cards do not attempt to ascertain
the status of immigrants. Preventing the use of questionable
documents as an acceptable form of identification will add
another layer of security to banking processes. As our nation
faces a deepening financial crisis, this extra layer of security
becomes even more important.
As the chairman of the Border Security and Enforcement
First Caucus, a coalition of senators focused on bringing about
real immigration reform with attrition through enforcement, I’ll
continue to work on these and other measures to reduce illegal
immigration.
Sincerely,
David Vitter
U.S. Senator
Legal residents take a housing
backseat
to ILLEGALS!
Legal residents take a housing
backseat to illegals
Elliot Spagat - Associated Press Writer -
1/2/2009 8:40:00 AM
Untold thousands of illegal immigrants
live in public housing at a time when hundreds of thousands
of citizens and legal residents are stuck waiting years for
a spot.
Illegal immigrants make up a tiny portion of the
7.1 million people in federal housing, according to
government statistics. But authorities may be unaware of
thousands more, and critics say no illegal immigrant should
get housing benefits. The issue made headlines in November
with news that Zeituni Onyango, an aunt of President-elect
Barack Obama, was living in Boston public housing while in
the country illegally.
The federal government, which funds the lion's
share of the nation's public housing, requires only that
illegal immigrants share a home with at least one family
member who is in the country legally and pay their share of
the rent.
While there are no hard numbers on illegal
immigrants in public housing, the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development reports that 29,570 people — 0.4
percent of all those in federally funded housing — are
"ineligible noncitizens." Some may be on temporary visas,
such as highly educated workers or college students, but
many are believed to be illegal immigrants.
Frank Bean, director of the University of
California, Irvine's Center for Research on Immigration,
Population and Public Policy, estimates at least half of
ineligible noncitizens - or about 15,000 - are illegal
immigrants with U.S.-born children. Anyone born on U.S. soil
is automatically a citizen, making their families eligible
for federal housing.
The HUD tally does not offer a full picture of
how many illegal immigrants are in public housing. It
doesn't include housing funded by state and local
governments, where eligibility requirements vary.
Massachusetts, where Obama's aunt occupied one of about
50,000 state-funded units, doesn't ask immigration status
under a 1977 federal consent decree in a class-action
lawsuit that prohibits the state from denying the benefit to
illegal immigrants.
Other illegal immigrants may live in public
housing without notifying authorities.
"It seems that the larger concern would be those
who we don't know about that may be in the U.S. illegally
and living in federal housing, yet never risk presenting
themselves to HUD," said Jonathan Graffeo, a spokesman for
Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala.
Some prospective tenants and advocates of
immigration restrictions are angry about U.S. citizens
waiting for housing aid that some number of illegal
immigrants are enjoying.
New York City has about 260,000 people in line
for housing aid. Chicago recently opened its waiting list
for the first time in about 10 years and collected 259,000
names in four weeks for 40,000 slots.
"As long as that waiting list includes American
citizens or legal immigrants, there's no reason an illegal
alien should occupy any of that housing," said Rosemary
Jenks, director of government relations for NumbersUSA, a
group that supports curbs on immigration.
In San Diego, applicants are told they can expect
to wait five to seven years. "I don't think we should take a
second seat to anyone," said Daryl Ford, who applied for
housing aid last year and lives in a San Diego homeless
shelter. "We send money to everyone else in the world but
we're struggling here."
Illegal immigrants get free public education
through high school and emergency medical care, but are
denied many other services, like food stamps and broad
Medicaid coverage.
Onyango, the half-sister of Obama's late father,
applied for public housing in 2002 while she was in the
country legally seeking asylum from her native Kenya, said
Lydia Agro, spokeswoman for the Boston Housing Authority,
which has a waiting list of nearly 20,000 people.
Onyango moved into federally funded housing in
2003 and stayed there after 2004, when, The Associated
Press learned, an immigration judge denied her asylum
application and ordered her to leave the country.
Onyango transferred to an apartment funded only
by the state, which cannot ask about immigration status
under the court order. In November, her attorney said she
was staying with relatives in Cleveland and would fight her
deportation order.
Current law
often does not allow many local law
enforcement officials
to implement federal immigration law
or to question the citizenship of an
inmate.
Consequently, many illegal aliens enter
our jails
and eventually our judicial system
undetected.
But... there is some
progress being made!
The Hill Report
A Weekly Newsletter from Congressman Pete Sessions
Week of December 15 – December 19, 2008
...
Dallas County and ICE
Partnership for Secure Communities
The security of our community is among my top priorities in
Congress, and I understand that the rule of law is central to
safe streets and an orderly society. The enforcement of
immigration laws are an important part of upholding the rule of
law, and illegal aliens in North Texas and across the country
are being sent home in record numbers. In the past 12 months,
the Dallas Detention and Removal Operations (DRO) office has
removed more than 16,300 illegal aliens. Of those removed, 4,600
had prior criminal convictions.
However, current law often does not allow many local law
enforcement officials to implement federal immigration law or to
question the citizenship of an inmate. Consequently, many
illegal aliens enter our jails and eventually our judicial
system undetected.
In response, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has made
a concerted effort to address this problem over the past few
years. One of their solutions has been the Criminal Alien
Program (CAP)—which opens the line of communication with
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents regarding
illegal aliens who enter the local jails. Because of the hard
work of our local law enforcement officials and local ICE
agents, CAP has been extremely successful in the 32nd
Congressional District.
As of last month, Dallas County became one of seven counties
across the nation to participate in a new ICE program called
Secure Communities, which builds on CAP and takes the
communication coordination one step further. Launched earlier
this year, Secure Communities is a comprehensive program that
modifies the way local, state and federal law enforcement
officials work together to identify, detain and deport illegal
immigrants who commit crimes in the United States. The program’s
new technology integration streamlines multiple agency
communication to identify criminal aliens when they enter the
jail system. The cornerstone of this program is interoperability
among law enforcement databases.
Under Secure Communities’ new integration technology, inmates in
Dallas County automatically have their fingerprints run through
a number of additional databases—not just the FBI’s Integrated
Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS)—during
booking. Fingerprints are also run through DHS’ Automated
Biometric Identification System (IDENT), which notifies ICE when
the fingerprints of a person being booked at the jail match
those of an immigration violator. The rapid information access
among databases means that ICE can ensure that the most
dangerous criminal aliens are not released back into the
population.
From November 12th to December 16th of this year, ICE placed 120
detainment orders on illegal aliens who were identified in the
Dallas County Jail through the interoperability of IAFIS and
IDENT. This resource will continue to help ICE and local law
enforcement officials identify even more criminal aliens in the
Dallas County jail—leading to safer streets and neighborhoods. I
am very pleased that this new program can serve as one part of
the greater solution to illegal immigration, and I am encouraged
by the strong success ICE has already seen with its
implementation.
...
And, You're Wondering Why
There are Tens of Millions of Illegal
Aliens in This Country
Border security official arrested for
harboring illegal aliens
Chad Groening - OneNewsNow - 12/10/2008 9:55:00 AM
An immigration reform activist says he doesn't
know if it was arrogance or ignorance that prompted a
high-level border protection official to hire and harbor
illegal aliens in her own home.
The Boston Globe recently reported on
the arrest of Lorraine Henderson, who formerly served as the
director of the Port of Boston, overseeing 190 armed federal
officers who patrol major airports and shipping terminals in
Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. But last week,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested
Henderson at her home in Salem, Massachusetts, charging her
with repeatedly hiring illegal immigrants to clean her
house.
The agents had planted a wire on one such housekeeper during
an undercover investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian
T. Kelly said, "She's supposed to be deporting aliens, not
hiring them." Rick Oltman, the national spokesman for Californians
for Population Stabilization, notes Henderson had been
warned not to hire illegal aliens.
"Her co-workers knew that she was hiring illegal aliens and
were telling her not to, yet she continued to do it. And
then [she] counseled her illegal alien employee as to how to
avoid apprehension and detection," he explains. "This is one
of those situations where you're just speechless. Is it
arrogance? Is it ignorance? What is it that would have a
person in this position act like that? This is an absolute
violation of the public trust."
Oltman believes Henderson should have been looking out for
the interests of the American public rather than trying to
beat the system for her favorite illegal alien housekeeper.
If you're still wondering,
scroll down and read the article:
Florida Congressman Allen Boyd's son
Arrested
for
Smuggling
Illegal
Aliens
into Arizona!
The State of Illegal Immigration:
Dear Friend,
I want to take this opportunity to update you on the
illegal immigration issue with regard to the new
presidential administration.
It looks like the pro-amnesty crowd will not let
this issue go away, and many immigration advocates believe
that President elect-Obama will fulfill his campaign
promises relating to amnesty and immigration raids.
Pro-immigration groups are planning to gather during the
inauguration to ensure that Mr. Obama knows that his
supporters heavily favor immigration reform.
As the Chairman of the Border Security and
Enforcement First Caucus, I and many other like-minded
Senators are ready to fight to ensure that the voices of the
majority of the American people are heard. I believe that
illegal immigration must be controlled, and I am firmly
opposed to amnesty. Amnesty sends the wrong message –
that of a reward – to those who have been evading our laws
and it is extremely unfair to all of the legal immigrants
who came to this nation and obeyed our laws to become
citizens.
At a time when the American economy is suffering
the last thing the federal government needs is the higher
price tag that amnesty will bring. It is estimated that
more than 500,000 individuals illegally cross our
southwestern border each year. At this rate, the amount of
federally-subsidized benefits for illegal aliens will only
continue to grow.
What we need is attrition through enforcement ‑
the idea that living illegally in the United States will
become more difficult and less satisfying over time when the
government – at ALL LEVELS – enforces all of the laws
already on the books. We know attrition through enforcement
works because, in states that have passed tough new laws to
penalize employers of and deny public benefits to illegal
aliens, the illegals have begun to move out of those states,
often before the new laws are even implemented. As it
currently stands, almost 200,000 illegal aliens self-deport
from the United States every year, but many more would leave
if we refused to award illegal aliens further amnesty,
mandated that all employers must verify a person’s
eligibility to work here, cracked down on identity fraud and
enabled local police to easily transfer illegal aliens in
their custody to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
officials.
Rest assured ‑ as the U.S. Senate debates the
issues regarding illegal immigration, I will continue
fighting to make sure that the voices of all Louisianans are
heard.
Sincerely,
David Vitter
U.S. Senator
Regarding ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION,
Congressman Pete Sessions has many good
ideas,
BUT Congress has done very, very little
--
for example, the
Secure Fence Act of 2006!
Yes,
that's 2006!
Over 2 years later, only
a very few miles,
of the 700 mile, double layered fence,
have been
built!
"Good intentions," but
too SOFT on ILLEGALS!
A
Weekly Newsletter from Congressman Pete Sessions
Week of October 13 – October 17, 2008
As the 110th Congress draws to a close, I would like to take
this opportunity to highlight my priorities for increasing
border security and implementing true immigration reform.
Our nation’s broken immigration system remains a serious threat
to the safety of our community and nation. Despite the critical
need to address security and economic issues associated with
illegal immigration, Democrats in Congress have failed to enact
any new immigration reforms during their control of Congress the
past two years.
Unlike this Democrat Congress, North Texans understand that
ignoring the issue will not make it go away. As a strong
supporter of meaningful immigration reform, I have talked with
North Texas residents, employers, and small business owners to
develop comprehensive immigration reform priorities that are
thorough, principled, straightforward and, most importantly, in
the best interest of American citizens.
Securing the Border
Securing our border must be the top priority. This includes
completing work on a 700 mile double-layered fence, as outlined
in the Secure Fence Act of 2006, and maintaining operational
control of the border. While progress has been made, illegal
immigration and violence along the border persists, requiring
steadfast efforts to ensure that the influx of illegal
immigration is addressed. Securing the border also means
combating drug and human trafficking and giving local law
enforcement and border sheriffs the resources they need to
enforce federal immigration laws.
Documenting the Estimated 12 Million Illegal
Immigrants
Documenting the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in our
nation is central to America’s interior security. Although these
people have broken the law by entering the country, it is simply
neither feasible nor economically practical to arrest and deport
them all. Instead, the government must use a strategic,
graduated process to identify and document them as efficiently
and as timely as possible. This will require incentives for
compliance and penalties for non-compliance. Once their identity
and information has been collected, it must be accessible and
searchable in a web-based database. Illegal immigrants who have
committed crimes must be accountable for their actions and not
be eligible for legal status in the United States.
Strengthening
Interior Enforcement
Immigration reform must prioritize following the
rule of law, and a key component of this is strengthening
interior enforcement. This includes implementing the exit
portion of US-VISIT so that we can account for those who have
overstayed their visas. Those who fail to come forward with
documentation should be penalized for unlawful presence in the
United States. Immigration reform must strengthen the Criminal
Alien Program (a local/federal criminal alien processing
partnership) and deport illegal immigrants who have committed
crimes—including membership in an alien gang organization.
Establishing a True Guest Worker Program
Employers, including many small business owners, have made it
clear that they depend on seasonal and guest workers.
Establishing a true guest worker program is the next step in
comprehensive immigration reform. Many of the 12 million illegal
immigrants have come to the United States for jobs, not
citizenship. An effective guest worker program would grant
authorization to work for a defined period of time without the
prospect of citizenship. It would also provide for market-based
caps on the number of workers, tamperproof identification cards
with biometric data, background checks, and authorization for
workers to verify status before hiring. If a guest worker leaves
his job, he must return to his home country or prove that he has
a new job. Employers would also be responsible to notify the
government if the employee is no longer in their service.
Finally, all guest workers would have to pay income taxes on
wages earned in the United States and be required to have health
insurance—an important requirement of any effective immigration
reform plan to ensure that our social programs are safeguarded
for U.S. citizens.
No Pathway to
Citizenship
Citizenship issues have too often confused and
even derailed immigration reform discussions. Illegal immigrants
who wish to become citizens of the United States should return
to their country of origin and apply through the appropriate
channels and application processes. These applicants would go to
the end of the line—behind those who have applied legally and
are waiting to hear about their pending applications.
I believe that these principles provide an important framework
from which an effective immigration reform plan can be
developed. Clearly, many other issues—such as safeguarding
social programs—must also be addressed, and I will continue to
support taxpayer protections and additional immigration reform
provisions that serve the best interest of current American
citizens.
Making North Texas Communities Safer
While this Democrat Congress has failed to address immigration
solutions, I am pleased to report that Immigrations and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) has continued its successful local efforts.
Through ICE initiatives like the National Fugitive Operations
Program (NFOP) and the Criminal Alien Program (CAP), ICE agents
in North Texas are working hard to provide a safer community by
removing illegal immigrants who commit crimes.
During a five-day operation in early October, ICE officials
arrested 99 fugitive illegal immigrants in the Dallas area as
part of the National Fugitive Operations Program. This program
was created in 2003 to pursue illegal immigrants who fail to
appear at their scheduled immigration hearings or who have fled
after being sentenced to deportation. This program is part of
the larger effort by ICE to target, arrest and deport illegal
immigrants who commit crimes in the United States.
Those arrested during the Dallas operation were foreign
nationals from Costa Rica, Egypt, El Salvador, Mexico, Nepal and
Nicaragua. Of the 99 arrested, 22 had previous criminal
convictions. In fiscal year 2008, the ICE Fugitive Operations
Teams in Dallas and Oklahoma City made 1,629 arrests.
In the past two years, the City of Irving—which participates in
the Criminal Alien Program—has reported over 3,000 dangerous
criminal aliens from the Irving jail to ICE for deportation
proceedings. This program ensures that these criminal aliens are
not released from jail without ICE being notified. Since
January, crime in Irving has dropped 10 percent.
Despite the continued success of combating illegal immigration
at the local level through partnerships with the federal
government, some of my Democrat colleagues have tried to
restrict the role local law enforcement plays in reducing
illegal immigration. Although, illegal immigration reform is a
federal issue that must be dealt with in Washington D.C., local
governments should be provided every resource necessary to keep
behind bars illegal immigrants who commit crimes. This Congress,
I worked with my Republican colleagues to ensure that valuable
programs like 287(g)—which allows qualified local law
enforcement officials to enforce federal immigration law—remain
intact.
As your Member of Congress, I will continue to be a strong
advocate for partnerships between federal, state and local
resources for these detention and removal programs and will work
with my colleagues to promote comprehensive, effective
immigration reform that will strengthen our communities and
nation.
Have a good weekend.
Sincerely,
Pete Sessions
Editor's comments: As much of what
Pete Sessions says, "sounds right," very little actually
gets implemented, thus we have 12,000,000 to 20,000,000
ILLEGAL ALIENS living in this country ILLEGALLY, many of
whom work in this country ILLEGALLY, and drain our
healthcare and welfare systems, of course, ILLEGALLY! And,
their children put a heavy burden on our school systems,
requiring extra consideration/additional expenses, such as
support for a second language. The Secure Fence Act of 2006
is a prime example of Congress finally being forced, by the
vast majority of citizens in this country, to do something
about our porous border and lack of security. And, typical
of Congress, Congress finally capitulates and passes the
Secure Fence Act of 2006, but not only delays the
installation of the fence, but apparently removes, or
underfunds the legislation! Think about this, Act of
2006?! Also, even though it
would appear to be "good intentions," the
proposed solution to solve illegal immigration is simply far
too SOFT on ILLEGALS to be effective! Congress can NOT
apologize for taking action to apply our laws to these
lawbreaking ILLEGAL ALIENS/ILLEGALS! It's pure and simple,
they broke our laws by entering this country ILLEGALLY, thus
those also working here are working here ILLEGALLY. In
addition, those who have acquired ILLEGAL ID's, of course,
ILLEGALLY, have broken even, at least, another law!
|
Florida Congressman Allen Boyd's son
Arrested
|
|
for
Smuggling
Illegal
Aliens
into Arizona!
To View the
Report Click
Video
|
|
or, copy and paste the following link |
There is extremely high volume at
youtube regarding this, so be patient!
Reauthorizing E-Verify:
Giving Employers the Tools
They Need
to Fight Illegal
Immigration
Congressman Pete
Sessions
August 14, 2008
As the second
Session of the 110th Congress draws to a close, a number of
important issues have yet to be addressed.
Not only has the Democrat leadership
failed to pass any comprehensive energy legislation, but it has
also failed to act on any substantial immigration legislation.
Illegal immigration remains a significant problem in the United
States, and simply ignoring it will not reduce the number of
people who are in the country illegally. I remain
supportive of the comprehensive, bipartisan SAVE Act (HR. 4088),
which was introduced by Congressman Heath Shuler (D-NC).
Speaker Nancy Pelosi has refused to bring
this enforcement-first bill to the floor for a vote, even though
it has 155 cosponsors from both sides of the aisle.
A critical aspect
of the SAVE Act is the E-Verify program (also known as Basic
Pilot), which gives employers the tools they need to check the
legal status of potential and current employees by matching
names with social security numbers. The program is fast and
easy to use. The SAVE Act expands the E-Verify program by giving
all businesses the tools they need to comply within four years
of the bill’s enactment. H.R. 4088 also protects employers who
encounter problems but have put in a “good faith” effort to
comply.
Under the current
authorization, E-Verify expires this fall. Although many
members were hoping to reauthorize E-Verify for ten years, the
Employee Verification Amendment Act of 2008 (HR. 6633)—a
five-year reauthorization—passed in the House with a vote of
407-2 on July 31, 2008.
Employment
Eligibility Verification System: E-Verify
The E-Verify program was originally mandated by Congress as part
of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility
Act of 1996. The program is a partnership between the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security
Administration (SSA) that provides employers the opportunity to
check the legal status of potential employees. E-Verify aims to
reduce illegal employment by giving employers access to a
national database that checks the information on the potential
employee’s I-9 Employment Verification Form to the 425 million
records held in the Social Security database. The program is
free, voluntary, and available in all fifty states. Currently,
over 69,000 employers are participating in the program. The
goals of E-Verify are to:
• Reduce
unauthorized employment;
• Minimize verification-related discrimination;
• Be quick and non-burdensome to employers, and;
• Protect civil liberties and employee privacy.
Employers can
register for E-Verify by visiting
www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
To participate, an employer must register online and accept the
electronic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that outlines the
responsibilities of DHS, SSA and the participating employer.
In order for the
program to continue, the Senate must also reauthorize E-Verify
when it returns from August recess and before the current
authorization expires. There has been speculation that the
Senate bill will also include other, more controversial
immigration proposals. A number of Republican Senators have
written a letter to Senate Majority Lead Harry Reid (D-NV),
asking that the Senate have the opportunity to vote on a clean,
straightforward five-year reauthorization of the program that
closely matches the House version. A clean, stand-alone bill
would help expedite the process of passing the bill into law.
Hopefully, Senator Reid will bring a clean bill to the Senate
floor so that E-Verify does not expire.
Additionally, on
June 8, 2008, President Bush amended Executive Order 12989 to
require all federal departments and agencies to require
contractors—as a condition of each future federal contract—to
agree to use E-Verify. I applaud this decision and believe it
is in the best interest of all Americans.
If you have any questions
about E-Verify or would like more information on the program,
please feel to contact my Legislative Assistant Evan Shoop at
202.225.2231 or email her at
Evan.Shoop@mail.house.gov.
Editor's Note: In that neither Pelosi or Reid have been able to
provide any form of positive leadership, many consider that
Pelosi and Reid have resorted to obstructionist tactics, thus
are not leaders, simply obstructionists, standing in the way of
progress and positive legislation!
MEXICAN ASYLUM APPLICANTS:
EARLY
SIGNS OF FAILED STATE?
Dear Friend,
I thought you'd be interested in
reading my latest column on the drug crisis in Mexico that
is spilling into America. I think this is an aspect to the
immigration debate that needs more attention. I plan on
talking about more in the future.
Hope you enjoy it.
Your
friend,
Tom
_______________________
MEXICAN ASYLUM APPLICANTS: EARLY SIGNS OF
FAILED STATE?
Mexican law enforcement officials are walking into U.S.
ports of entry in increasing numbers to seek political
asylum, and the flow may soon become a flood as Mexico's
battle with the drug cartels intensifies. Our first instinct
is to welcome them, but there is more at stake than
humanitarian sentiments.
The
problem is that if our immigration laws are stretched to
grant asylum to law enforcement personnel on the grounds
that their own government cannot protect them, any Mexican
threatened by these violent criminal gangs can claim the
same right of asylum.
U.S.
immigration law does not easily accommodate these law
enforcement cases because they are fleeing threats from
organized crime - the Mexican drug cartels - not political
persecution by their government. If our laws are stretched
to accept thousands of refugees from drug cartel violence,
it will only exacerbate Mexico's problems.
We can
sympathize with the Mexican police chief or prosecutor who
lands on a cartel hit list because he will not play ball
with them. The Mexican federal government seemingly cannot
protect him and his family, so he flees to El Paso or
Nogales and seeks asylum. The number of such asylum
applications more than doubled in the first six months of
2008 compared to the same period in 2007, but very few have
been approved. What will happen if we do not accept these
asylum applications as a humanitarian gesture? What will
happen if we do?
The
rising number of asylum seekers from Mexican law enforcement
and the professional classes is a new phenomenon, not merely
another facet of our open-borders fiasco. These people are
not swimming the Rio Grande or sneaking across the Sonora
desert. They are walking into our border ports of entry from
Texas to California and asking for protection. We must
respect them for following our laws and doing it the right
way. But we must also ask some hard questions before
throwing open our gates. Humanitarian concerns must be
balanced against other considerations - because the fate of
Mexico hangs in that balance.
What
happens to Mexico if all the good cops flee to the U.S. or
Europe and the only ones left are working hand-in-glove with
the criminals? What are the consequences if all the honest
judges and prosecutors flee and only dishonest ones are left
in charge of the courts? What happens if honest businessmen
find it easy to flee to San Diego, Houston or Phoenix and
only those who will do the cartels' money laundering are
running the nation's trucking companies, farms and banks?
The
unpleasant truth is that this new refugee problem is the
sign of a deep crisis not in the Mexican economy, but in the
Mexican political system itself. Mexico exhibits mounting
signs of a "failed state," a political system that cannot
satisfy the most basic conditions of civic order such as
safety in one's streets, home, school and workplace. Failing
states begin to hemorrhage people and their assets. The
middle class begins to flee - doctors, lawyers, accountants,
business owners, teachers and, of course, law enforcement
officials, who are the first targets of criminal
organizations.
It's Where Our Government Must Stand,
Regarding Illegal Immigration
and, It's About Time!
July 16, 2008
...
Dear... :
Thank
you for contacting me regarding proposals to deal with the problem
of illegal aliens in our country and the need for meaningful
immigration reform. It was good to hear from you and I am pleased to
respond.
Let me first say that I strongly
oppose any attempts to give legal status or grant blanket amnesty to
those who have entered our country illegally. I believe that we must
act now to strengthen immigration enforcement and secure our
borders. The first step in gaining control of our borders is to
begin tough enforcement of existing laws. Those who enter illegally
must be removed immediately instead of spending taxpayer dollars to
provide them with legal counsel and a distant court date.
It is also vital in my opinion
to end all of the benefits for illegal aliens and their dependants.
We must stop welfare aid and health care benefits to illegals that
are often better than the assistance provided to needy Americans and
veterans. It is critical that we cut federal benefits for illegals
that act as a magnet attracting them to our country. Please know
that as the House and Senate go to conference on these issues I will
continue to stand firm in my position that our nation must not
become a haven for those who enter our country illegally and
continue to break our laws.
Finally, let me say that while I
strongly oppose any benefits, amnesty, or legal status for those who
have entered illegally I do support legal immigration that has made
this such a great nation. All of my grandparents came to America
legally, without government assistance, and worked hard for their
citizenship to give their families opportunities and freedom in our
great country. That legal process is what we must maintain.
Thank you for sharing with me
your thoughts on this important issue. I am pleased to know that you
are concerned about this critical matter and the current debate in
Congress. If I can be of any additional assistance on this or any
other issue please do not hesitate to contact me.
With
my regards and best wishes, I remain
Sincerely,
John
L. Mica
Member
of Congress
JLM:mdw
Editor comment:
your might consider sending a copy to your Senators and
Representative... for that matter, to Bush and all members of
Congress, and let 'em know that Mica has pretty much the right
idea! And, while you're at it, let Pelosi and Reid know that we're
still wondering when we will see some sort of responsible,
positive "leadership" from them!
Link to
your Congressman/woman:
House
Link to the
President:
comments@whitehouse.gov
So, Obama Wants You to Speak Spanish!
Posted by
Bobby Eberle
July 10, 2008 at 6:17 am
I hope the American public is watching. For months,
Barack Obama was a blank slate. The only thing people knew about
him was that he gave a good speech and that he wanted "change."
This apparently was enough to garner him the Democratic
presidential nomination. (That should be a clue to most
Americans NOT to vote for him.) But now, with no help from the
media, the real Barack Obama is starting to appear.
The media won't write stories about what he says,
but they don't need to. With today's technology, we can see
for ourselves, and this latest incident is a doozy! Our
education system is crazy enough with all these liberal,
feel-good programs. Forget adding, subtracting, spelling,
and grammar. Now, despite the fact that the rest of the
world is learning English, he says that American kids should
learn Spanish? What? Learn Spanish? Yes, and it shows just
how out of touch and far left Obama is. We need a president
who will put America first, not push for our culture to be
forgotten.Watch and listen to Obama:
ObamaWantsYouToSpeakSpanish
What an absolutely ridiculous speech. We need to
make sure our kids can speak Spanish? Why? That is the
question. Oh, and I have the answer. It's because the
liberals are quite happy seeing millions of illegal aliens
pour across our border and do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about it.
Rather than solve the problem of illegal immigration by
enforcing laws and securing our border (after all, if we did
that, liberals would call us racists), the far left would
rather Americans simply learn Spanish. That is their
solution to the problem.
And it is definitely becoming more and more of a
problem. Example... during these very nice summer months, my
kids love to go swimming with me at our neighborhood pool.
We go in the late morning and spend an hour or two there.
Afterward, we come home for lunch. On some days, we go out,
and they love it when we get sandwiches at Subway. Getting
the sandwiches, however, has become more and more of an
ordeal. In fact, the last time we went, it took forever
simply because I couldn't understand the attendant, and the
attendant couldn't understand me.
I'll have a six-inch ham sandwich on wheat with
lettuce and tomato... All I got was a blank stare. I
repeated the order, with my daughter looking on. The lady
finally grabbed the wheat bread and then selected turkey.
No... I said ham.
Now, this being a Subway restaurant in AMERICA,
one would think that I could place my order in English.
Wrong. This must be a Barack Obama Subway restaurant, and
the only way to place an order is to do it in Spanish.
Hmmm... I guess I should thank Obama for his speech. What he
was trying to get across was the idea that we should teach
our kids Spanish just so we can order a sandwich at an
American restaurant. Thanks Obama for looking out for me!
Sarcasm aside, Barack Obama continues to show
that he is not ready for the presidency, and more
importantly, America is not ready for him. Our kids should
not be told to learn Spanish. Our kids should be told to
learn English and math and science, so they can become
contributing American citizens. Obama's example in his
speech is that Americans sound silly when they go to France
because they can only say a simple phrase. What's his point?
Is he saying that we should all learn French for that day
that we spend thousands of dollars to travel to France?
English has become the language of international
business, commerce, science, and technology. Other nations
learn English, because English is the "universal" language
in which things get done. Only in America (an
English-speaking country) would left-wing Barack Obama tell
Americans that their kids should learn Spanish.
The Case For English
Only
By Harris R. Sherline
June 23, 2008
Enough already! How many languages should we be
expected to speak in America? And, how many languages should
our government and other institutions, such as hospitals and
schools, be required to accommodate? The problem is not just
Spanish speakers. It's the more than 320 other tongues that are
spoken in America today.
Hispanics now comprise about 35% of the population of
California, many of whom do not speak English. So, should we be
required to print all government documents in both English and
Spanish, teach school in Spanish, give civil service exams in
Spanish, hire people who don't speak English?
But, it's not just about communication, although
that's certainly important. It's also a pocketbook issue, about
the economic impact that trying to accommodate multiple
languages has on our society. Alameda County (CA) Medical
Center, which "has 18 full-time interpreters or staff in
addition to 19 on-call translators," is but one example of the
burden that such laws can place on public institutions.
U.S. English, Inc. offers some interesting facts
about the situation:
-- "Since 1980, the number of U.S. residents who are
limited English proficient has more than doubled, from 10.2
million to 21.3 million." (Source: U.S. Census Bureau)
-- "In 2000, 11.9 million U.S. residents lived in
linguistically isolated households, meaning that no one in the
household spoke English at home or spoke English 'very well.'"
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau)
-- "Immigrants who speak English 'not well' or 'not
at all' have median weekly earnings approximately 57 percent of
those of U.S. born workers."
-- "Poverty and the need for public benefits, such as
food stamps, are more closely related to limited English
proficiency than with citizenship or legal status."
-- "The Canadian Government spends $260 million
annually to do government business in both of the nation's
official languages."
-- "The cost of multilingual ballots and translations
represented one-eighth of Los Angeles County's $16 million
expense in the Nov. 2004 general election."
-- "The City of San Francisco must spend $350,000 for
each language that a document is translated into under the
city's bilingual government ordinance."
-- "79 percent of Americans, and 81 percent of first
and second generation Americans favor making English the
official language of the United States."
-- "Air Canada spends more than $9,265,000 per year
conforming to Canada's bilingual requirements, requiring the
airline to generate an additional $185,000,000 in additional
sales to cover these costs."
Trying to accommodate all cultural groups costs big
bucks. For example, the National Research Council of the
National Academy of Sciences reported in 1997, "More than $100
million have been spent in the last 30 years to assess the value
of bilingual education. The study concluded: (1) There is no
evidence that a program of native language instruction has
greater benefits than any other type of education program, and
(2) Teaching children to read in English first, instead of in
their native tongue, has no negative consequences." The federal
government was already spending $665 million a year on bilingual
programs at the time.
President Theodore Roosevelt addressed this issue in
1907 when he said, "In the first place, we should insist that if
the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American
and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact
equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to
discriminate against any such man because of creed, or
birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's
becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an
American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who
says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an
American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American
flag...We have room for but one language here, and that is the
English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty
and that is a loyalty to the American people."
"The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone
survey reveals that 83% of likely voters place a higher priority
on encouraging immigrants to speak English as their primary
language." ("English-First Still Favored By Most Americans,"
Wall Street Journal, June 7, 2008).
So, what is the "English Only" movement all about?
Quite simply, it's about making English the official language of
the United States. A bill to accomplish this (H.R. 997) was
introduced in the House of Representatives in 2007, and U.S.
English, Inc. reports that it is supported by more than 80% of
all Americans and almost two-thirds of Hispanics, according to
polls taken in 2006.
Thirty states already have some sort of English only
law and, to my knowledge, it hasn't had any significant negative
impacts in any of them.
"The English Language Unity Act of 2007 would require
the United States government to conduct official business in
English," while still retaining the flexibility to permit or
require that other languages be used to protect public health
and safety, national security, or for the needs of commerce and
the criminal justice system.
...
Editor comment: For all to
be fully assimilated and to reap the benefits of being a Citizen
of this great nation, English must be the Official Language of
the United States of America, and ONLY English! And, if those
coming here don't like it, well, they didn't have to come... so
then, we say, "go back from whence you came!"
Bush waits 'til the 11th hour
of his Presidency...
The Loft
Posted by Bobby Eberle
June 10, 2008 at 6:01 am
When discussing the problems
massive illegal immigration has caused for the American taxpayer,
many are at a loss when it comes to what to do with the millions of
illegals who are already here. The majority of Americans want
tougher border controls (are you listening up there in Washington?).
People want immigration laws enforced, they want employers to be
responsible for hiring legal workers, and they don't want to reward
law-breaking with amnesty. What Congress and many Americans don't
realize is that by doing the basics to stop the hiring of illegal
aliens, deportation will take care of itself. It's the basics of
supply and demand.
As
Rachel Alexander noted
in a recent posting in The Loft, "Since Arizona's local law
enforcement began enforcing illegal immigration laws and an
employer sanctions law went into effect, illegal immigrants have
been fleeing the state in large numbers."
Fewer illegal immigrants are using
hospital emergency rooms, so waiting times have decreased.
Although the rest of the country is in an economic slump,
unemployment is going down in Arizona, from 4.5% in January
to 4.1% in March. Day laborers loitering outside of Home
Depot and other stores have mostly disappeared, ending
months of confrontation between illegal immigrant
sympathizers and protesters. Desert lands near the border
are returning to their pristine condition and the wildlife
is coming back. Identity theft and car thefts are
decreasing.
That's right.... by simply enforcing
immigration laws and penalizing employers for hiring illegal
aliens, the numbers of illegal aliens went DOWN. Does this mean
they all left the country and returned home? No, of course not.
Some probably did, while others went to another area of America
where laws are not respected or enforced.
The point, however, is that this
crackdown on illegal immigration did not involve "rounding them
up," or mass deportation. This phrase is often used by
immigration reform critics as a way to demonstrate the "mean
spiritedness" of those who want illegal immigration to stop. As
readers can see from the Arizona example, deportation takes care
of itself by simply enforcing the laws regarding the hiring of
illegals. Stop the demand, and the supply goes away.
Now, it appears the White House is
ramping up its efforts to go after employers who hire illegal
aliens. As noted in the Associated Press story
Bush orders contractors to check
legal status of employees,
"President Bush has signed an executive order requiring
contractors and others who do business with the federal
government to make sure their employees can legally work in the
U.S."
The federal government has had
some embarrassing moments when illegal workers have been
discovered to be working for contractors they've hired,
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in a news
conference. For that reason it's trying to get its own house
in order, Chertoff said.
''The federal government should
lead by example and not merely by exhortation,'' he said.
Rep. Brian Bilbray, a California
Republican who heads the Immigration Reform Caucus, is quoted in
the story as saying, "I think it's a great decision. I think
it's what the American people have been asking for,
common-sense, basic things that are not Draconian or dramatic.
Employer verification addresses the real problem and that is
illegal employment."
If there are no jobs available for
illegal aliens, they will return to their own countries. They
will go where the jobs are. It's a simple concept. Yes, we can
deport 12 million illegal aliens. We can do it without "rounding
them up" or using extra resources. All American employers need
to do is dry up the jobs.
Minuteman
News:
Non-Mexicans caught
trying to enter the U.S.
Dan Garcia
Story Updated: Jun 8,
2008 at 4:18 AM CDT
LA JOYA, Texas – Local police are
accustomed to dealing with illegal border crossings, but
they were astounded by the video of 15 Chinese immigrants
unfolding themselves from the back of a red Suburban near
this small border town.
The vehicle appeared abandoned
when police rolled up early on a recent Saturday morning.
But when Border Patrol agents arrived and swung open the
double rear doors, the Chinese immigrants tumbled out,
squinting in the sunlight.
"They were in bad shape," said La
Joya Police spokesman Joe Cantu.
The immigrants were silent, able
to communicate only with hand gestures. They did not try to
run like so many in Cantu's other videos of Mexican and
Central American immigrants.
One man wanted to use Cantu's cell
phone. When Cantu asked for the number he was handed one
with a 212 area code – New York.
Two more Chinese immigrants would
be picked up nearby later that day and another group of nine
was caught near the border about 50 miles away a few days
later.
More than nine out of 10 illegal
immigrants detained at the U.S.-Mexico border are Mexican.
But for years, this easternmost sector of the border has had
more than its share of what the Border Patrol calls "other
than Mexicans" or OTMs. The Rio Grande Valley sector has
accounted for as many as half of the border's OTM
apprehensions in recent years while having only one-tenth of
the total border apprehensions.
During the first seven months of
this fiscal year, this sector has nabbed nearly 11,000 OTMs,
accounting for one quarter of its total apprehensions.
Honduras, Guatemala and El
Salvador historically are the main sources of immigrants
other than Mexico.
After surpassing 2,100 in 2005 and
2006, the number of Chinese immigrants caught along the
border fell last year to 837, slightly more than 1 percent
of all OTM apprehensions, according to Border Patrol data.
In the first eight months of this fiscal year, 512 Chinese
were caught.
Border Patrol officials and others
familiar with immigrant smuggling say the Rio Grande
Valley's popularity likely stems from being the shortest
path into the U.S. from Mexico City and Central America.
The specifics of how any of the
Chinese ended up in South Texas are unknown, but the methods
and routes have been evolving for more than a century. Most
pay on average $55,000 to be shuttled from China to a final
U.S. destination by an elaborate smuggling operation.
If they get caught, they request
asylum and lawyers are often hired by the Chinese smugglers,
who will not get full payment unless the immigrants arrive
at their destination.
"This was a very early route,"
said Peter Kwong, a sociology professor at the City
University of New York Graduate Center, who wrote "Forbidden
Workers: Illegal Chinese Immigrants and American Labor."
Since 1882, when the U.S. began a
crackdown on Chinese immigration that would last decades,
Chinese have been crossing the Mexican border. Early on,
most of the traffic was along the border with California
because Chinese rode ships into Mexican ports on the Pacific
coast, Kwong said.
Eventually though, Chinese
immigrants began sailing directly into U.S. ports.
The Mexican route regained
popularity in late 1980s and early 1990s when U.S. ports
became less accessible, Kwong said. The Golden Venture
spectacle, when the ship carrying 286 Chinese immigrants
beached in Queens, New York in 1993, drew broader attention
to the issue of human smuggling and further tightened
access.
More Chinese began flying into
U.S. airports and requesting asylum, Kwong said.
When tighter restrictions on
inbound international flights following the Sept. 11 attacks
curtailed that path, smugglers began looking for less secure
airports, Kwong said.
Immigration attorney Hongxin Shi,
joined the Texas law practice of Paul Esquivel last year,
after Esquivel saw a need for Mandarin-speaking attorneys at
the Willacy County Processing Center – the country's largest
immigrant detention facility.
Shi, who has about 20 pending
immigration cases with Chinese immigrants, said he has heard
of immigrants flying into Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico to
begin the journey north.
In March 2007, Mexican federal
police detained 81 Chinese immigrants and 22 Mexican
immigration officers at the Cancun airport. They believed
the Chinese were hiding in the airport with the help of the
immigration officials until they could begin the next leg of
their journey north to the United States.
In Mexico, they meet "coyotes," or
smugglers specializing in crossing the U.S. border, who have
been arranged by their Chinese smugglers. "It's a like
subcontractor," Kwong said.
For years, Chinese and fellow
"other than Mexican" illegal immigrants were processed and
released with a date to return for a court hearing. The
process was known as "catch and release."
Only about one third of those OTMs
showed up in court, according to a 2005 report prepared for
Congress.
That began changing in late 2005
and early 2006 with a new policy that sought to close that
loophole.
Non-Mexicans caught trying to
enter the U.S. now are steered into a streamlined process
for "expedited removal."
They are detained at centers like
Willacy until they go before an immigration judge. Border
Patrol credits the end of catch and release with the sharp
drop in OTM apprehensions.
Still, "we do encounter people
from all over the world," said Daniel Doty, Border Patrol
spokesman for the Rio Grande Valley sector.
Just days before the 17 Chinese
were picked up in La Joya, 13 Eritreans and five Ethiopians
were caught in nearby Hidalgo.
Dear Friend,
I wanted to inform you about recent efforts by liberals
in the U.S. Senate to add amnesty legislation to the Iraq War
emergency funding bill.
I recently joined fellow immigration
reform-minded colleagues in a
letter to U.S. Senate Democratic
Majority Leader Harry Reid expressing outrage at the U.S. Senate
Appropriations Committee’s inclusion of the Feinstein AGJobs
language to the Iraq War emergency funding bill and urging for
the controversial provision to be removed.
The liberal Senate leadership is building a
reputation for sneaking unpopular provisions that would never
see the light of day as stand-alone bills into larger necessary
pieces of legislation, like the Iraq War supplemental funding
bill. These amnesty proponents need to learn that the American
people want border security and enforcement as their immigration
reform policy, not sweeping amnesty for millions of illegal
aliens.
Because of our efforts and the rising
outrage and phone calls from concerned citizens like you, the
Feinstein AGJobs amnesty provision was removed from the
emergency funding bill. As chairman of the
U.S. Senate Border Security and Enforcement First Caucus,
I will remain ever-vigilant at fighting amnesty provisions in
future legislation.
'Trouble at the Border?
"I had no idea!"'
'Trouble at the border? I had no idea!'
Posted by Bobby Eberle
May 23, 2008 at 6:03 am
In another case of politicians not having a clue what's
really going on in this country, an interesting exchange
took place in Washington this week. Three Democrat
legislators spoke to reporters about what they claim is
"anti-immigrant coverage" by conservative media outlets.
Apparently, they think floods of illegal aliens crossing
into America and the crime and violence at the border are
just overblown incidents developed by conservatives to
attack our neighbor to the South.
After they spoke, the Democrats were asked if they
realized that the State Department had issued a "travel
alert warning Americans about military-like 'combat'
along the southern U.S. border in Mexico, where
Americans are being kidnapped and murdered." None of the
legislators knew about it.
As reported by Cybercast
News Service, when asked about the alert, Sen. Robert
Menendez (D-NJ) said, "I haven't heard about the report
specifically."
Reps. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and Hilda Solis (D-CA)
also spoke to Cybercast News Service and said "they had
no knowledge of the travel alert but were aware of the
volatility along the U.S. southern border."
Volatility? Americans are being killed and yet all
these liberals want to do is pander! The State
Department alert states that "violent criminal activity
fueled by a war between criminal organizations
struggling for control of the lucrative narcotics trade
continues along the U.S.-Mexico border." Although the
alert states that the attacks are primarily aimed at
"members of drug trafficking organizations, Mexican
police forces, criminal justice officials, and
journalists," the alert goes on to state that "foreign
visitors and residents, including Americans, have been
among the victims of homicides and kidnappings in the
border region."
Armed robberies and carjackings, apparently
unconnected to the narcotics-related violence, have
increased in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez. Dozens of
U.S. citizens were kidnapped and/or murdered in
Tijuana in 2007. Public shootouts have occurred
during daylight hours near shopping areas.
Criminals are armed with a wide array of
sophisticated weapons. In some cases, assailants
have worn full or partial police or military
uniforms and have used vehicles that resemble police
vehicles.
Side note: In the California area where Rep. Duncan
Hunter had a border fence built, crime and drug activity
went DOWN!
In the Cybercast News Service interview, Rep. Solis
expressed her concern about "the murder of women" but
added, "I'm more concerned about people having their
civil rights violated here." More concerned about the
civil rights of law-breaking illegal aliens than
Americans being the targets of violence and murder? Just
exactly what country do you represent?
According to Cybercast News Service, "Speakers at the
briefing said that CNN and Fox News Channel should be
held accountable for television personalities who have
'played major roles in creating this anti-immigrant
hysteria.'" Let's send that message to the Americans who
are victims of border violence... I'm sure they'll find
comfort in it.
Democrats Unaware of US Warning
About Border Violence!
Democrats Unaware of US Warning About
Border Violence
By
Penny Starr
CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer
May 22, 2008
(CNSNews.com) - Three Democratic lawmakers who spoke
Wednesday about alleged anti-immigrant coverage by
conservative media outlets were not aware of a
recent State Department travel alert warning
Americans about military-like "combat" along the
southern U.S. border in Mexico, where Americans are
being kidnapped and murdered.
"The situation in northern Mexico remains very
fluid; the location and timing of future armed
engagements there cannot be predicted," said the
State Department alert. "Armed robberies and
carjackings, apparently unconnected to the
narcotics-related violence, have increased in
Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez. Dozens of U.S. citizens
were kidnapped and/or murdered in Tijuana in 2007."
When asked about the alert after the briefing, Sen.
Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) told Cybercast News
Service: "I haven't heard about the report
specifically, but certainly one of the reasons we
are looking at the Merida Initiative is to work with
Mexico to have them meet their challenges of the
drug traffickers and the violence that takes place
along our border. It's in our common interest and
obviously this is a challenge of security." (The
U.S. Merida Initiative provides equipment and
training to help Mexican law enforcement confront
criminal activity that spills over into the United
States.)
The State Department's alert was posted in April and
dated as current as of May 21.
Reps. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) and Hilda Solis (D-Calif.)
both spoke to Cybercast News Service after the
briefing and said they had no knowledge of the
travel alert but were aware of the volatility along
the U.S. southern border.
"I've read different reports of the violence in
Mexico, and I am a strong advocate for cracking down
on the violence, and I'm very concerned about the
murder of women," Solis said. "But I'm more
concerned about people having their civil rights
violated here."
"I haven't seen the travel alert, but I'm going to
take a look at it," Gutierrez said. "But does it
surprise me? It doesn't surprise me."
Gutierrez blamed drug use in the United States for
some of the violence.
"We are the consumers," he said. "We are the cause."
Speakers at the briefing said that CNN and Fox News
Channel should be held accountable for television
personalities who have "played major roles in
creating this anti-immigrant hysteria," specifically
Lou Dobbs and Glenn Beck on CNN and Bill O'Reilly on
Fox.
Mexico Town's Police Force Quits
in Fear
Mexico Town's Police Force Quits in
Fear
By
Natalia Parra, Associated Press
CNSNews.com
May 23, 2008
Acapulco, Mexico (AP) - A southern Mexican town's
15-member police force has quit for fear of being
assassinated in retaliation for a shootout with
gunmen, a security official said Thursday.
Zirandaro was the second town in less than two weeks
to be left without its police force as Mexico's drug
cartels wage increasingly bold attacks against
security forces. On Monday, the military took over a
town near Texas after all 20 of its police officers
were either killed, run out of town or quit.
Eight members of Zirandaro's police never returned
to work after a May 13 shootout with gunmen that
left a 32-year-old man dead, said Juan Heriberto
Salinas Altes, the public safety secretary of the
southern state of Guerrero.
The other seven officers -- including the police
chief -- quit days later.
"The Zirandaro police quit the service because they
feared the criminals would return to seek revenge,"
Salinas Altas told a news conference.
The identities of the gunmen were not known, but
Salinas Altas said cells of both the Sinaloa and
Gulf cartels were operating in the area.
About 20 Guerrero state police officers have taken
over security responsibilities in Zirandaro, a town
of about 24,000 people.
President Felipe Calderon has said the attacks
against Mexican police show that cartels feel
threatened by his crackdown against drug
trafficking. Since taking office in 2006, he has
sent more than 25,000 troops to drug hotspots.
But the disintegration of two municipal forces shows
how vulnerable police feel in a country where,
despite efforts to fight corruption, they can't be
sure their colleagues are not on the cartels'
payrolls.
Earlier this month, Mexico's acting federal police
chief was killed in his home by an assassin who had
keys to his house. A fellow federal police officer
and four other people with alleged ties to the
Sinaloa cartel were arrested in the killing.
President Bush's administration has pushed Congress
to approve an initial US$550 million (euro349
million) to help fight drug crime in Mexico and
Central America.
The U.S. Senate approved only $450 million for the
plan on Monday, while the House has approved $461.5
million.
The U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Antonio Garza,
nonetheless said approval of the funding "signaled
congressional support for this important measure to
enhance ongoing U.S. programs for cooperating and
coordinating with the Mexican government."
The two chambers must agree on a final version of
the bill before sending it to Bush for final
approval.
(Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All Rights
Reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Travel Alert!
Mexico
Travel Alert
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs
This information
is current as of today,
Fri May 23 12:29:16 2008.
Mexico
April 14, 2008
This Travel Alert updates information for U.S.
citizens on security situations in Mexico that may
affect their activities while in that country. This
supersedes the Travel Alert for Mexico dated October
24, 2007, and expires on October 15, 2008.
Violence Along The U.S.-Mexico Border
-------------------------------------
Violent criminal activity fueled by a war between
criminal organizations struggling for control of the
lucrative narcotics trade continues along the
U.S.-Mexico border. Attacks are aimed primarily at
members of drug trafficking organizations, Mexican
police forces, criminal justice officials, and
journalists. However, foreign visitors and
residents, including Americans, have been among the
victims of homicides and kidnappings in the border
region. In its effort to combat violence, the
government of Mexico has deployed military troops in
various parts of the country. U.S. citizens are
urged to cooperate with official checkpoints when
traveling on Mexican highways.
Recent Mexican army and police force conflicts with
heavily-armed narcotics cartels have escalated to
levels equivalent to military small-unit combat and
have included use of machine guns and fragmentation
grenades. Confrontations have taken place in
numerous towns and cities in northern Mexico,
including Tijuana in the Mexican state of Baja
California, and Chihuahua City and Ciudad Juarez in
the state of Chihuahua. The situation in northern
Mexico remains very fluid; the location and timing
of future armed engagements there cannot be
predicted.
Armed robberies and carjackings, apparently
unconnected to the narcotics-related violence, have
increased in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez. Dozens of
U.S. citizens were kidnapped and/or murdered in
Tijuana in 2007. Public shootouts have occurred
during daylight hours near shopping areas.
Criminals are armed with a wide array of
sophisticated weapons. In some cases, assailants
have worn full or partial police or military
uniforms and have used vehicles that resemble police
vehicles.
U.S. citizens are urged to be especially alert to
safety and security concerns when visiting the
border region. While Mexican citizens overwhelmingly
are the victims of these crimes, this uncertain
security situation poses risks for U.S. citizens as
well. Thousands of U.S. citizens cross the border
safely each day, exercising common-sense precautions
such as visiting only legitimate business and
tourist areas of border towns during daylight
hours. It is strongly recommended that travelers
avoid areas where prostitution and drug dealing
occur.
Criminals have followed and harassed U.S. citizens
traveling in their vehicles, particularly in border
areas including Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros, and
Tijuana. There is no evidence, however, that U.S.
citizens are targeted because of their nationality.
U.S. citizen victims of crime in Mexico are urged to
contact the consular section of the nearest U.S.
consulate or Embassy for advice and assistance.
Crime and Violence in Mexico
----------------------------
U.S. citizens residing and traveling in Mexico
should exercise caution when in unfamiliar areas and
be aware of their surroundings at all times.
Violence by criminal elements affects many parts of
the country, urban and rural, including border
areas. Though there is no evidence that U.S.
citizens are specifically targeted, Mexican and
foreign bystanders have been injured or killed in
some violent attacks, demonstrating the heightened
risk in public places. In recent years, dozens of
U.S. citizens have been kidnapped in Mexico and many
cases remain unresolved. Moreover, new cases of
disappearances and kidnap-for-ransom continue to be
reported. No one can be considered immune from
kidnapping on the basis of occupation, nationality,
or other factors. U.S. citizens who believe they
are being followed should notify Mexican officials
as soon as possible. U.S. citizens should make
every attempt to travel on main roads during
daylight hours, particularly the toll (“cuota”)
roads, which are generally more secure. It is
preferable for U.S. citizens to stay in well-known
tourist destinations and tourist areas of the cities
with more adequate security, and provide an
itinerary to a friend or family member not traveling
with them. U.S. citizens should avoid traveling
alone as a means to better ensure their safety.
Refrain from displaying expensive-looking jewelry,
large amounts of money, or other valuable items.
Demonstrations occur frequently throughout Mexico
and usually are peaceful. However, even
demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn
confrontational and escalate into violence
unexpectedly. Some deaths occurred during violent
demonstrations, including an American citizen who
died in the 2006 violence in Oaxaca. During
demonstrations or law enforcement operations, U.S.
citizens are advised to remain in their homes or
hotels, avoid large crowds, and avoid the downtown
and surrounding areas. Since the timing and routes
of scheduled marches and demonstrations are always
subject to change, U.S. citizens should monitor
local media sources for new developments and
exercise extreme caution while within the vicinity
of protests. The Mexican Constitution prohibits
political activities by foreigners, and such actions
may result in detention and/or deportation.
Therefore, U.S. citizens are advised to avoid
participating in demonstrations or other activities
that might be deemed political by Mexican
authorities. ...
Congressman Vern Buchanan
Calls for security
improvements at border!
Buchanan calls for security improvements at border
WWSB TV
SARASOTA
- Congressman Vern Buchanan, just back from a
visit to the U.S. border with Mexico, said more
agents and additional resources are needed to
stop illegal immigration and drug smuggling.
Buchanan was in El Paso, Texas on Friday to meet
with border patrol and customs agents, inspect
the border and view the technology they use in
their efforts to secure the southern border.
"It's
clear we are making progress but more needs to
be done," Buchanan said. "Illegal immigration is
one of the biggest challenges facing our
country, costing us billions of dollars each
year and putting an unacceptable burden on our
hospitals, our schools, our jails and our
communities."
Buchanan
toured detention facilities, examined security
technology - including night vision technology,
met with border patrol agents and K-9 units and
visited several sections of the border where
security needs differ. During his visit he
witnessed the apprehension of individuals
attempting to enter the country illegally and
drug smugglers as well as the confiscation of
illegal drugs.
"I was
very impressed with the professionalism and
dedication of the men and women patrolling the
border," said Buchanan. "They deal every day
with the challenges of illegal immigration and I
am grateful for their service."
The 13th
District Congressman noted that in Florida
alone, we have more than half a million illegal
immigrants costing the state's taxpayers more
than $1.7 billion a year for education,
emergency medical care, and incarceration when
they break the law.
"We need to secure the borders first if we are ever going to
stop the flow of illegals into our country,"
said Buchanan. "That is why I went to the border
and saw first-hand what we're doing. I talked
to the agents to find out what is and isn't
working.
The El
Paso border patrol oversaw approximately
22,760,000 northbound crossings in fiscal year
2007. Additional fencing and agents have helped
reduce apprehensions in there by 38% from fiscal
years 2006 to 2007.
"This
proves that if given the necessary resources we
can reduce illegal immigration and smuggling,"
said Buchanan. "I am even more convinced now
than before that with more agents, secure
fencing and new technologies we can secure the
border."
Specifically, Buchanan called for the following
to help solve the problem of illegal
immigration: Add more border patrol agents to
monitor the crossings along the 2000 mile-long
southern border; Require employers to verify
workers are legal and take away the economic
incentive for illegals to come here; and,
Appropriate the necessary funding to finish
building 365 miles of the 700-mile long security
fence authorized in 2006 along the southern
border.
The
Congressman is a cosponsor of the Secure America
through Verification and Enforcement (SAVE)
Act. The bill would enhance border security,
provide employers with the tools they need to
ensure that their employees are here legally,
and enhance the government's ability to enforce
existing federal laws and penalize offenders.
Congressman Vern Buchanan
Receives
“A IN
ENGLISH” AWARD
Congressman Recognized for Support English as Official
Language
Washington, D.C. –Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-13)
yesterday received the “A in English” award from
U.S. English, Inc. for his support of
legislation making English the official language
of the United States.
“Theodore Roosevelt once said, ‘we have room for
but one language, the language of George
Washington and Abraham Lincoln, the language of
the Declaration of Independence – the English
language,’” Buchanan said. “I strongly support
making English our official language because it
is a common language helps us live and work
together. Learning English will open doors for
legal immigrants working to build a better life
in this country.”
Congressman Buchanan is a cosponsor of H.R. 769,
legislation that would make English our official
language and end federal bilingual programs.
“I am pleased to present this award to
Congressman Buchanan for his efforts to unite
our diverse nation under the common language of
English,” said Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman of the
Board of U.S. English, Inc. “Rep. Buchanan has
actively reflected the viewpoints of his
constituents regarding official English
legislation. At a time when there is renewed
interest toward preserving what unites us as a
nation, we are grateful to the Congressman for
his dedicated and enthusiastic support of this
issue.”
Buchanan is a member of the House Immigration
Reform Caucus.
Ridiculous!
Illegal Aliens Demand ‘Rights’ and
Reforms’
It's Utter Nonsense, Outrageous!
(More of AP's Bias and Hypocrisy?!)
The following Posted by Bobby Eberle
May 2, 2008 at 8:36 am
I was planning to take the day off
today and start my weekend a little bit early. However, I had
the misfortune of reading the AP story on the May Day marches by
thousands of illegal aliens who are demanding their "rights."
Not only is the notion of lawbreakers taking to the streets to
demand legal benefits completely outrageous, but the way the
"news" story is worded is completely insane. When people break
the law, there should be consequences. We should not close down
streets in order for them to "show unity." What is going on
here?!?! If you go by the AP's story, it's like there is no
such thing as an "illegal" alien.
For your humor and amusement, the AP
story titled
"Thousands rally in
May Day effort for immigration reform"
is filled with plenty of quotes that show the bias and the
slant that liberal media takes on this issue. In the second
paragraph, the story talks about marchers across the country
who "demanded citizenship opportunities for the estimated 12
million illegal immigrants in the U.S. and an end to raids
and deportations." Did I read that correctly? People come
into this country illegally, and then "demand" citizenship
and an end to enforcing the laws that are on the books to
stop illegal activity?
Here's one quote to start things
off:
''We come here to fight for
legalization. We're people. We have rights,'' said Eric
Molina, an undocumented factory worker who immigrated to
Zion, Ill., from Mexico.
Of course, the AP refers to this
person as an "undocumented factory worker." Give me a break!
Undocumented? You mean the employer was having a bad day and
lost Mr. Molina's paperwork? The person is an ILLEGAL ALIEN,
and is not only being allowed to stay in the country, but is
being interviewed about it. In addition, the whole use of
the phrase "immigrated to" has been completely twisted by
the liberal press. Immigrants are people who come to this
country legally and work to become part of the American
fabric. They are not people who sneak across the border, use
fake Social Security cards, and wave signs of their home
countries during marches.
Here's another quote:
''People have been stopped and
deported in the last week. This is a community living in
fear,'' said Veranes, a researcher for the International
Union of Painters and Allied Trades. ''You never know
when you're going to be stopped by Border Patrol and now
the police.''
Isn't it the job of the Border
Patrol and the police to enforce our laws and protect our
borders? Why are people surprised when a person who comes to
this country illegally is deported? The outrage! I'm sure
jewelry thieves don't take to the streets and start
demanding their rights. How dare the authorities take those
diamond rings from them?
In addition, the AP uses more of
their misleading language to account for the smaller number
of marches from the previous year. The writer states, "Some
said participation likely was lower because many immigrants
increasingly fear deportation." Wrong! I guarantee there is
no immigrant in the United States of America who fears
deportation. There may be some illegal aliens who fear
deportation, but that is not the same thing, and the
Associated Press should make that clear.
Illegal immigration hurts America.
It is a national security concern that must be addressed
from top to bottom. The borders must be protected.
Immigration laws must be enforced. America welcomes more
legal immigrants than any other country in the entire world.
We need to continue to do it the right way!
Illegal immigration costs taxpayers $45
billion
a year
in health care, education and
incarceration expenses!
From Congressman Ric Keller: Thank you
for writing
Thank you for contacting me regarding
immigration and border security. It is good to hear from you on
this important issue.
I believe at a time of heightened homeland security, the need to
protect our borders and prevent illegal immigration is stronger
than ever. We are proud of the freedom and democracy we enjoy
and are pleased to extend these liberties to those who seek to
immigrate by lawful means. However, we must make it very clear
that our doors are not open to those who refuse to abide by our
laws.
Having spent a week along the Southwestern border, I understand
the huge problem that illegal immigration presents the United
States. Last year alone, our Border Patrol agents arrested 1.2
million illegal aliens attempting to enter the U.S. from
Mexico. Significantly, 155,000 of those arrested were from
countries other than Mexico, including Iran, Iraq and
Afghanistan. This poses a very serious threat to our national
security.
The economic impact from illegal immigration is also
catastrophic. Illegal immigration costs taxpayers $45 billion a
year in health care, education and incarceration expenses. The
cost of the estimated 630,000 illegal aliens in Florida alone is
about $2 billion a year.
As Congress continues to debate various immigration and border
security issues in the 110th Congress, I will keep your thoughts
in mind. You can be assured I will continue to work toward the
improvement of our immigration system, the prevention of illegal
immigration, and the heightened security of our borders. I will
not support any proposal that grants amnesty to illegal aliens.
Again, thank you for writing. I look forward to hearing from
you in the future.
Sincerely,
Ric Keller
Member of Congress
Is
Illegal Immigration Making You Sick... Literally?!
Dr. William Campbell Douglass
II
The
unchecked flow of illegal border-hoppers from the south is
washing over us like a Texas flash flood. It negatively impacts
our bottom line, greatly compromises our security, and erodes
our national identity... but what nobody's talking about is how
serious a public health issue it is.
They're
trying to cheat the system, but in the end, you're the one who
pays. Maybe you don't know this, but all immigrants who want to
qualify for their green cards have to go through a thorough
testing process. Basically, they have to prove that they don't
have any contagious diseases or drug addictions.
Do you
have any idea how rampant diseases are in Third World countries
that don't have the same sanitary conditions and health care
available to them? Our screening process is in place to keep us
all safe. Whether people choose to accept it or not, the truth
is that too many of the illegals who "bypass" this testing
process are coming into this country with more than just their
"dream of a better life"-they're also bringing very contagious,
and sometimes very deadly, diseases.
If you're
not worried, you should be. Think about where these illegals
work, like chicken factories, fast-food restaurants, and other
places where they handle YOUR food. Or where their children go
to school-that's right, they're sitting right next to your
children and grandchildren, sneezing all over them in class. Now
do you see why I'm so concerned?
The
immigration crisis is finally front and center on our national
stage-so much so that politicians from both sides of the aisle
are being forced to reckon with it (or at least talk about
reckoning with it). But this is no cause for celebration. I
still say they're overlooking the most critical threat. Consider
the scope of the problem:
The high price of illegal immigration
Even
conservative estimates peg the number of illegal Hispanics in
America at around 10 million. Altogether, just the Mexican
nationals among the illegals send more than $15 billion home to
their native country every year. This represents Mexico's second
largest income stream-second only to oil exports.
Around 25%
of Mexico's GDP (or gross domestic product, which is around 250
billion) comes from CRIME. A huge percentage of that crime
(narcotics trafficking, human trafficking) takes place in the
U.S. An estimated 75% of the illicit drugs in this country come
in through our southern border. The gang-murder numbers prove
it, too. In L.A. alone, more than 90% of outstanding homicide
warrants are for illegals.
Despite
the bleeding hearts' claims that illegal immigrants are good for
the U.S. economy, the National Academy of Sciences calculates
the lifetime fiscal impact of the average adult Mexican
immigrant (the amount of taxes paid vs. the value of government
services used-like emergency medical and surgical healthcare) to
be a NEGATIVE $55,200. That's over half a trillion dollars when
multiplied by just the 10 million or so illegals already here.
But those
statistics pale in comparison to the health epidemic we face
from the infections and viruses that cross our borders unchecked
every single day.
...
Achieving the American Dream
Means Learning English
Posted by Bobby Eberle
April 15, 2008 at 6:22 am
Georgia Rep. Paul Broun has introduced
legislation to make English the official language of the United
States. As Broun notes in a "dear colleague" letter, "America's
genius has always been assimilation, taking legal immigrants and
turning them into American citizens. The key to assimilation, of
course, is a shared language. Large-scale immigration without
effective assimilation threatens social cohesion and America’s
shared values." Broun is now working to get other congressmen to
sign on as co-sponsors of his bill.
The bill, officially designated H.R.
5759, is known as the English as the Official Language Act of
2008. The bill is identical to its Senate companion, S. 2715,
which was recently introduced by Sen. Jim Inhofe. The bill
deserves careful consideration and support. The more we turn
away from uniting people in this country as Americans, the more
our country loses its strength and heritage.
As Rep. Broun notes in his press release,
the bill will "reduce costs to our federal government and will
encourage new, legal immigrants to quickly adopt America’s
native tongue. Learning English has always been and will
continue to be a key step in achieving the American dream."
The bill:
declares English to be the
official national language of the Government of the United
States.
states that no person has a right
or entitlement to have the US Government or any official to
communicate, perform or provide services, or materials in
any language other than English unless specifically provided
by statute.
provides that if an exception is
made on the use of a language other than English, the
exception does not create a legal entitlement to additional
services in that language or any language other than
English.
No one says that immigrants shouldn't
hold on to their customs and their history. Those are important
and help define the character and personality of the individual.
But there is a reason that an immigrant chooses to leave his or
her country and make the journey to America. It is so that
person can live a new life, to pursue freedom at its fullest,
and to become part of the American fabric. The English language
is the thread that holds the fabric together.
Study after study has shown that
English immersion and other accelerated English programs are
much more effective in preparing immigrants for the "real
world." Yet liberals keep pushing bilingual "education" which
only keeps immigrants from achieving their full potential.
English is the language of commerce, technology, industry, and
invention. Promoting programs that do not recognize this simply
in the name of "cultural diversity" is a disservice to the
immigrant.
The Loft
It is
imperative that you contact your Representative and demand
that he/she supports H.R. 5759:
Link to
Reps.
It is
imperative that you also contact your Senators and demand
they support S. 2715: Link
to Senators.
Border “Security” & Illegal
Immigration
“The Crisis Our Nation
Continues To Face!”
Congressman Pete Sessions
Reports
The Hill Report
A Weekly Newsletter from Congressman Pete Sessions
Week of March 17 – March 21, 2008
As Congress
remains adjourned this week for the Spring District Work Period,
I would like to take this opportunity to update you on my work
to address the border security and illegal immigration crisis
that our nation continues to face.
As a nation founded by immigrants, the United States will
continue to welcome the hard work, ingenuity, and
entrepreneurial spirit of legal immigrants. In contrast, illegal
immigration undermines the rule of law on which our nation was
founded and poses a significant national security risk that is
precipitated by porous borders. Without question, border
security is national security.
This Congress, I have cosponsored the Secure America with
Verification and Enforcement Act (SAVE Act, H.R. 4088),
a bipartisan enforcement-first immigration reform and border
security proposal introduced by Congressman Heath Shuler (D-NC).
With 147 cosponsors, the SAVE Act has garnered support
from Members of both parties and from regions across our nation.
While the SAVE Act covers many important immigration
and security issues, I would like to briefly highlight the
bill’s three main objectives.
Border
Security
The SAVE Act
calls for strengthening border security by increasing
Border Patrol Agents by 8,000 over the next four years: 6,400
agents to the Southern Border and 1,600 agents to the Northern
Border. In an effort to combat drug smuggling through a network
of underground tunnels, H.R. 4088 increases funding for the
“Tunnel Task Force” by 50 percent. The bill also requires
coordination between the Department of Defense and the
Department of Homeland Security.
Worker
Verification
H.R. 4088 expands the E-Verify
program by requiring all businesses to comply within four years
of the bill’s enactment. As you may remember, E-Verify is a
comprehensive yet efficient program that enables employers to
check the legal status of potential and current employees by
matching names with social security numbers. The bill also
protects employers who encounter verification problems in spite
of their “good faith” efforts to comply. The SAVE Act is supported by the National Federation of Independent
Businesses (NFIB).
Interior
Enforcement
This
legislation increases the number of Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) agents and Criminal Alien Program (CAP)
officers, ultimately facilitating a greater number of
deportations. The SAVE Act also funds additional bed
space in detention facilities, which is particularly important
because detainees are often released due to a lack of resources
and bed space in the facilities. The bill also identifies the
need to address the inadequate number of federal judges in
certain areas of the country that are overwhelmed with pending
immigration cases.
Petition for Action
In light of the
House Democrat leadership’s failure to act on any immigration
legislation this year, this month Congresswoman Thelma Drake
(R-VA) filed a discharge petition for the SAVE Act in
an attempt to bring the bill out of the committee of
jurisdiction and send it to the House floor for consideration. A
discharge petition can be a powerful tool used to move stalled
legislation; however, it is rarely used because it requires the
signatures of 218 Members of Congress—an absolute majority.
Filed on March 11, 2008, the SAVE Act discharge
petition has garnered 181 signatures – now requiring the support
of 37 more Members of Congress to force the House to consider
this valuable bill.
When Congressman Shuler introduced the
SAVE Act last
fall, I was pleased to see some House Democrats standing up to
their leadership’s amnesty agenda. Unfortunately, House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has yet to bring this legislation to the
floor despite the pressure of a discharge petition.
In the coming days, I will continue working with my colleagues
in the House to garner additional bipartisan support for the SAVE Act, which places policy ahead of politics and has the
potential to make significant progress in addressing illegal
immigration and securing our nation – both on the border and
across its interior.
U.S. Marshals
Fugitive Apprehension
As our nation’s
lead fugitive apprehension law enforcement agency, the U.S.
Marshals Service plays a critical role in catching criminals on
the run, including many illegal immigrant fugitives. The U.S.
Marshals Regional Fugitive Apprehension Task Forces combine the
resources of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies
to address violent crime, with a focus on fugitive felons, gang
violence, and sexual predators.
This week, I submitted a request to the House Appropriations
Committee, urging the Committee to allot $10 million for the
U.S. Marshalls Fugitive Task Forces for the coming fiscal year.
Additionally, I recommended that the next Regional Fugitive Task
Force be established in Texas.
This request builds on my previous efforts to secure a Regional
Fugitive Task Force for Texas and its surrounding states. Last
fall, Senator John Cornyn and 14 other members of the Texas
congressional delegation joined me in sending a letter to U.S.
Marshals Director John Clark, highlighting the critical need for
additional fugitive apprehension resources in Texas and
requesting that he consider placing the next Task Force in our
state.
In our letter to Director Clark, we note that our region has
become the “drug corridor” for Mexican and South American
criminals who use our weakened border system to their advantage.
Additionally, our state is occupied by a high concentration of
foreign gangs. We have been plagued with a rise in Central and
South American criminals who commit crimes and attempt to flee
without prosecution. A regional task force would provide the
oversight, funding, and coordination needed to adequately
address these pressing issues.
While the last new Regional Fugitive Task Force was assigned to
Florida, I will continue working with my Texas delegation
colleagues to secure resources for fugitive apprehension and
crime fighting efforts in our state, including the acquisition
of a U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force.
Have a good weekend.
Sincerely,
Pete Sessions
Congressman Bill Sali, Idaho
Illegal Immigration
RE: Broken U.S. Immigration System
and Porous Borders
"While
illegal immigration is an obvious
violation of our laws
it is also a serious breach of our
national security."
February 1, 2008
Dear...:
Thank
you for contacting me with your views
regarding immigration reform. I appreciate
hearing your thoughts on this subject.
It is
clear that our immigration system is broken
and must be fixed at a fundamental level. An
estimated 12 million illegal immigrants are
living in the United States. While I
understand the motivation of these men and
women who come to our country for the
opportunities it affords, we have to remain
a nation of laws that provides opportunities
for its own citizens first. The solution
must be consistent with our laws, our
interests and our commitment to both
American workers and those who wish to
become part of our country legally.
While
illegal immigration is an obvious violation
of our laws it is also a serious breach of
our national security. On a number of
occasions, our terrorist enemies have sought
to enter or remain in our country illegally.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff
recently noted, "All but one of the 9/11
hijackers who carried out the plot five
years ago used American identification
documents that they had obtained in
fraudulent purposes, including drivers'
licenses." Clearly, our safety as a nation
is at risk under the current system. Illegal
immigrants should be repatriated whenever
their illegal status is verified by a local,
state or federal law enforcement body.
Period.
Let me
outline some principles that define my
approach to immigration reform:
First,
it is absolutely essential that we
strengthen our borders. As a sovereign
nation, we must protect our borders and
uphold our laws. Since September 11, 2001,
more than six million people attempting to
enter our nation illegally have been turned
away at our borders. I applaud the diligence
of our Border Security agents. Yet hundreds
of thousands, perhaps millions, have
succeeded in entering America illegally. We
must construct the border fence between the
United States and Mexico, and also provide
adequate funding for our border patrol
officers as they combat illegal immigration.
Second,
amnesty, immediate or long-term, actual or
de facto,
is not an option. "Amnesty" is
rewarding people with the object of their
crime - in this case, legal residence in the
United States. This must never be the policy
of the United States, real or unintended.
The Senate bill, combined with the proposal
of the Bush Administration, would impose
modest fines for illegal immigrants, but
would then provide them with "temporary"
residence visa that could, in fact, serve as
means to allow undocumented persons to stay
in the U.S. indefinitely. This is not
acceptable. However well-intended, it is an
unwise and unworkable policy that I cannot
support or accept.
Third,
we must also recognize that some industries,
most specifically those that are
agriculture-related, have come to rely on
migrant workers. I am committed to ensuring
that farms and agriculture businesses have
access to the legal migrant workers they
need. Many of these workers arrive on legal
visas but then stay illegally once the
harvest season is over. Many others come
with forged documentation that appears to
validate their residence in our country.
Farmers in Idaho should not be tasked with
serving as some sort of police force to
check and re-check the legal status of their
workers. Instead, we need to find ways of
verifying legality of residence that removes
the burden of enforcement from employers who
do their best but also have companies to run
and crops to bring in. We must also develop
a comprehensive and effective tracking
system that will help us keep tabs on people
who enter our country legally until they
either leave or become citizens.
It is noteworthy that the
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Agency has dramatically increased its
enforcement of employment law over the past
several months. Undocumented workers should
never take jobs away from American workers
and I will continue to support enforcement
of our country's legal requirements,
including their application to our factories
and farms.
Fourth,
it is vital to assimilate legal immigrants
into our society by teaching English and
sharing our American values. Anyone who
swears the oath of citizenship should share
the ideals and civic responsibility that
make our country and its people one. Toward
this end, I support public libraries and
faith-based and community groups that offer
English language and civics instruction to
immigrants who are seeking to make America
their home. I also support legislation to
make English the official language.
You will also be interested
in know that I have cosponsored four
measures designed to address this critical
issue:
oH.R.
2086, to enhance the integrity of the United
States against the threat of terrorism. This
measure would require such funds to be used
by the Secretary of Homeland Security to
reimburse a state or political subdivision
for expenses incurred when law enforcement
officers or employees of such state or
subdivision receive training to perform
border security and immigration enforcement
functions.
oH.R.
2399, which would amend the Immigration and
Nationality Act and title 18, United States
Code, to combat the crime of alien smuggling
and related activities.
oH.Con.Res.83,
which expresses the sense of the Congress
that State and local governments should be
supported for taking actions to discourage
illegal immigration and that legislation
should be enacted to ease the burden on
State and local governments for taking such
actions.
oH.R.
3554, the New IDEA (Illegal Deduction
Elimination Act), which would amend the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to clarify
that wages paid to unauthorized aliens may
not be deducted from gross income.
Last
spring, I joined 96 of my colleagues in a
Congressional letter asking the Speaker of
the House to reject amnesty for illegal
immigrants. More recently, I began 2008 by
co-sponsoring the Fence by Date Certain Act
(H.R. 4987), legislation requiring the fence
be completed in 2009, and by leading the
effort to request House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
make building the fence a legislative
priority. I was very pleased that a majority
of the Republican House members joined me in
sending this letter to the Speaker. As a
member of the Immigration Reform Caucus, I
look forward to working with my colleagues
in the 110th Congress to reform our current
immigration system.
Please know that I will keep
your views in mind as I cast my vote on the
House floor. You can find more information
about this letter and my work in Congress by
visiting
www.sali.house.gov.
Thank you again for contacting me; I hope
you will continue to share your views on the
important issues facing our country.
Sincerely,
Bill
Sali
Member
of Congress
Much of our current
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION problem
is created by
employers who violate our laws
in order to secure
cheap, vulnerable labor!
Dear ...,
It is clear that illegal
immigration is a problem that must be fixed. In addition
to the shortage of border agents, I believe that much of
our current problem is created by employers who violate
our laws in order to secure cheap, vulnerable labor.
This is why I have cosponsored
legislation introduced by Rep. Shuler, called the Secure
America with Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act, HR
4088. This legislation would do a number of things to
stop illegal immigration, including:
- Requiring employers to
check prospective employees through the E-Verify
identification system.
- Increasing border
security infrastructure and authorizing 8,000 new
Border Patrol agents.
- Expediting the removal of
illegal aliens by expanding detention capacity and
increasing the number of Federal District Court
Judges.
...
In addition to co-sponsoring
the SAVE Act, I also supported legislation that would
provide $2.7 billion in emergency supplemental funding
for border security. These funds will be used to hire
additional border patrol agents, train state and local
entities to assist in immigration law enforcement, and
construct fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Our country has a rich history
of immigration, but we have a Constitutional
responsibility to ensure immigration is regulated and
legal. We must pursue a responsible immigration policy
that will allow us to benefit from the legal influx of
new and vibrant people, while ensuring that we do not
harm U.S. citizens in the process.
Again, I want to hear from you
on the issue of illegal immigration. ...
Sincerely,
Pete Visclosky
Member of Congress
Mexico Mayor Helps Illegals Reach the
U.S.
Thursday, January 31, 2008 11:12 AM
By: Philip V. Brennan
In Ecatepec, a sprawling suburb of
Mexico City, Mayor Jose Luis Gutierrez has done something
almost unheard of: He has declared his city a "sanctuary"
for the illegal immigrants traveling from Central America to
the United States.
Every day scores of Hondurans,
Guatemalans, Salvadorans and others begin the long, final
stage of their journey from Ecatepec to the U.S. border
aboard a freight train known as "the beast."
Gutierrez, a longtime activist
with the leftist Democratic Revolution Party, has ordered
his police officers and city officials not to arrest,
extort, or otherwise harass the migrants, according to the
Los Angeles Times which added that he has also ordered them
not to cooperate with Mexican immigration agents.
"Let them go, and guard the
borders," he told the Times. "For Ecatepec, migration is not
a criminal act. It's a universal right: the right to seek
work and the right to travel freely from one place to
another."
Wrote the Times, "Thousands of
undocumented immigrants pass through here every year, but
you won't hear many Ecatepec residents call them 'illegal.'"
"A lot of people help them,"
Guadalupe Ambriz told the Times. Ambriz, a 33-year-old
resident of Xalostoc, an impoverished Ecatepec neighborhood
divided by the rail line, lives in an old boxcar that's been
converted into a home. There are many such homes along the
tracks.
"They might let them take a bath,
or give them some food, or some old clothes," Ambriz said.
The Times explains that given
Ecatepec's history, the mayor's decision was not a
controversial one, since the city's population is composed
of migrants, people who resettled here from other
impoverished corners of Mexico, including the nearby states
of Oaxaca, Hidalgo, and Puebla.
Every year Ecatepec sends many of
its sons and daughters northward creating large communities
of Ecatepec natives in California, Texas, and other U.S.
states.
"For us, the bravest people of
Ecatepec are the ones who go take the risk of going to the
north, with all the abuse and the hatred that goes on
there," Gutierrez said. "Those people are heroes for us."
Gutierrez explained that
immigration is a deeply personal issue for him, telling the
Times that one of his cousins has lived in the Los Angeles
area, "without papers," for 10 years.
"We were raised together by our
grandmother," Gutierrez told the newspaper. Because his
cousin is in the U.S. illegally, he hasn't been able to
return to Mexico and the two men haven't seen each other in
a decade. "All those people who have gone to the north are
our blood," the mayor said.
Central American immigrants have
been passing through Ecatepec for more than a decade even
though their journey is so life-threatening, that many have
died along the way or suffered crippling injuries in falls
from the train. All along the route, from the Guatemalan
border to the Rio Grande, police and immigration officials
routinely seek bribes, or simply rob migrants.
"For years, our police protected
the extortionists," Gutierrez said of Ecatepec's officers.
"The immigrants didn't complain, but the residents did. It
just added to a climate of excessive violence in a
neighborhood that was already dangerous."
"It's a hard journey," Armando
Peña, a 40-year-old bicycle-taxi operator in the Xalostoc
neighborhood told the Times. He recalled that he paid a
smuggler the equivalent of $1,000 to get him to Los Angeles
last year. "But if you want to get ahead, it's the only
way."
The smuggler, he said, got him
across the border at San Ysidro in a box attached to the
underside of a car. "I thought I was going to suffocate," he
said, adding that the experience is the reason why he helps
the passing migrants any way he can.
After three months in California,
selling ice cream on the street, he says he got homesick and
came home.
He told the Times he might join
the migrants who pass through Ecatepec and return to the
U.S., adding that he expects to have to pay the smuggler
$2,000 or more this time around.
"I should have stayed in
California," he said.
© 2008 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
Danger At The Borders
Danger at the Borders
Posted by Bobby Eberle
January 24, 2008 at 7:33 am
We've heard about it time and again: areas along the
border with high concentration of illegal alien activity become hotspots for
drug-dealing, violence, and other crimes. Now, we increasingly hear stories of
the Mexican military crossing the border into sovereign U.S. territory.
The first question we should ask is, "Why are they
doing this?" Some believe they are trying to crack down on drug-smuggling
and other crimes, while others believe that these incursions into the United
States have more to do with seeing that the crimes are NOT stopped by U.S.
officials -- that the military actually provides cover for the activities.
The second question we should ask is, "Why is the U.S. allowing this?" This
is our country, and no other military is allowed to simply drive across with
hostile intent. Just read what's been happening lately...
According to the Department of Homeland Security's
Customs and Border Protection Office of Border Patrol, there has been a
staggering 278 incursions into the United States by Mexican government
personnel since 1996. In 2007, the Office of Border Patrol Field
Intelligence Center noted 25 incursions, 4 by Mexican military personnel and
21 by Mexican police officials.
The DHS report
on incursions was obtained through a
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by Judicial Watch. The
organization combed through the report and found a number of such as:
MEXICAN MILITARY INCURSION (ARMED/INTENTIONAL)
TUCSON/TUCSON -- On April 23, 2007, Border Patrol Agents...reported a
Mexican military incursion on the Tres Bellotas Ranch near Arivaca,
Arizona. The agents were using night vision equipment and
observed...seven to ten Mexican military personnel in Humvees carrying
long arms...The agents continued to back away from the [soldiers] when
they heard [one] soldier chamber a round into his rifle. The agents
observed...that the military personnel had fanned out in a tactical
formation on both sides of the US/Mexico International Boundary.
MEXICAN MILITARY INCURSION (ARMED/INTENTIONAL)
TUCSON SECTOR/SONOITA SECTOR -- On July 5, 2007 a Border Patrol
Agent...encountered six subjects dressed in tan colored BDU style
clothing...A military style Humvee and a black Suburban were parked on
the Mexican side of the border...Two of the subjects appeared to be
carrying bundles of narcotics on their backs.
MEXICAN POLICE INCURSION (ARMED/INTENTIONAL)
EL CENTRO SECTOR/CALEXICO STATION -- On August 26, 2007, Remote Video
Surveillance System operators...observed a red Ford F150 south of the
All American Canal between the United States and
Mexico...Agents...encountered the vehicle and performed a vehicle
stop...The agents found credentials on the driver indicating that [name
redacted] is an Agent of the Mexican Agencia Federal de Investigation.
The agents searched the vehicle and discovered several items to include:
guns, ammunition, narcotics, night vision equipment, cell phones, a
walkie talkie and a ski mask.
The full list of FY 2007 incursions is included in
the report in the form of a table:
Our borders must be protected. There should be
absolutely no debate on this issue. Congress has passed legislation to build
a fence, then other legislators come around and defund it. In addition to
physical barriers and surveillance, another element is needed.... something
simple, but as of yet, missing from the process: political pressure. The
government of Mexico will not change its ways unless pressure comes from the
U.S. government. We cannot allow these incursions into sovereign U.S. land.
We cannot allow Mexico to encourage the exodus of its people through illegal
means as a way of bringing more money back to Mexico. Protection of our
borders starts with the White House and ends at the border line.
- END -
Additional Insight and
Comments:
The Center for Individual Freedom
DID YOU KNOW THAT
ARMED TROOPS AND POLICE FROM MEXICO HAVE BEEN VIOLATING OUR BORDER FOR
YEARS, IN SOME CASES ESCORTING DRUG
DEALERS INTO THE U.S. SO THEY WON'T BE CAUGHT BY U.S. BORDER GUARDS?
It's true.
But have you
ever seen a headline that read:
MEXICAN SOLDIERS INVADE UNITED STATES?
Neither have I.
When it comes to securing our borders, the left-wing press -- and our
elected officials in Washington -- sees no evil, hears no evil, and
speaks no evil.
Recently, however, Judicial Watch obtained a government report that
documents not one, not two, but HUNDREDS OF
INCURSIONS BY ARMED MEXICAN SOLDIERS AND MEXICAN POLICE.
Here are some excerpts from the report, describing specific incidents:
"As the
boat proceeded to go down river towards the scene, the [U.S. Border Patrol]
Agent on board advised via radio that several Mexican soldiers were pointing
their rifles in his direction. The Agent decided for his safety and the
safety of the crew to turn back, but advised that the soldiers were still
aiming at them."
Invaders
aimed their guns AT AMERICAN BORDER PATROL AGENTS ON AMERICAN SOIL --
knowing that U.S. agents aren't allowed to pursue them. At other times,
they actually fired on Americans.
"[Troopers]
attempted to apprehend three vehicles believed to be smuggling contraband on
I-10 . As the vehicles approached the border, [troopers] stated that a
Mexican Military Humvee armed with a .50 caliber weapon and several soldiers
were seen assisting smugglers return to Mexico. Officers then noticed
several armed subjects dressed in fatigue type clothing unload the
contraband into the Humvee."
Unfortunately, Mexico seems to be run by corrupt politicians, a rogue army,
and dirty cops. It's a cauldron of poverty, lawlessness, and corruption.
"This boat,
which appeared to be a Mexican Military boat, was providing security and
escort for the two others that were later found to be transporting 2,716.53
pounds of Marijuana."
Where is the outrage?
No one in charge
seems to care that dope dealers are now bringing their own armies with them
-- and our National Guardsmen on the border AREN'T EVEN ALLOWED TO HAVE
WEAPONS!!
Hundreds Of Armed Incursions...
You read that
right!
Tom Fitton of Judicial Watch said of the report:
"These
documents not only show the dangerous and chaotic situation at the
Mexican border, but also the complicity of some Mexican government
agents in violating U.S. law."
Are you ready for
this? In its report, the government states that in the decade between
1996 and September 30, 2006, the
U.S. GOVERNMENT CONFIRMED 253 INCURSIONS INTO THE UNITED STATES
BY MEXICAN GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL.
Homeland Security
has documented shots fired on both sides of the border, unmarked
helicopters invading U.S. airspace, drug smuggling, and dangerous
confrontations between U.S. Border Patrol agents and armed members of
the Mexican military.
But wait a minute!
What did our government DO about these illegal invasions?
Did we threaten
to go to the United Nations, as President Vicente Fox did when he
heard we were building a fence to stop illegal aliens from sneaking
into our country?
Did we call the
Mexican government on the carpet?
Apparently our
government did nothing -- except maybe hide the incident reports in a
cob-web-covered file cabinet and let them accumulate dust.
Don't American
citizens -- and those who are in our country legally for that matter
-- deserve at least as much protection as the Mexican government
affords its citizens?
We know what
happens to illegal aliens who attempt to cross Mexico's
southern border. They are shot dead or hauled off in irons and sent
back to Guatemala, El Salvador, and points south.
Incredible!
Disappearing Border
Fence!
And, you placed
your trust in...
Bush, Pelosi and Reid?
The Incredible
Disappearing Border Fence
By Michelle Malkin
December 19, 2007
Do you know the story of the
Incredible Disappearing Border Fence? It's an object lesson in
gesture politics and homeland insecurity. It's a tale of hollow
rhetoric, meaningless legislation and bipartisan betrayal. And
in the run-up to the Iowa caucuses, it's a helpful learning tool
as you assess the promises of immigration enforcement converts
now running for president.
Last fall, Democrats and Republicans
in Washington responded to continued public outrage over border
chaos by passing the "Secure Fence Act." Did you question the
timing? You should have. It's no coincidence they finally got
off their duffs to respond just before the 2006 midterm
elections. Lawmakers vowed grandiosely to keep America safe. The
law specifically called for "at least 2 layers of reinforced
fencing, the installation of additional physical barriers,
roads, lighting, cameras and sensors" at five specific stretches
of border totaling approximately 700 miles.
GOP leaders patted themselves on the
back for their toughness. President Bush made a huge to-do in
signing the bill into law. Never mind the lack of funding for
the fence and the failure to address many other immediate
reforms that could have been adopted immediately to strengthen
immigration enforcement, close deportation loopholes and provide
systemic relief at the border without the need for a single
brick or bulldozer.
On the very day the bill was signed,
open-borders politicians were already moving to water it down.
Texas Republican Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn
pushed for "flexibility to choose other options instead of
fencing, if needed." Six months after passage of the Secure
Fence Act -- now interpreted by Washington as the Flexible
Non-Fence Act or, as I call it, the FINO (Fence in Name Only)
Act -- 700 miles shrunk to "somewhere in the ballpark" of 370
miles. A 14-mile fence-building project in San Diego was stalled
for years by environmental legal challenges and budget
shortfalls. The first deadline -- a May 30, 2007 requirement for
installation of an "interlocking surveillance camera system"
along the border in California and Arizona -- passed unmet. GOP
Rep. Duncan Hunter, one of the few Republican presidential
candidates to walk the talk on border security, blasted the Bush
administration for suffering from "a case of 'the slows' on
border enforcement."
More than a year after the law's
passage, the citizen watchdog group Grassfire reports that just
five miles of double-layer fencing has been built in the first
12 months of implementation of the act. Five lousy miles. The
Government Accountability Office claims 70 miles were erected --
but most of that fencing failed to meet the specifications of
the law.
Is Congress up in arms? Will there be
accountability? Don't make me snort. Instead of demanding that
the law be enforced, the pols are sabotaging the law. As part of
the omnibus spending package passed this week, House Democrats
incorporated Senate Republicans' provisions to remove the
two-layer fencing requirements and the specific target list of
fencing locations.
GOP Rep. Peter T. King, who sponsored
the Secure Fence Act, told the Washington Times: "This is either
a blatant oversight or a deliberate attempt to disregard the
border security of our country. As it's currently written, the
omnibus language guts the Secure Fence Act almost entirely.
Quite simply, it is unacceptable."
But so totally, totally predictable.
GOP Majority Leader John Boehner tried
to blame the House Democrat majority: "The fact that this was
buried in a bloated, 3,500-page omnibus speaks volumes about the
Democrats' unserious approach on border security and illegal
immigration," he said. "Gutting the Secure Fence Act will make
our borders less secure, but it's consistent with the pattern of
behavior we've seen all year from this majority." But it's
border state Republicans who've been gunning to undermine the
law while the ink was still fresh.
To add insult to injury and homeland
insecurity upon homeland insecurity, Congress failed to adopt a
ban on federal aid to sanctuary cities that prevent government
employees and law enforcement officers from asking about
immigration status; voted to stall implementation of stricter ID
standards at border crossings; and miraculously found enough
money to provide $10 million in "emergency" funding for
attorneys of illegal aliens.
Next time you hear a leading
presidential candidate try to woo you with his nine-point
immigration enforcement plan or his secure ID plan or his Secure
Borders platform, point to the Incredible Disappearing Border
Fence. Poof! That is what happens to election-season homeland
security promises. Why would theirs be any different?
-------
Michelle Malkin is author of "Unhinged: Exposing
Liberals Gone Wild."
COPYRIGHT 2007 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.
"I do
not support illegal immigration
or
amnesty for illegal immigrants...
Amnesty rewards illegal
conduct...
We must vigorously enforce
the laws...
terrorists seek to exploit
our vulnerabilities.
I believe very strongly
in... the rule of law."
Border Security/Illegal
Immigration
I do not support illegal immigration or amnesty
for illegal immigrants already in this country, period. I support
immigration, but people must do it legally. Amnesty rewards illegal
conduct and only increases the number of illegal immigrants who try to
enter America as we have seen in the previous amnesties in 1986 and
1996. As a former judge for over 22 years, I believe very strongly in
the respect for the rule of law. I never let anyone get away with
breaking the law and immigration laws should be no different. We must
vigorously enforce the laws we already have on the books and make some
of them stronger.
We must not forget how the tragic events of September 11th demonstrated
the need for heightened security. The 9/11 Commission Report stated that
terrorists seek to exploit our vulnerabilities. Our border remains one
of those serious vulnerabilities. I have traveled numerous times to many
locations along the U.S. – Mexico border in Texas to witness the
situation first-hand. Our border, sadly, remains wide open. While the
Border Patrol apprehends a million illegal crossers each year, half a
million slip through their reach; among them are people seeking to work
illegally, human smugglers, drug smugglers, and even possible
terrorists. In 2004, the Border Patrol apprehended 650 people from
countries that are state sponsors of terrorism. How many were Border
Patrol not able to apprehend? How do we know they didn’t bring weapons
of mass destruction along with them? These are serious questions that
need serious answers.
I overwhelmingly support the recording of everyone who crosses our
borders at our ports of entry. We need to know who is coming and who is
going and check them against criminal and terrorist watch lists before
welcoming them to America. We currently are able to track packages and
livestock as they travel across borders, why can't we do the same for
people. The U.S. VISIT program is one such program that would do this,
but its potential is not being fully realized because of mismanagement
and misapplied resources. I have long favored and advocated in Congress
the expanded use of the passport as a universal travel document, which
could be used in U.S. VISIT. I have been disappointed in this
progress. Our border agents currently accept over 8,000 different sets
of identification for admission at our borders. This is unacceptable
and only leads to fraud. We need to limit this at the very least to one
or two documents with the very highest document security standards.
Solving this crisis will not be easy as there are many who want amnesty
and support policies that promote more illegal immigration and
lawlessness. These are unacceptable in a post 9/11 world. I believe we
can start by enforcing the law and showing we are serious about it. We
also need to eliminate policies in this country that encourage and
ignore illegal immigration; including easy access to jobs with little
enforcement of employers who hire illegals, free healthcare, free
education, birthright citizenship, policies that don’t promote
assimilation, and the inability of local law enforcement to assist
federal immigration authorities.
Lastly, the federal government has a responsibility to the states under
Article IV, Section IV of the Constitution to protect each of them
against invasion. Because of the federal government's inability to
secure America's borders, the problems associated with open borders have
now been shouldered by our states and local communities. Until the
federal government has the will to secure the border, we must encourage
and support our states and communities to do what is necessary to stop
illegal immigration and ensure that illegal immigrants do not have safe
harbor anywhere.
TED POE
Member of Congress
TEXAS
Immigrant
Population Hits Record 38 Million
With a third of
those being ILLEGAL ALIENS!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 10:38 PM
By: Chris Gonsalves
A new study by the Center for Immigration
Studies, based on the latest Census Bureau data, shows the
number of immigrants in America, both legal and illegal, has
swelled to a record 38 million this year – making one of every
eight U.S. residents an immigrant.
The new numbers indicate the highest
level in more than eight decades – with a third of those being
illegal aliens.
One third of immigrants are on some
form of welfare, costing states nearly $20 billion a year, the
study claimed, adding that efforts to legalize the spiraling
number of illegal aliens will only increase the amount of
uneducated, uninsured legal immigrants burdening America’s
welfare rolls.
Since 2000, more than 10 million
immigrants have entered the U.S., more than half of them
illegally, according to the CIS. With no change in U.S.
immigration policy, another 15 million immigrants will likely
arrive in the next 10 years.
“The last seven years have been the
highest period of immigration in American History,” says the
report’s lead author, Dr. Steven A. Camarota. “The roughly 1.5
million immigrants arriving each year have a very significant
effect on American life.”
Mark Krikorian, executive director of
the CIS, tells Newsmax that the deleterious effects of continued
immigration, include “an increasing burden on taxpayers to
subsidize a 19th century workforce imported into a 21st century
society; further displacement and wage reductions for the
low-skilled and teen-age American workers who are the chief
competitors of illegal immigrants; and continued slowing of
technological innovation in the fields where immigrants are
concentrated due to the artificial flooding of the low-skilled
labor market and consequent reduction of incentives for
businesses to mechanize and use labor more efficiently.”
The impact is being felt most
pointedly in a handful of states. California, Florida, Texas,
New Jersey and Arizona are bearing the brunt of immigration
increases both legal and illegal, the CIS study found.
California’s 10 million immigrants alone make up 27 percent of
the nation’s total immigrant population.
“Some 75 percent of immigrants settle
in ten states,” Krikorian tells Newsmax. “But Americans in other
states are not immune to the effects of mass immigration. The
consequences for security, sovereignty, assimilation, and
government spending are national problems. In other words, every
state is now a border state, every town a border town.”
A third of all U.S. immigrants come
from Mexico, making it the top country of origin followed by
China, India, the Philippines and Vietnam. Almost 60 percent of
the Illegal aliens entering the U.S. come from Mexico.
The numbers portend a major shift in
American demographics. More than 72 percent of native U.S.
residents are white, 13 percent are black, 10 percent are
Hispanic and 2 percent are Asian. But among the burgeoning
immigrant population, over 48 percent are Hispanic, 23 percent
are Asian, 21 percent are white and 7 percent are black.
Camarota, research director at the
CIS, a Washington think tank that favors immigration
restrictions along with improved services for legal immigrants,
says immigrants now make up one in every five school-age
children in America. Immigration accounts for all of the
increases in public school enrollment nationwide over the past
20 years, the CIS reports.
In places such as Los Angeles County
and New York City, the children of immigrant fathers make up
nearly 60 percent of the school-age population.
On top of that, a quarter of these
immigrant children live in poverty and a third lack health
insurance, something Camarota says “creates enormous challenges
for the nation’s schools, healthcare system and physical
infrastructure.”
In fact, the study found that 17
percent of immigrants and their children live below the poverty
line – with income of less than $20,000 per year for a family of
four - some 50 percent higher than the poverty rate for native
U.S. residents.
Many immigrants do ultimately find a
better life here. But the study reveals that even those who have
been in the U.S. for more than two decades are more likely than
native residents to live in poverty, lack health insurance and
use the welfare system.
Camarota points out that the numbers
indicate the reason for the high rates of poverty and welfare
among immigrants is a lack of education, “not their legal status
or unwillingness to work.”
More than 31 percent of adult
immigrants have not completed high school, compared to just 8
percent of U.S. natives. Since 2000, immigrants have boosted the
overall number of workers who lack a high school diploma to 14
percent.
Camarota’s findings on the quality of
life for uneducated immigrants shows that attempts at so-called
amnesty for the current population of 12 million illegal aliens
would prove costly and provide little benefit.
“Immigrants who have legal status, but
little education, generally have low incomes and make heavy use
of welfare programs,” the CIS report states. “If we decide to
legalize illegal immigrants, we should at least understand that
it will not result in dramatically lower welfare use or poverty.
“Those who advocate such a policy need
to acknowledge this problem and not argue that legalization will
save taxpayers money or result in a vast improvement in the
income of illegal aliens,” the report continues. “Legalized
illegals will still be overwhelmingly uneducated and this fact
has enormous implications for their income, welfare use, health
insurance coverage, and the effect on American taxpayers.”
Of the estimated 12 million illegal
aliens in the U.S., nearly 7 million have jobs. Illegal
immigrants earn an average of $46,000 per household annually
compared with $67,000 for native families, the CIS study shows.
“A central question for immigration
policy is whether we should allow in so many people with little
education — increasing job competition for the poorest American
workers and the population needing government assistance,” says
Camarota. “Setting aside the lower socio economic status of
immigrants, no nation has ever attempted to incorporate nearly
38 million newcomers into its society.”
America has, of course, traditionally
been a nation of immigrants. But the CIS report points out that
the immigrant population now accounts for a large share of the
increase in the overall U.S. population. During the first decade
of the last century, the 3.2 million additional immigrants
accounted for just 20 percent of the total increase in the U.S.
population. The 6.8 million immigrant increase in the last seven
years equals 34 percent of U.S. population’s rise in that same
period.
“Whatever one thinks of contemporary
immigration, it is critically important to understand that its
effect on America represents a choice,” Camarota says.
“Selection criteria can be altered, as can the total number of
people allowed into the country legally. With illegal aliens
accounting for nearly one in three immigrants, their effect on
the nation by themselves is now very large.”
True to the CIS charter, Krikorian
stresses that there “ is no excuse whatever for intolerant
attitudes toward legal immigrants -- we admitted them according
to the rules established by our elected representatives, and we
must, and will, continue to embrace them as Americans in
training.
“Even illegal immigrants must be
treated humanely as they are detained and returned to their
homes,” Krikorian says. “But future legal immigration is a
different question -- mass immigration is simply not compatible
with the goals of a modern society and should be minimized to
the extent possible.”
© 2007 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
Mexico's Hypocritical
Double Standard
One Reporter’s Opinion
-
Mexican Laws Are
Strict on Illegals
Thursday, November 1, 2007 2:11 PM
By: George Putnam
It is this reporter's opinion that
when it comes to our shameful immigration situation, Mexican
President Felipe Calderon and the outgoing president, Vicente
Fox, are one and the same.
Both are outspoken and critical of
U.S. immigration law enforcement. Both support amnesty for all
illegals from Mexico. Both continue to use their consulates in
the United States and activists — La Raza, MEChA, etc. to meddle
in our affairs.
The recent case of a Mexican
rapist-murderer now on death row in Texas illustrates the
problem. His name is José E. Medellín. He was convicted and
sentenced to death after he confessed in 1993 to the savage rape
and murder of two teenage girls in Houston.
At this late date, his legal
representation again resorts to the courts claiming that under
the Vienna Convention aliens accused of crimes in a foreign
country are required to request the assistance of consular
officials from their country.
Medellín never requested such
assistance until after all of his appeals were denied.
Incredibly the Bush administration knuckled under to the World
Court, formally known as the International Court of Justice, and
ordered the Texas courts to give Medellín another hearing.
In this case, we find the Bush
administration in opposition to our government and the courts of
his own state of Texas.
Let’s take a look at a glaring
contrast between our own lack of enforcement of illegal
immigration and Mexico’s very strict immigration laws enforced
by every police agency in the country. Two excellent sources on
the subject are American citizen Allan Wall, who resides in
Mexico with a permit issued by the Mexican government, and John
W. Slagle, a U.S. Navy aviation veteran and Border Patrol
engineer with service spanning 30 years.
Wall and Slagle cite Article 33 of the
Mexican Constitution that specifically authorizes immediate
expulsion of any foreigner whose presence the Mexican government
deems objectionable.
Foreigners may be barred from the
country if their presence upsets “the equilibrium of the
national demographics.” When foreigners are deemed detrimental
to economic or national interests, when they have broken Mexican
laws, they are jailed or deported.
Under Mexican law, illegal immigration
is a felony. Mexicans who help illegals enter the country are
themselves considered criminals. A Mexican who marries a
foreigner with the sole objective of helping the foreigner live
in the country is subject to five years in prison. And no
foreigner may engage in political affairs, in any manner.
If a foreigner wishes to reside in
Mexico, he or she must have a guaranteed job or be financially
independent, and must prove an income from abroad consisting of
pensions or investments four hundred times the minimum wage in
Mexico City (monthly). This amount represents approximately
$1,500 in U.S. dollars per month.
Mexico welcomes only foreigners who
are “useful to Mexican society.” Foreigners may not, in any
manner, involve themselves in the political affairs of the
country. In May of 2002, 18 Americans were expelled for
participating in a May Day march. An additional five persons
were booted out for taking part in a demonstration.
Speaking of meddling by the Mexican
government and its activists representatives, in 2006 three
Americans (two lawyers and an activist) working on a case
involving Cardinal Roger Mahoney and the archbishop of Mexico,
traveled to Mexico to publicize a lawsuit being brought in Los
Angeles.
After holding a news conference, the
three were expelled from Mexico and banned from returning for
five years.
The glaring contrast between our own
haphazard “look the other way” on the illegal alien invasion,
compared to Mexico’s strict immigration laws is scandalous and
should prove a powerful answer to those in Washington who
consider our own U.S. laws unenforceable.
If you have any doubts about this
issue, read Article 33 of the Mexican Constitution. It
specifically authorizes immediate expulsion of any foreigner
whose presence the Mexican government deems objectionable,
without previous legal action. We need to learn from their
example.
Immigration: More Than Just the Numbers
Mr.
Harry, Mr. Teddy, Ms. Nancy, Ms. Feinstein & GW
are yuh listenin'?!
You are destroying this
nation's Sovereignty!
It is said, "a nation that does not
control its borders
is not really a sovereign nation!"
Immigration: More
Than Just the Numbers
The statesman and political
philosopher Edmund Burke once said, “A nation is not a thing
of mere physical locality.” That is why the debate on
immigration policy has become so heated. It is not just a
discussion about how many people the nation needs to admit
to sustain its economic development. It is, rather, at its
core a discussion about just what kind of nation the United
States is going to be.
The urgency of the debate on
immigration is linked to numbers – and those numbers are
staggering. It is estimated that there are currently
between 11 million and 12 million illegal immigrants
residing in the United States. On top of that, an
additional 500,000 people illegally cross the border each
year, overwhelming a system that is already overburdened.
This does not include the 750,000 to 1 million immigrants
who legally enter the country each year.
Except perhaps in wartime, the
nation has never experienced population shifts of these
dimensions, and it is unclear just what kind of sociological
consequences such changes will have. Certainly, permitting
a population that is broadly unfamiliar with the English
language to enter the United States in large numbers is
something of an uncontrolled social experiment. The
precedents for such an experiment are not promising.
History, from Belgium to the Balkans, suggests that
societies without a common language are not happy, let alone
economically prosperous.
That argument is buttressed by
these facts: 90% of the increase in people living below the
poverty line has come from the immigrant Hispanic
population. Not un-coincidentally, since 1980, the number
of Hispanics with incomes below poverty level has increased
162%. (The comparable numbers for non-Hispanic whites is 3%
and for African-Americans, 9.5%.) In 2004, the already low
median wages for foreign born Hispanics in the United States
dropped 1.6%. As the journalist Robert Samuelson has noted,
America is literally importing Mexico’s poverty.
Even more worrisome, 43% of
Hispanics live in neighborhoods with Hispanic majorities –
up from 39% in 1990. This is an extraordinary reversal of
the usual trend where, as immigrant populations grow in
number, they become more, not less, integrated. If
demography is destiny, then the American public is right to
be concerned about the implications of this statistic.
It is axiomatic that a nation that
does not control its borders is not really a sovereign
nation. That is why the United States must, before
addressing any other issue, reassert control of its borders
and enforce existing immigration laws as was outlined in the
bill passed by the House of Representatives in 2005.
In this connection, the United
States must not grant illegal immigrants a pathway to
citizenship – amnesty by whatever name. The argument that
the Senate immigration bill does not grant “amnesty” because
it imposes penalties on illegal immigrants before allowing
them to apply for citizenship is tendentious. It is
premised on a paradoxical, if unstated, idea that
citizenship ought to be a reward for behavior antithetical
to the notion of citizenship. Furthermore, it implies that
illegal immigration is simply another violation of the law –
like speeding or running a traffic light – rather than a
negation, one pair of feet at a time, of America’s status as
a sovereign country.
To be certain, some form of
temporary worker program – excluding the possibility of
citizenship - should be explored. Many businesses are facing
labor shortages that temporary workers could fill. A well
regulated program that tracks immigrants and that strictly
limits their residence in the United States is a sensible
solution to this problem.
That said, more than most
countries, the United States is not a “mere thing of
physical locality.” It is not simply territory and people,
rather it is, as Lincoln said, a nation dedicated to a
proposition. That proposition is one of free government and
of ordered liberty. For that idea to endure across
generations, there must be a citizenry that is deeply
marinated in the cultural and political ethos of the nation
– including fluency in its language and its history.
Serving time and paying back taxes, as the Senate bill
proposes, is not sufficient.
The Senate bill is frivolous about
things that responsible nations should not be frivolous
about – including the idea of what constitutes a citizen.
That is why the United States must be stern in the
enforcement of its immigration laws. Because it is not just
a matter of how many people cross the border, but of what is
in their heads when they get here.
(Howard P. “Buck” McKeon is the Congressman
for the 25th District of California in the United States
House of Representatives.)
WHO DO THESE POLITICIANS THINK THEY
REPRESENT, ANYWAY?
Dear...
This is hard to believe, but true:
The mayor of El Paso, Texas, and some city council members are
trying to block construction of the 700-mile long border fence
that Congress finally authorized last year!
And the Associated Press reports that mayors in some other
American border town have said they plan to limit access of
federal authorities to areas where the fence will be
constructed.
Recently, Mexican President Calderon said that “Mexico does not
stop at its border.” It looks like
some American border politicians think it’s more important to do
the bidding of President Calderon than to do their duty to the
American people!
So, my friend, after decades of non-enforcement of our
immigration laws, decades of coddling illegal aliens in our
midst, and decades of bilingual education and bending over
backwards to promote “diversity,” this is where we have ended
up……with politicians more concerned about the sensitivities of
Mexicans than about the security of American citizens.
I pledge to you, as a Member of
Congress, that I won’t let these sell-out politicians block
construction of the border fence. If this matter
goes to court, it should be resolved easily in favor of the
fence, since the Constitution clearly makes immigration law and
enforcement a federal, not a state or local, matter.
More than that, as a presidential candidate, I pledge to you
that I will re-double my efforts to warn the American people
about the imminent dangers we face to our national sovereignty
and national identity by forces both
outside and inside our borders!
... I’m going to be in New Hampshire tonight, participating in a
Town Hall at Dartmouth College. You can bet that I will be
talking to the voters there about the urgent need to build that
fence!
...
Thanks so much!
Tom Tancredo
Another "Judge" thinks He knows better
than Congress and DHS!
Federal Judge
Blocks Homeland Security prosecution of 8 million unmatched
Social Security numbers...
The Department of Homeland Security
planned to send out 140,000 letters to companies that employed
more than 8 million people whose Social Security Numbers did not
match the names on file with the Social Security
Administration. The Department of Homeland Security had warned
companies they could face criminal and civil sanctions if they
did not clear up the discrepancies within 90 days.
The Social Security Administration
planned to mail the "no-match" letters in September. However,
labor and immigrant rights groups sued to prevent the government
from cracking down on them.
U.S. District Court Judge Charles
Breyer issued a preliminary injunction yesterday that blocked
the Department of Homeland Security from starting the program to
punish companies based on discrepancies between worker's names
and Social Security numbers. "Altering the status quo would
subject employers to greater compliance costs and employees to
an increased risk of termination," the judge wrote.
What about the fraud, taxpayer waste
and security risks that the overwhelming majority of these 8
million Social Security mismatches pose to the rights, public
safety and pocketbooks of the other 280 million law abiding
American citizens?
The judge's ruling is NOT final. He
will rule within the next few months on whether to make the
injunction permanent.
...
David Caton
Executive Director
FFA
Legislation to Identify & Remove
Criminal Illegal Immigrants
&
Deny Federal Funding to "Sanctuary
Cities"
From: Congressman Mike Rogers
To: ...
Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 10:44 AM
Subject: Border Security Update: Cracking
Down on Illegal Immigration
Cracking Down on Illegal
Immigration and Violent Criminals
...
I believe that too many
illegal immigrants have evaded capture by law
enforcement and continue to commit violent crimes
against American citizens. Congress has the
responsibility to provide local law enforcement
agencies with the tools they need to track down
these criminals. That is why I have co-authored
legislation which would implement a system of
identifying and removing violent criminal illegal
immigrants, while denying specific federal funding
to American "Sanctuary Cities" that protect violent
criminal aliens.
This legislation, recently
introduced in the House of Representatives, would
provide training, information sharing, and funding
to local police in order to enforce current
immigration law. These new resources would allow
local law enforcement to identify and detain the
thousands of illegal aliens with criminal records.
The legislation also targets
cities, such as
San Francisco,
which have enacted laws that shield illegal
immigrants from federal immigration law. With this
new measure, "sanctuary cities" would lose federal
funding unless local governments rescind policies
that prohibit local law enforcement officials from
working with the Department of Homeland Security.
As a former FBI Special Agent
and member of the law enforcement community, I know
that local police agencies need more resources to
track down and punish violent illegal aliens. I am
hopeful that this new legislation will provide
authorities with the tools they need to enforce
immigrations laws and put criminals behind bars.
...
Sincerely,
Mike Rogers
Member
of Congress
THE UGLY TRUTHS THAT NO ONE
ESPECIALLY MY OPPONENTS
WANT TO TALK ABOUT!
----- Original Message -----
From: Team Tancredo
To: ...
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 1:54 PM
Subject: THE UGLY TRUTHS THAT NO ONE...
Dear ...,
I just returned yesterday from a great three-day
campaign swing through New Hampshire. Thanks, as always,
for helping make our campaign possible!
Here’s what really struck me on this trip:
how much
my audiences appreciated it when I spoke to them about some
ugly truths that no other candidate, in either party, is
willing to address.
Some of these ugly truths?
For starters, the fact that we as Americans are rapidly
losing our national identity, our national culture and our
linguistic unity!
You and I know this is true. We see it every day, where we
work, in our politics, and in our schools. (I talked to the
folks in New Hampshire about a program in Oregon, where the
state public school system is cooperating with education
authorities in Mexico in order to offer Hispanic students in
Oregon a Spanish-language curriculum that tracks with the
curriculum they have in Mexico! Oregon taxpayer dollars at
work!)
As
deadly serious as these assaults on our culture and our
national identity are, not a single other presidential
candidate is even willing to talk about what is happening to
our nation, and who is responsible!
...
Tom Tancredo
P.S. Recently, when he met with President George W.
Bush, Mexican President Calderon made a statement to the
effect that “Mexico has no borders… Mexico is wherever
Mexicans are.” Needless to say, President Bush had nothing
to say in response.
Isn’t it time we had a president willing to push
back and tell the Mexicans that for us, a border means
business… and that their country does NOT exist outside of
its borders?
“No
Match” Letters and E-VERIFY
Department of Homeland Security is
"Trying!"
But, again, another "judge,"
one individual,
"Knows" more than Congress and DHS...
It's well past due to reign-in these
"liberal know-it-alls!"
From: Congressman Pete Sessions
To: ...
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 11:53 AM
Subject: Immigration Newsletter-September 2007
“No Match” Letters and E-VERIFY
Taking steps to ensure workplace enforcement
This
month in
Washington, I spearheaded a letter to
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff
in support of his efforts to combat illegal immigration through
workplace enforcement. As you may know, DHS issued a policy,
effective September 14, 2007, to notify employers of steps to
take should they encounter inconsistencies in the social
security numbers of their employees.
Each
year, the Social Security Administration (SSA) sends “No Match”
letters when the social security numbers of employees, as
reported in tax forms to the SSA, do not match the identity of
the actual employee. Once notified, employers are expected to
address these issues—some of which are simply clerical errors.
However, until now, employers had little direction on the proper
steps to take to correct these discrepancies. Of the 250
million wage reports received by the SSA, as many as 4 percent
show no matches. Not surprisingly, many of the employees with
“No Match” social security numbers are undocumented workers.
DHS’s
“No Match” letters were to be sent in conjunction with the SSA’s
letters, notifying employers of the steps they can take upon
receipt of these letters so that they would not be in violation
of “safe harbor” laws that prohibit employers from knowledgeably
employing illegal aliens. This letter gives employers the
tools they need to verify the status of their workers and aids
them in workplace enforcement. I believe this is an
important tool in fighting illegal immigration.
Unfortunately, on August 31st
U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney
issued a temporary restraining order on the DHS’s “No Match”
policy. Her ruling puts a hold on these important letters and
prohibits them from being sent to employers. I am
extremely disappointed by this judge’s decision because I
believe that the “No Match” letters provide crucial information
to employers and equip them to properly handle possible
instances of illegal employment.
Employment Eligibility Verification System: E-VERIFY
The
Employment Eligibility Verification System, known as E-VERIFY,
is another program DHS is trying to implement. As you know, the
majority of illegal immigrants come to the
United States for employment.
Consequently, if there is no longer a job magnet, there will be
less incentive for people to enter the country illegally.
E-VERIFY aims to reduce illegal employment by giving employers
access to a national database that checks the information on the
potential employee’s I-9 Employment Verification Form to the 425
million records held in the Social Security database. Under the
current pilot program, over 19,000 employers can use this
resource, which is free to use and is available in all states.
Proof of Health Insurance and Legal Status: A Democrat Double
Standard
Recently, Democratic lawmakers have introduced proposals for
universal health care that would require proof of insurance when
applying for a job. However, these same Democrats adamantly
oppose requiring job applicants to prove that they are in the
United States legally. Under this
proposed policy,
United States citizens can be
turned down for jobs because they do not have health insurance,
but illegal immigrants may not be questioned about their legal
status.
It
also raises the question—will illegal immigrants have to prove
they have health insurance? And if so, how will they get it and
who will provide it? Clearly, the government should not be
providing health insurance to people who are illegal
immigrants. The logical flaws in these polices are endless and
detrimental to the fight against illegal immigration. I will
continue to follow this health care debate as it pertains to
illegal immigration and workplace enforcement, keeping your
viewpoints in mind.
...
Editor's note:
"Of the 250
million wage reports received by the SSA, as many as 4 percent
show no matches. Not surprisingly, many of the employees with
“No Match” social security numbers are undocumented workers." Due
to the fact that many in Congress readily admit that up to
10,000,000 ILLEGAL ALIENS are ILLEGALLY employed in this
country... as you can see,
it
does compute: 250,000,000 X 4% = 10,000,000, therefore, why does
our Congress allow one "know-it-all" to interfere with the
Legislative process and the enforcement of our laws, when these
facts are so evident?! Do special interest groups, the ILLEGAL
ALIENS and Mexico have that much influence?! Will individual
judges dictate, one at a time, what Legislation Congress may
enact and have enforced?! We say, "NO!" We know that you say,
"NO," too! But, you must let Bush and Congress hear you
LOUD and CLEAR!
Call and/or
Email President Bush:
Contact President
Bush
Call and/or
Email your Senators:
Contract your Senators
Call and/or
Email your Representatives:
Contact
your Representatives
They're Back!
"Amnesty on the Installment Plan"
Pro-Amnesty Crowd in Congress At It Again!
September 21, 2007
Mr. ...
Dear Mr. ... :
The pro-amnesty crowd in the U.S. Congress is at it
again. As one pundit wrote, we are about to get "amnesty on the
installment plan."
Senator Richard Durbin, the second highest-ranking
Democrat in the U.S. Senate, has indicated he is likely to offer
an amnesty provision to the annual Defense Authorization bill
this month. The Durbin amendment, based on legislation he has
introduced separately, would grant amnesty to those who claim
they entered the U.S. illegally before they were 16 years old
and have illegally resided in the U.S. for at least five years.
There is no limit to the number of individuals who can be
granted amnesty under this proposal and there is no age limit.
This is an invitation for fraud.
A 35-year-old illegal immigrant could simply claim that
he has been in the U.S since he was 15 years old and he would be
put on the path to legal permanent residency and citizenship.
Immigration officials would be prohibited from deporting him and
he would be given legal work documents.
Taxpayer backed student loans will be made available to
them to fund two years of post-secondary education. If they
have trouble satisfying these “requirements,” the Durbin
amendment grants U.S. immigration officials broad authority to
waive these “requirements.” Illegal immigrants who have already
completed two years of study can immediately convert to a
non-conditional visa and sponsor parents and other family
members coming to the United States, opening further the
floodgates of immigration and making our current illegal
immigration challenges worse.
This amendment moves illegal immigrants to the front of
the line for legal permanent residency and puts them on the path
to U.S. citizenship while providing them in-state tuition
rates.
Conversely, those living by our laws and seeking legal
immigration are moved to the back of the line. Furthermore,
since chain migration has not been reformed, the Durbin
amendment would open the immigration floodgates.
Additional amendments that may be offered in the Senate
in the coming weeks include significant permanent expansions of
the annual limits on skilled and unskilled “temporary” worker
permits.
Liberals in Congress are considering offering
amendments to "must-pass" legislation during the month of
September, including amendments to legislation that would fund
our military and national defense.
I am opposed to their efforts and will do all that I
can to stop them. However, with Democrat leaders in the
Congress allied with the Bush Administration, defeating these
amendments is an uphill battle.
I am pleased that we are in agreement on the need to
first strengthen our borders, and I am 100% committed to
border-security-first policies. It is an honor to serve you in
the U.S. Congress.
Sincerely,
Dave Weldon
Member of Congress
America Under Invasion, again!
Mexican trucks are rolling over the U.S.
border
pushed by the Bush administration!
“It is an assault on U.S.
sovereignty... "
America Under Invasion ... by Mexican Trucks
Thursday, September 6, 2007 8:00 PM
Author: Clayton B.
Reid
Mexican trucks are rolling over the U.S. border,
freely bound for anywhere in America, and it seems that
nothing -- not furious Teamsters nor angry
environmentalists, not even Congress -- can stop them.
Are the drivers properly licensed and sober
or well-rested with the legal amount of down time? Do
they speak English or understand U.S. road signs? Will
the trucks be carrying illegal immigrants, drugs,
terrorists, nuclear or biological weapons or other
contraband? Will they belch tons of banned pollutants
into America’s air? Will lower-paid Mexican drivers put
American truckers out of work? Will the trucks gut the
tax base which supports the U.S. highway infrastructure?
Frankly, no one knows. But, like it or not,
the trucks are rolling. It’s a done deal.
When the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in
San Francisco denied an appeal from the Teamsters, the
Sierra Club and other groups on Aug. 31, it opened the
way for a “test program” pushed by the Bush
administration to begin.
Initially, the Department of Transportation
plans to allow 44 Mexican long-haul semis to participate
in the first 30 days, but the program quickly will
expand, to allow 100 Mexican trucking companies to send
1,000 trucks streaming across the border.
“This is a reprehensible proposal,” Todd
Spencer, executive vice president of the Owner-Operator
Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), told NewsMax.
“President Bush is following through on a
promise he made to large economic interests that he
would open up the border. I am astonished by the
administration’s contempt toward the American public,
Congress and the rule of law. They want to kick that
border open and let the chips fall where they may.
“The Bush administration is determined to
push these Mexican trucks down the throats of the
American people and Congress.”
Teamsters President James Hoffa said, “This
is a wrong decision for American working men and women.
We will now proceed to litigate this case on the merits.
We believe this program clearly breaks the law.”
Truckers already have begun to protest the
project at the California border and a massive trucker’s
protest drive on Washington has been rumored.
Opening the Mexican, Canadian and U.S.
borders to free trucking was part of the North American
Free Trade Agreement signed in 1994. Canadian trucks
have free passage throughout the U.S. but the DOT has
never certified Mexican trucks, until now, in response
to a 2000 demand from a NAFTA tribunal which upheld
Mexican complaints.
Mexican trucks, which make 4.5 million such
trips over the border each year, have been limited to
about a 20-mile zone where loads must be transferred to
U.S. trucks for delivery. American-based trucks also are
limited to a commercial zone. Under the pilot project,
U.S. and Mexican trucks are limited to carrying cargo to
and from the US and not between cities of the host
countries.
On May 15, Congress passed the Safe American
Roads Act of 2007 by a 411-3 margin, prohibiting the DOT
from putting the “pilot program” into effect until a
list of requirements were met, such as insuring full
inspection of the Mexican trucks and allowing U.S.
trucks to operate in Mexico beyond commercial zones.
Dr. Jerome Corsi, author of “The Late Great
USA: The Coming Merger With Mexico And Canada,” told
NewsMax, “The White House lobbied the Senate
Transportation Committee to not hold hearings on the
Senate version of the bill.
“It is clear that the Bush administration and
the Department of Transportation are proceeding in
complete defiance of the will of Congress and the
American people.
“U.S. trucking regulations have no chance of
being enforced in Mexico. For example, they say Mexican
drivers have to be drug-tested, but there are no
certified alcohol/drug testing facilities in the entire
country of Mexico! There is no national criminal
database in Mexico, to allow checking on the criminal
histories of these drivers.
“The DOT is doing a poor job of inspecting
American trucks, with only 40 percent inspected. How are
they going to inspect trucks in Mexico? The DEA
constantly finds Mexican trucks smuggling drugs, human
beings and who knows what kind of contraband. There is
massive organized criminal smuggling activity going on
at the border. If al-Qaida gets into this mix, we will
have a nightmare. You could have nuclear weapons, dirty
bombs or terrorists in those trucks, and no one would
ever know.
“Now it has started, it will never stop. The
whole thing is a sham.”
The Bush administration argued “the critical
bilateral relationship between the U.S. and Mexico would
be placed under considerable strain by further delay in
the demonstration project.”
However, Joan Claybrook, president of Public
Citizen, termed the program, “a calculated, cynical move
intended to ensure that the border is open to all
commercial traffic, regardless of the implications for
highway safety.”
She termed opening the border, “a perfect
storm. It is a predictable disaster.”
Claybrook noted that in 2005, the Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) stated that
17.5 percent of inspected Mexican trucks had bad brakes!
One in four border-crossing drivers did not have a
Mexican commercial license and 15 per cent had no
logbooks.
The numbers involved are staggering. Seventy
per cent of the $300 billion in trade between the US and
Mexico in 2006 was carried by truck, according to
Mexican Transportation Ministry figures.
Josh Dorner, spokesman for the Sierra Club,
told NewsMax, “If you have a lot of new traffic in
older, dirtier rigs coming into border areas, that will
hinder our ability to meet clean air standards.”
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has
said that allowing Mexican trucks into the U.S. would
bring an additional 50 tons per day of polluting
nitrogen oxide and 2.5 tons of other particulate matter
into California. Mexican trucks are older, with 66
percent built before 1993, when cleaner electronic fuel
injection began. In addition, Mexico doesn’t require use
of low-sulphur diesel fuel.
Spencer told NewsMax Mexican drivers can be
expected to fill up in Mexico, where diesel is not only
dirtier, but cheaper. “Our average member pays $16,000
per year in state and federal highway user fees. How
much will Mexico pay? They won’t be paying taxes on
diesel fuel they buy across the border, and that may add
up to 400 gallons per truck.
“There are no hours of service regulations in
Mexico. You wouldn’t know when a driver got to the
border whether he had been driving seven hours or seven
days!
“There is no reliable way to do a meaningful
background check on a driver from Mexico, because there
is no reliable way to get data. Police are not going to
be able to verify driver or vehicle licenses. When the
DOT tried to check Mexican drivers’ licenses, they found
that on 16 percent of them, there was no information
available at all.
“The U.S. will pay a terrible cost in terms
of safety and security.”
Spencer said that OOIDA intends to pursue
legal action in appellate courts and to lobby members of
the Senate to cut off funding for the DOT program.
“This is all being done to fulfill a promise
President Bush made to (former Mexican president)
Vicente Fox, that he would open the border with Mexico,”
Dr. Corsi told NewsMax.
“Soon, there will be a thousand Mexican
trucks on the road. There will be accidents. There will
be pressure on U.S. truck drivers to lower wages.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of American jobs may be
lost.
“It is an assault on
U.S. sovereignty and it needs to be stopped.”
© 2007 NewsMax. All rights reserved.
A Native Texan's
Sentiments Regarding
Another* from Texas,
"GW" Bush
There is little love for him here!!
I think that it has become an ego deal – that he really
believes that he has some manifest destiny to pursue another “New
World Order” (sound familiar?) beginning with the three main nations
of the North American continent. I truly believe that the man
believes he “rules”. He has acted to sell out the country at every
turn.
Our people, our jobs, our border, our sovereignty and the
safeguards of our constitution. In so doing – for many folks – he
has sold out our values and way of life. He has endorsed what
amounts to little more than a legalized “slave trade” – all in the
name of big business and ‘economy’.
[As John Adams said in 1776 debate concerning the ‘slavery’
topic…………… ”economy – its always economy”!]
He is an ass…………… and I too wish that someone would start
impeachment proceedings. Much of what he has done (or in some cases
attempted to do – particularly going ‘around’ Congress) certainly
comes closer to ‘high crimes and misdemeanors” than anything that
Bill Clinton was ever accused of (and you know, I am not one of his
fans). Certainly, the man has done significantly more harm to the
nation than any President in recent history (shamefully – that
includes Jimmy Carter)!
The only good news is that most Canadians are up in arms
about this crap as well; wanting to preserve their own sovereignty.
* Almost immediately upon posting this message, we received many
irate emails pointing out that "GW" is not a native Texan! Even
though it was not stated that "GW" was a native Texan, some feel it
was implied. Therefore, please note, it has been determined, after
great "scientific" research and thorough review, that "GW" was
apparently born in New Haven, Connecticut. So, for all those native
Texans, whose feathers may have been somewhat ruffled, this
clarification has been posted, and hopefully tempers will be
cooled! Sorry 'bout that...
Sanctuary Cities
"Selling-out"
to ILLEGAL ALIENS
thus
Jeopardizing the Security of OUR Nation
and its LEGAL CITIZENS!
Sanctuary Cities
Posted on August 13th, 2007
By Fred in Commentaries, Immigration
If
you listen to folks who oppose immigration and border
enforcement, you get the feeling they think we put locks on
our doors to keep everybody out. The truth is we have locks
so we can choose who comes in.
An example of what happens when we don’t make the
choice took place August 4th when three Newark, New Jersey,
college students with great promise were executed, gangland
style. The killers’ ringleader was apparently an illegal
alien indicted twice in 2007 for felonies, including the
rape of a kindergarten-aged girl.
Why would such a person be set free instead of
being handed over to authorities for deportation? The answer
is that Newark is a “sanctuary city” which bans cooperation
between local officials and federal immigration officials.
More than 60 sanctuary zones, including 30 of America’s
largest cities, provide a national networked haven for
foreign and organized criminals who recruit and operate
outside those areas as well. These sanctuaries include
Cambridge, Massachusetts; Los Angeles, California; Detroit,
Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; Austin and Houston, Texas;
Denver, Colorado; and New York City.
The consequences of “sanctuary cities” may be
most obvious in the city that became the first in 1979 — Los
Angeles. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, a
confidential California Department of Justice study from the
mid-1990’s showed then that at least 60 percent of the
members of L.A.’s most violent gangs, with membership in the
tens of thousands, were illegal aliens. Of all outstanding
murder warrants in Los Angeles, 95 percent are for illegal
aliens. Frustrated police say they are powerless to pick up
even well-known, previously deported felons.
The costs of policies that offer shelter to
criminals are borne not just by the citizens of Newark,
Cambridge, and other sanctuaries though. According to the
investigative arm of Congress, the Government Accountability
Office, illegal aliens made up 27 percent of the federal
prison population in 2005, totaling 49,000 and costing
federal taxpayers $1.2 billion. There were also more than
220,000 illegals in state and local prisons and jails. Now,
I am not suggesting that all illegal aliens are violent
criminals. They are not. Most are peaceful folks just trying
to get by like the rest of us. But we would be far better
off if we checked on people as they come into the country
rather than find out who the bad ones are after they
victimize people here.
We have the right to keep criminal predators out
of our home. Those who want to immigrate into America need
to knock, identify themselves, and ask permission first.
They will not do so though if we can’t even ask who they
are, which is prevented in sanctuary cities. Now I am a
strong federalist, but immigration is a responsibility of
the federal government, and the failures of local officials
to enforce our national laws have a direct impact on
communities around the country. So federal law must be
enforced, or our neighborhoods will continue to be the scene
of chilling and lurid crimes committed by those who broke
the law in the first place to come to America.
Democrats Pass Two Bills
To Give Illegal Aliens
Government Funded Healthcare
and Other Aid
(Democrat "leadership" rigs vote!)
Mike Rogers
Member of
Congress
I write to provide you with an update on my work to
protect taxpayers and prevent illegal immigrants from receiving
free health care from the federal government, which you pay
for. I appreciate the opportunity to contact you on this
matter.
Once again, some in
Washington are trying to
roll back our already too lax rules on immigration. In the past
two days Democrats have passed two separate bills designed to
give illegal immigrants government funded healthcare and other
aid.
Illegal immigrants should not be collecting American
taxpayer-funded health care or employment and housing assistance
yet, that is exactly what will happen according to two bills
pushed through the House of Representatives by Democrat
leadership this week. In fact, on one measure the Democrat
leadership, in an unprecedented and shameful abuse of power,
changed the outcome of a vote and made the support for illegal
immigrants possible.
What makes this even more outrageous is that on
Wednesday the House of Representatives passed a bill through the
House of Representatives designed to provide taxpayer-funded
Medicaid and children's health benefits to every single illegal
alien in the
United States.
Hidden deep in legislation intended to continue and
expand a popular program for poor children is a provision that
eliminates the requirement that all Medicaid recipients provide
proof of citizenship. The bill also eliminates the five-year
waiting period currently required for legal immigrants to
participate in Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance programs
run by each state.
Under the bill, non-U.S. citizens, including illegal
aliens, could immediately receive health care benefits.
Immigrants who cross our borders illegally should not be
rewarded with free health care. Nor should every working
American watch their hard-earned tax dollars go toward
encouraging non-U.S. citizens who have not paid into Medicaid to
pick up free health care.
... Congress has no business diverting precious
resources to provide for people who are in our country
illegally. ...
Vote Manipulated
to Give Benefits to
Illegal Aliens
(Democrat "leadership," allowed
members to change their vote!)
Congressman Tom Price
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
As you may have seen in the media, unprecedented
events took place on the floor of the House of Representatives
this past Thursday night. During consideration of the
agriculture spending bill, Republicans offered a motion to
ensure that taxpayer-funded benefits in the legislation did not
go to illegal aliens. When the vote was completed, and the gavel
fell, the motion had passed by a slim margin of 215-213.
However, this outcome was unacceptable to Democrat leadership,
and they allowed members to change their vote to reverse the
outcome -- after the vote was finished. Though the motion was
successful, the record was changed to show that it had failed by
a vote of 212-216.
This troubling episode displays the lengths that some
in
Washington will go to give benefits to illegal
aliens. Americans know that we cannot expect the flow of
illegal immigrants to slow if we continually provide new
incentives to break our laws.
The actions taken on Thursday were a disservice to
representative government and the American people. Changing the
outcome of a vote to give benefits to illegal aliens is not only
unacceptable, it is wrong.
It can be done... It has been
done!
So, Mr. President, why do you
fail to do your job?
Why, members of Congress, do you
fail to do your jobs?
Why do you fail the LEGAL
CITIZENS of this nation,
while you favor
the lawbreaking ILLEGAL ALIENS?
Why do you bow to the demands of the
special interest groups,
while you thumb your noses at the
law-abiding LEGAL CITIZENS?
How Eisenhower solved illegal border
crossings from Mexico
(in 1954, 1.3
million ILLEGAL ALIENS returned to their homelands,
and, during the Depression, President Hoover did likewise!
Yes, it can be done... that is if you, Mr.
President, want it to happen!)
By John Dillin
WASHINGTON –
George W. Bush isn't the first Republican
president to face a full-blown immigration crisis on the
US-Mexican border.
Fifty-three years
ago, when newly elected Dwight Eisenhower moved into the
White House, America's southern frontier was as porous as a
spaghetti sieve. As many as 3 million illegal migrants had
walked and waded northward over a period of several years
for jobs in California, Arizona, Texas, and points beyond.
President
Eisenhower cut off this illegal traffic. He did it quickly
and decisively with only 1,075 United States Border Patrol
agents - less than one-tenth of today's force. The operation
is still highly praised among veterans of the Border Patrol.
Although there is little to no
record of this operation in Ike's official papers, one piece
of historic evidence indicates how he felt. In 1951, Ike
wrote a letter to Sen. William Fulbright (D) of Arkansas.
The senator had just proposed that a special commission be
created by Congress to examine unethical conduct by
government officials who accepted gifts and favors in
exchange for special treatment of private individuals.
General Eisenhower, who was gearing
up for his run for the presidency, said "Amen" to Senator
Fulbright's proposal. He then quoted a report in The New
York Times, highlighting one paragraph that said: "The rise
in illegal border-crossing by Mexican 'wetbacks' to a
current rate of more than 1,000,000 cases a year has been
accompanied by a curious relaxation in ethical standards
extending all the way from the farmer-exploiters of this
contraband labor to the highest levels of the Federal
Government."
Years later, the late Herbert
Brownell Jr., Eisenhower's first attorney general, said in
an interview with this writer that the president had a sense
of urgency about illegal immigration when he took office.
America "was faced with a breakdown
in law enforcement on a very large scale," Mr. Brownell
said. "When I say large scale, I mean hundreds of thousands
were coming in from Mexico [every year] without restraint."
Although an on-and-off guest-worker
program for Mexicans was operating at the time, farmers and
ranchers in the Southwest had become dependent on an
additional low-cost, docile, illegal labor force of up to 3
million, mostly Mexican, laborers.
According to the Handbook of Texas
Online, published by the University of Texas at Austin and
the Texas State Historical Association, this illegal
workforce had a severe impact on the wages of ordinary
working Americans. The Handbook Online reports that a study
by the President's Commission on Migratory Labor in Texas in
1950 found that cotton growers in the Rio Grande Valley,
where most illegal aliens in Texas worked, paid wages that
were "approximately half" the farm wages paid elsewhere in
the state.
Profits from illegal labor led to
the kind of corruption that apparently worried Eisenhower.
Joseph White, a retired 21-year veteran of the Border
Patrol, says that in the early 1950s, some senior US
officials overseeing immigration enforcement "had friends
among the ranchers," and agents "did not dare" arrest their
illegal workers.
Walt Edwards, who joined the Border
Patrol in 1951, tells a similar story. He says: "When we
caught illegal aliens on farms and ranches, the farmer or
rancher would often call and complain [to officials in El
Paso]. And depending on how politically connected they were,
there would be political intervention. That is how we got
into this mess we are in now."
Bill Chambers, who worked for a
combined 33 years for the Border Patrol and the then-called
US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), says
politically powerful people are still fueling the flow of
illegals.
During the 1950s, however, this
"Good Old Boy" system changed under Eisenhower - if only for
about 10 years.
In 1954, Ike appointed retired Gen.
Joseph "Jumpin' Joe" Swing, a former West Point classmate
and veteran of the 101st Airborne, as the new INS
commissioner.
Influential politicians, including
Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson (D) of Texas and Sen. Pat McCarran
(D) of Nevada, favored open borders, and were dead set
against strong border enforcement, Brownell said. But
General Swing's close connections to the president shielded
him - and the Border Patrol - from meddling by powerful
political and corporate interests.
One of Swing's first decisive acts
was to transfer certain entrenched immigration officials out
of the border area to other regions of the country where
their political connections with people such as Senator
Johnson would have no effect.
Then on June 17, 1954, what was
called "Operation Wetback" began. Because political
resistance was lower in California and Arizona, the roundup
of aliens began there. Some 750 agents swept northward
through agricultural areas with a goal of 1,000
apprehensions a day. By the end of July, over 50,000 aliens
were caught in the two states. Another 488,000, fearing
arrest, had fled the country.
By mid-July, the crackdown extended
northward into Utah, Nevada, and Idaho, and eastward to
Texas.
By September, 80,000 had been taken
into custody in Texas, and an estimated 500,000 to 700,000
illegals had left the Lone Star State voluntarily.
Unlike today, Mexicans caught in the
roundup were not simply released at the border, where they
could easily reenter the US. To discourage their return,
Swing arranged for buses and trains to take many aliens deep
within Mexico before being set free.
Tens of thousands more were put
aboard two hired ships, the Emancipation and the Mercurio.
The ships ferried the aliens from Port Isabel, Texas, to
Vera Cruz, Mexico, more than 500 miles south.
The sea voyage was "a rough trip,
and they did not like it," says Don Coppock, who worked his
way up from Border Patrolman in 1941 to eventually head the
Border Patrol from 1960 to 1973.
Mr. Coppock says he "cannot
understand why [President] Bush let [today's] problem get
away from him as it has. I guess it was his compassionate
conservatism, and trying to please [Mexican President]
Vincente Fox."
There are now said to be 12 million
to 20 million illegal aliens in the US. Of the Mexicans who
live here, an estimated 85 percent are here illegally.
--------------
Border Patrol vets offer tips on
curbing illegal immigration
One day in 1954, Border Patrol
agent Walt Edwards picked up a newspaper in Big Spring,
Texas, and saw some startling news. The government was
launching an all-out drive to oust illegal aliens from the
United States.
The orders came straight from the
top, where the new president, Dwight Eisenhower, had put a
former West Point classmate, Gen. Joseph Swing, in charge of
immigration enforcement.
General Swing's fast-moving
campaign soon secured America's borders - an accomplishment
no other president has since equaled. Illegal migration had
dropped 95 percent by the late 1950s.
Several retired Border Patrol
agents who took part in the 1950s effort, including Mr.
Edwards, say much of what Swing did could be repeated today.
"Some say we cannot send 12 million
illegals now in the United States back where they came from.
Of course we can!" Edwards says.
Donald Coppock, who headed the
Patrol from 1960 to 1973, says that if Swing and Ike were
still running immigration enforcement, "they'd be on top of
this in a minute."
William Chambers, another '50s
veteran, agrees. "They could do a pretty good job" sealing
the border.
Edwards says: "When we start
enforcing the law, these various businesses are, on their
own, going to replace their [illegal] workforce with a legal
workforce."
While Congress debates building a
fence on the border, these veterans say other actions should
have higher priority.
1. End the current practice of
taking captured Mexican aliens to the border and releasing
them. Instead, deport them deep into Mexico, where return to
the US would be more costly.
2. Crack down hard on employers who
hire illegals. Without jobs, the aliens won't come.
3. End "catch and release" for
non-Mexican aliens. It is common for illegal migrants not
from Mexico to be set free after their arrest if they
promise to appear later before a judge. Few show up.
The Patrol veterans say enforcement
could also be aided by a legalized guest-worker program that
permits Mexicans to register in their country for temporary
jobs in the US. Eisenhower's team ran such a program. It
permitted up to 400,000 Mexicans a year to enter the US for
various agriculture jobs that lasted for 12 to 52 weeks.
------------
The Christian Science Monitor
from the July 06, 2006 edition
John
Dillin is former managing editor of the Monitor
Senator James M. Inhofe
Summarizes defeat of Amnesty
Legislation
Subject: Responding to your message
Dear Mr...
Thank you for writing to state your opposition
to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (S.
1639, previously S. 1348). I am pleased to announce that
on June 28, 2007 the Senate decisively blocked passage
of this bill for the third and hopefully final time.
I have been opposed to
this legislation from the
start. However, I was not certain about the prospects of
this legislation in the Senate. I
t
is because of constituents
like you voicing your concerns that many of my
colleagues changed their minds and voted against the
bill in the end
. Thank you for holding
Congress accountable.
The
Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 was riddled
with problems from the beginning. The first warning sign
was the way the bill was written - in secret meetings.
The bill's negotiators decided to forego the Senate
Committee process, where bills usually receive the most
scrutiny, and instead worked
with an exclusive group of
Senators in a series of closed-door negotiations.
Despite the
fact that the bill never went through the committee
process and was only made available to the full Senate
and the public two days before debate on the Senate
floor began, the negotiators and Democratic Majority
Leader Harry Reid attempted to control amendments and
limit debate in the Senate. The most outrageous example
of restricting Minority rights was the "clay pigeon"
tactic used in the second round of debate. This maneuver
created a situation where only 26 pre-selected
amendments were set to be given a vote.
Not only was the process
flawed, t he most
glaring substantive problem with this bill was that it
contained an immediate path to amnesty for the 12 to 20
million illegal immigrants in our country. It
would create a new
"Z-visa" that would give illegal immigrants a chance to
receive legal status. After meeting a number of
requirements, these formerly illegal immigrants would
eventually have an opportunity to apply to become
citizens of the
United
States
. I have always said that
I will not support amnesty or reward illegal behavior.
The "Z-visa" would do just that. I cosponsored an
amendment to remove the "Z-visa" provision from the
bill, but it ultimately failed to pass by a vote of 29 -
66.
In addition to
the "Z-visa" amnesty, this bill contained
other problematic
provisions. Many amendments that could have corrected
these problems somewhat such as an amendment to ensure that criminals
are not given legal status in the United States, an
amendment to improve enforcement measures, and an
amendment to prevent illegal immigrants from collecting
welfare benefits either failed to pass or were not
allowed a vote through procedural tactics such as the "
clay pigeon
.
"
I was pleased
with some of the amendments that, much to the chagrin of
the bill's "negotiators," received enough votes to be
attached to the bill. Most notably, my amendment to make
English the national language passed with a bipartisan
majority of 64 - 33. The passage of the English
amendment, which is extremely important for assimilating
legal immigrants and new citizens
,
was a victory. It eliminates the entitlement
to receive
government materials and
services in any language, something that the U.S. Office
of Management and Budget estimates costs the American
taxpayers $1 to $2 billion per year. Unfortunately, like
last year, Senator Salazar from
Colorado
introduced and passed -
with a lesser number of votes - an amendment to make
English the "common language" of the
United
States
and cement in
to
law the burdensome mandate
to translate federal documents
and services
into a multiplicity of
languages. Senator
Salazar's success at compromising the positive effect of
my amendment was just another example of the problems
with S. 1348.
Majority Leader Reid tried three times to end
debate and force a vote on the immigration bill and was
unsuccessful each time. Each of these "cloture" motions
to end debate on the bill was rejected by a majority of
senators. Even after taking a two week negotiation break
and using the restrictive "clay pigeon" tactic, the most
recent cloture vote on S. 1639 failed by a vote of
46-53.
Please rest
assured that I will only support enforcement-focused
immigration reform that will not reward lawbreakers, and
I will not be swayed by anyone to change my principles.
I have always said that any immigration reform must 1)
improve border security and enforcement, 2) not reward
illegal behavior in the form of amnesty, and 3) improve
the naturalization process for those who legally enter
our country. The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of
2007 does not meet these criteria.
I will
continue to fight for legislation that secures our
borders and improves enforcement of our immigration
laws. I have introduced an immigration bill, the ENFORCE
Act (S. 1269), that I think is a step in the right
direction. You can view the text of the bill and other
important information about my views on immigration at
my website:
http://inhofe.senate.gov
.
Thank you again for sharing
your opinion. Please continue to contact me about issues
that are important to you.
DEFEAT
OF SENATE AMNESTY BILL
June 28, 2007!
JONES PRAISES DEFEAT OF SENATE AMNESTY BILL
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Third District Representative
Walter B. Jones (R-NC) today praised the defeat of Senate
legislation that would have offered amnesty to virtually all of
the 12 to 20 million illegal immigrants in the United States.
The Senate voted 53 - 46 today to prevent the advancement of the
bill.
"I
am pleased that the Senate has finally listened to the American
people, who have made it clear that they do not support
an immigration 'compromise' that does nothing more than
compromise our laws and compromise our sovereignty," Congressman
Jones said. "I am especially grateful for the votes of Senators
Dole and Burr, who helped defeat this amnesty bill."
"Amnesty hurts vulnerable American workers, burdens American
taxpayers, and rewards lawbreakers," Jones continued. "The
lessons of history are clear: If we give amnesty to millions who
came here illegally, inevitably, millions more will follow
suit."
"The
American people and the people of North Carolina are justifiably
frustrated by this Congress' inability to effectively secure our
nation's borders," Jones said. "The illegal immigration crisis
is causing higher taxes for social services, higher costs for
health insurance, and it costs our public schools millions every
year. It also threatens our national security, as our open
borders provide an easy entry point for terrorists who wish to
do us harm."
"The only credible
approach to solving the problem of illegal immigration is to put
border security first," Jones said. "It is
absolutely critical that we regain control of our nation's
borders and strengthen immigration enforcement - without
amnesty."
There can NOT be any form of amnesty
for those breaking our laws
by
entering this country ILLEGALLY!
Breaking our laws can NOT be rewarded –
No
amnesty, No path to citizenship!
No Amnesty, No Welfare
for ILLEGAL ALIENS
KENNEDY'S HISTORY OF BROKEN PROMISES
ON
AMNESTY... UNDERMINES SENATE BILL'S CREDIBILITY!
JONES: NO AMNESTY, NO WELFARE FOR ILLEGAL
ALIENS
KENNEDY'S HISTORY OF BROKEN PROMISES ON
AMNESTY FOR ILLEGALS UNDERMINES SENATE BILL'S CREDIBILITY
Washington, D.C. -
As the Senate
renewed its push for an immigration bill that would offer
amnesty to illegal immigrants in the United States, Third
District Representative Walter B. Jones (R-NC) responded this
week by highlighting the true cost of amnesty and its history of
broken promises.
"The much-exulted Senate 'compromise' on immigration is a
compromise alright: a compromise of our laws and a compromise of
our sovereignty," Jones said. "The record is clear: If we give
amnesty to millions who came here illegally, inevitably,
millions more will follow suit. Ten years from now we will be in
the same position, with a whole new generation of lawbreakers
seeking amnesty."
"This has happened before. That anyone in Washington
believes this is a credible approach to solving our immigration
crisis suggests just how out of touch our political elites
really are," Jones said.
In 1965,
Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA), as chairman of the Senate
Subcommittee on Immigration and Naturalization, ushered through
the immigration policy of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Senator
Kennedy promised: "The bill will not flood our cities with
immigrants. It will not upset the ethnic mix of our society. It
will not relax the standards of admission. It will not cause
American workers to lose their jobs."
In
1986, Congress passed the Immigration
Reform and Control Act, giving amnesty to all illegal aliens who
had been in the country four years or more or were illegally
working in agriculture. Senator Kennedy pledged: "This amnesty
will give citizenship to only 1.3 million illegal aliens. We
will secure the borders henceforth. We will never again bring
forth an amnesty bill like this."
"As a result of the 1986 amnesty, 2.8 million illegal
aliens were admitted as legal immigrants to the United States.
Right now, there are at least 12 million illegal aliens residing
in this country. Obviously, amnesty programs do not work," Jones
said. "Because these flawed immigration policies have created
more problems than they have solved, our nation's illegal
immigration crisis is causing higher taxes for social services,
higher costs for health insurance, and it costs our public
schools millions every year."
"The only credible approach to solving the problem of
illegal immigration is to put border security first," Jones
said. "Regaining respect for our nation's immigration laws and
real national security cannot be achieved until our borders are
physically secured."
To improve our nation's border security, Congressman
Jones has consistently voted in favor of legislation to:
- Fund the construction of reinforced fencing along critical
areas of the U.S.-Mexico border,
- Increase penalties for alien smuggling,
- Stiffen penalties for aliens who re-enter the United States
after having been removed,
- Bar refugees and asylees with aggravated felony convictions
from receiving green cards,
- Reaffirm the authority of state and local law enforcement to
enforce immigration laws,
- Provide for cooperation between border sheriffs and federal
law enforcement,
- Provide funding for the recruiting and training of new border
agents, and
- Enact criminal penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment for
individuals who construct or finance an unauthorized tunnel
across a U.S. international border.
Immigration bill is a fraud!
The real
''immigration fraud''...
the
politicians
who attempted
to foist this sham bill on the nation.
Immigration bill is a fraud
MARK STEYN
I forget where I was when I first heard the
phrase ''undocumented worker.'' Possibly it was after
swimming the Rio Grande and emerging dripping on the
northern shore to be handed a fake Social Security
number and a driver's license. But I assumed, reasonably
enough, that this linguistic sleight of hand was simply
too ridiculous to fly even with the American media. I
underestimated my colleagues, alas.
The ''undocumented'' are, as it happens,
brimming with sufficient documents to open bank accounts
or, on the other hand, rent a Ryder truck, as Mohammad
Salameh did in 1993 when he and his pals bombed the
World Trade Center first time round. Being
''undocumented'' means being documented up to the hilt
as far as everyone else is concerned but
''undocumented'' only to the U.S. government. Which,
when you think about it, is a very advantageous status
to have.
Anyway, about five years or so back, I
started making references in columns to ''fine
upstanding members of the Undocumented-American
community.'' But from the lame Steyn joke of yesteryear
to the reality of tomorrow is a mere hop and a skip. A
few days ago, Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader,
declared: ''This week we will vote on cloture and final
passage of a comprehensive bill that will strengthen
border security, bring the 12 million undocumented
Americans out of the shadows, and keep our economy
strong.''
Talk about ''a fast track to citizenship''!
Never mind probationary visas, Z-visas and green cards,
in the eyes of the Democrat steering ''comprehensive
immigration reform'' through Congress, these guys are
already ''undocumented Americans.'' Was it simply a slip
of the tongue? (Speaking of which, I thought thanks to
George W. Bush we had ''the worst economy since Herbert
Hoover.'' When did it get ''strong''?) Or did Sen. Reid
mean it?
If he did, the very concept of citizenship is
dead, and the Senate might as well opt for ''really
comprehensive immigration reform'' and declare everyone
on the planet a U.S. citizen with backdated Social
Security entitlements. As Le Monde's famous headline of
Sept. 12, 2001, put it, ''Nous sommes tous Americains.''
Literally.
I don't know whether this sham of a bill is
dead or just resting ''in the shadows'' like a fine
upstanding member of the Vampiric-American community.
But, if it rises on the third night to stalk the land
once more, I would advise its supporters to go about
their work more honestly. First of all, the only guys
''living in the shadows'' are the aides of American
senators beavering away out of the public eye to cook up
this legislation and then present it as a fait accomplis
to the citizenry (if you'll forgive the expression).
That is an affront to small-r republican government,
and, if intemperate hectoring mediocrities like Trent
Lott and Lindsay Graham don't understand that, then
their electors should give them a well-deserved lesson.
Second, the bill's supporters should stop
assuming the bad faith of their opponents. On Fox News
the other night, I was told by NPR's Juan Williams,
''You're anti-immigrant!'' Er, actually, I am an
immigrant -- one of the members of the very very
teensy-weensy barely statistically detectable category
of ''legal immigrant.'' But perhaps that doesn't count
anymore. Perhaps, like Colin Powell's blackness, it's
insufficiently ''authentic.'' By filing the relevant
paperwork with the United States government, I'm not ''keepin'
it real.''
I wouldn't presume to speak for the millions
of Americans who oppose this bill, but it's because I'm
an immigrant myself that I object to the most patent
absurdity peddled by the pro-amnesty crowd. The bill is
fundamentally a fraud. Its ''comprehensive solution'' to
illegal immigration is simply to flip all the illegals
overnight into the legal category. Voila! Problem
solved! There can be no more illegal immigrants because
the Senate has simply abolished the category. Ingenious!
For their next bipartisan trick, Congress will reduce
the murder rate by recategorizing murderers as
jaywalkers.
Back in the real world far from those
senators living in the non-shadows of their boundless
self-admiration, the truth is that America's immigration
bureaucracy cannot cope with its existing caseload, and
thus will certainly be unable to cope with millions of
additional teeming hordes tossed into its waiting room.
Currently, the time in which an immigration adjudicator
is expected to approve or reject an application is six
minutes. That's not enough time to read the basic form,
never mind any supporting documentation. It's certainly
not enough time for any meaningful background check.
Under political pressure to ''bring the 12 million
undocumented Americans out of the shadows,'' the
immigration bureaucracy will rubberstamp gazillions of
applications for open-ended probationary legal status
within 24 hours and with no more supporting
documentation than a utility bill or an affidavit from a
friend. There's never been a better time for Mullah Omar
to apply for U.S. residency.
America has an illegal immigration problem in
part because it has a legal immigration problem. Anyone
who enters the system exposes himself to an arbitrary,
capricious, whimsical bureaucracy: For example, one of
the little-known features of this bill is that in order
to ''bring the 12 million undocumented Americans out of
the shadows,'' millions of legal applicants are being
hurled back into outer darkness. Law-abiding foreign
nationals who filed their paperwork in the last two
years would be required to go back to their home
countries and start all over again. Not only does this
bill reward law-breaking, it punishes law-abiding.
The people who are truly ''anti-immigrant''
are the folks who want to send that immigrant from
Slovenia or Fiji who applied in May 2005 back to the end
of the line. But then ''comprehensive immigration
reform'' is about everything but immigration, including
subverting sovereignty and national security. Remember
the 1986 amnesty? Mahmoud abu Halima applied for it and
went on to bomb the World Trade Center seven years
later. His colleague, the aforementioned Mohammad
Salameh, was rejected but carried on living here anyway.
John Lee Malvo was detained and released by U.S.
immigration in breach of its own procedures and
re-emerged as the Washington sniper. The young Muslim
men who availed themselves of the U.S. government's
''visa express'' system for Saudi Arabia filled in joke
applications -- ''Address in the United States: HOTEL,
AMERICA'' -- that octogenarian snowbirds from Toronto
who've been wintering at their Florida condos since 1953
wouldn't try to get away with. The late Mohammed Atta
received his flight-school student visa on March 11,
2002, six months to the day after famously flying his
first and last commercial airliner.
All the above passed through the U.S. legal
immigration system. And, whether they were detained,
rejected, approved or posthumously approved, in the end
it made no difference. Because U.S. immigration had no
real idea who these men were.
But, don't worry, they'll be able to handle
another ''12 million undocumented Americans'' tossed in
for express processing.
The real ''immigration
fraud'' is not Mahmoud abu Halima's or John Lee
Malvo's or Mohammed Atta's, but that of
the politicians who attempted to
foist this sham bill on the nation.
© Mark Steyn 2007
The Legislative
Process at its Worst
The
Senate... majority... skirted the democratic process.
The democrat leadership obstructed
the consideration of
legitimate amendments
Dear...:
Greetings from Washington D.C.
The Legislative Process at its Worst
By U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley
For the past few weeks, the U.S. Senate has had an opportunity
to forge a compromise on immigration. Unfortunately, the
democratic process has been undermined in the process. And, the
faith of the American people has deteriorated. Don’t get me
wrong. I don’t like the bill in its current form and will not
support any measure that includes an automatic path to
citizenship. The bill that is expected to once again come before
the Senate amounts to amnesty, and quite frankly, can’t be
sugar-coated.
The bill is repairable, but it requires thoughtful consideration
of amendments. There were 350 amendments filed to the bill. Only
42 amendments were dealt with, and of those, only 28 received a
roll call vote. Last year, the Judiciary Committee alone spent
six executive sessions amending the bill, passing 54 amendments
by unanimous consent, and voting on more than 60 other
amendments. Now, the leaders are locking in an agreement to
bring up only 20 more amendments without consulting their
members.
I’m disappointed I didn't have the opportunity to bring up
several of my amendments that I believe would have made this a
better bill. My amendments included an overhaul of the
electronic employment verification system, and adding interior
agents to do worksite enforcement. I had amendments to require
illegal aliens to pay fines, to strengthen background checks, to
improve English and civics requirements, and to restrict aliens
in deportation proceedings from applying for amnesty. I had
amendments to make the “trigger” a true trigger with stronger
requirements before illegal aliens could apply for a Z visa.
What the Senate leadership has done is determine which
amendments they wanted, taking easy votes and avoiding those
that would ruin the compromise. They tried to blame amendment
sponsors for “not offering amendments.” The fact of the matter
was that we were happy to debate our amendments. The problem
was the leadership attempted to dictate which amendments we
could offer, how many amendments we could offer and for how long
we could debate the amendments. The “grand compromise” became
the “grand train wreck” because the masterminds blocked
meaningful reforms in order to rush a bill through.
The Senate was not able to do the work it was set up to do. We
have committees for a reason. But, the process in which the
majority brought the bill forward skirted the democratic
process. The democratic leadership obstructed the consideration
of legitimate amendments that would have improved the bill. So,
it's no wonder cloture votes failed three times in one day.
Nearly one-quarter of the democratic majority agreed that debate
should not be shut off.
Immigration reform could be the biggest domestic policy
legislation the Senate considers this year. The majority
leader’s demand for barely two weeks of debate doesn’t give the
bill the serious and thoughtful deliberation it needs.
So, where do we go from here? Not another day should go by
without immigration enforcement measures and legal immigration
reform. We cannot continue to ignore the need for better border
security and interior enforcement. Iowans want the law enforced,
whether it be along the Rio Grande or in the workplace. The
longer we wait to secure our borders and enforce the law, the
bigger the problem becomes.
The immigration bill was stalled – not because of politics – but
because of policy. Now it’s being revived by a select few while
the will of the American people is being ignored. As the public
learns what this bill really does, they become more concerned
about the cost, the implementation, and the long-term effects on
our nation. Iowans calling my offices have been loud and clear.
Amnesty doesn’t work. This U.S. Senator wants immigration reform
– without amnesty and without animosity.
Your Senator,
Chuck Grassley
Amnesty Plus
... rewards crime!
S. 1348 goes far beyond
waiving penalties
for all those who broke
U.S. immigration laws;
it rewards them with
access to government benefits and citizenship.
June 19,
2007
Dear...
:
Over the
past few weeks, many constituents
have
called or e-mailed me to share their
concerns
regarding the Senate immigration bill. I do not support
amnesty or creating a
path
towards citizenship for illegal aliens which is an element
contained in
this bill.
The issue of illegal immigration demands a careful,
law-respecting solution and wholesale amnesty is not a
solution at all.
From what
I've seen so far, this bill fails to respect the millions of
people who worked within the system and
emigrated
legally.
The people who have done it right are not given the respect
they've earned by following the rules and our nation's laws.
Our
first
principle
s
on
immigration reform should be to
secure the
borders, uphold American laws and protect our national
security. Rest
assured I will strongly oppose
this
current Senate bill or any bill granting amnesty to people
who entered our country illegally. I have included an
article
*
(below) that
shows one of the many shortcomings of the bill.
Please
contact me on any issues of concern
you may
have
. You may
be interested in viewing my website at
www.foxx.house.gov
to learn
about constituent services, legislative updates and my work
in Congress. I hope you will visit the website and let me
know what you think about it.
Sincerely,
Virginia
Foxx
Member of
Congress
*Amnesty
Plus
The
immigration doesn’t just waive penalties but rewards crime.
June 7, 2007 5:00
AM
By Robert Rector
The Senate is currently debating S. 1348, a
so-called comprehensive immigration bill. The
centerpiece of this legislation is the offer of amnesty,
access to welfare, and ultimately citizenship to at
least 12 million illegal aliens currently in the U.S.
With the exception of convicted criminals and deportees,
the bill grants amnesty to nearly everyone who was
illegally inside the U.S. on Jan. 1, 2007. These
individuals are given a new “Z visa” which confers the
legal right to remain in the U.S., and can be renewed
automatically for the rest of the illegal immigrant’s
life. Eight years after enactment, the government will
begin bestowing green cards (or legal permanent
residence status) on all Z visa holders who want them;
five years later, amnesty recipients are free to become
citizens through the normal naturalization process.
Although proponents of this amnesty suggest that illegal
immigrants will be required to return home, in reality,
Z visa holders are merely required to go abroad for a
single afternoon when they apply for legal permanent
residence, and they are permitted to return
automatically and immediately to the U.S. Proponents
claim that illegal immigrants must go to the back of the
line before getting citizenship. In fact, Sections 501
and 503 of Title V of the bill create a privileged
admission queue reserved for former illegal immigrants
alone. This select queue leads directly to legal
permanent residence and citizenship. Amnesty recipients
will proceed smoothly down this reserved path to
citizenship without ever competing with others who seek
to enter and live in the U.S. lawfully.
Three months after passage of the bill, illegal aliens
can apply for probationary Z status. With that status
they will be given a Social Security number and will
begin to earn credit for future Social Security and
Medicare benefits. Access to welfare is delayed, but
within 10 to 12 years after passage, formal illegal
immigrants will become eligible for nearly all 60
federal means-tested welfare programs.
Some 75 to 85 percent of illegal immigrants who will get
amnesty under S. 1348 have only a high-school education
or less. Fifty to sixty percent do not have a high
school education. Although former illegal immigrants
will have limited access to welfare for the first ten
years after amnesty, welfare use through the rest of
their lives will be heavy. Children born in the U.S. to
illegal immigrants will be eligible for all welfare from
the moment of birth.
Since the bill grants illegal immigrants access to
Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, it will prove
particularly expensive for taxpayers when former illegal
immigrants reach retirement. On average, each amnesty
recipient will impose a net cost of over $300,000 on
taxpayers during retirement years. If 12 million illegal
immigrants are given amnesty, the net cost to the
taxpayers when the adults reach retirement age will be
around $2.6 trillion. At their peak level, amnesty
recipients will expand the number of beneficiaries under
Social Security by 5 to 10 percent. This will occur at a
point when Social Security will already be running
deficits over $200 billion annually.
Amnesty is not only expensive; it shows contempt for
U.S. law and is manifestly unfair. It gives the
inestimable gift of U.S. citizenship to millions of
individuals whose only qualification for receiving it is
that they broke U.S. laws. Consider that on Jan. 1,
2007, there were hundreds of thousands of foreigners in
the U.S. on a variety of temporary visas. Because these
individuals were here lawfully, none will be granted
citizenship under S. 1348. By contrast those who were in
the U.S. illegally on that same day will be given the
privilege of citizenship.
Consider two foreigners who were here on temporary visas
that expired in December 2006. One of these individuals
lawfully returned home upon expiration of his visa; the
other chose to remain in the U.S. unlawfully. Under S.
1348, which of these individuals will be granted the
privileges and benefits of citizenship? Answer: the one
who broke our laws. Meanwhile the individual who
respected our laws and returned home will remain abroad
and will have little chance for citizenship. Is this
fair? Of all the people in the world who wish to come to
America, why should we feel compelled to grant
citizenship to a group whose sole qualification is that
they broke our laws?
President Bush ceaselessly protests that the Senate bill
is not amnesty. In a certain sense, he is right: The
bill goes way beyond amnesty. The root of the word
“amnesty” is to forget. In a normal amnesty the crime is
“forgotten” and penalties are waived.
S. 1348 goes far beyond waiving
penalties for all those who broke U.S. immigration laws;
it rewards them with access to government benefits and
citizenship.
Consider a criminal who has stolen a car. Under a simple
amnesty, the crime would be forgotten and criminal
penalties waived. By analogy, S. 1348 not only waives
those penalties, it allows the thief to keep the car,
and gives him $300,000 in benefits as well. This is not
merely amnesty, but amnesty with a cash bonus funded by
the taxpayer. America deserves better.
— Robert Rector is a senior research fellow at the
Heritage Foundation.
Message from Senator Grassley
followed by "editor's" comments!
Dear... :
Thank you for writing me in the past about immigration, and
your opposition to amnesty. Since we agree on this issue,
I'd like to call your attention to a study released last
week by The Heritage Foundation and authored by Robert
Rector.
The study is an
economic analysis of low-skilled workers, how much they
make, spend, and receive in government services. The study
finds that the average household led by a person without a
high school diploma received $32,138 in government benefits
and services in 2004, but paid only $9,689 in taxes. The
result is that these households received $22,449 more in
benefits than it paid in taxes. Multiply that by 17.7
million low-skilled households and you have an enormous
fiscal problem.
The study focuses on low-skilled workers because it is
estimated that nearly two-thirds of
illegal immigrants fall into that category. That means that
amnesty could cost American taxpayers billions of dollars.
I encourage you to read more about Mr. Rector's study by
visiting
link.
It appears that the Senate Democratic
majority will unveil their immigration bill in the very near
future. I plan to study the bill and provide information on
my website about their plan.
Thanks for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Grassley
United States Senator
"Editor's" Comments:
Thought you might
"enjoy" reading the message (above) that I received from
Senator Grassley... and how your tax dollars are "at work!"
And, if Teddy Kennedy and
his "bleeding heart" liberals get their way, you will be
required to open your pocketbook even wider. If amnesty is
granted and chain migration continues you will quickly learn
how many ILLEGAL ALIENS are actually in this country... of
course, more would be encouraged to follow! Informed
estimates are as high as 30,000,000 ILLEGAL ALIENS already
in this country... and YOU are paying for their "free" use
of OUR healthcare and welfare services, etc.!
By the way, I'm sure you
know that YOU, not only help to support the ILLEGAL ALIENS,
help pay their way, but that you also subsidize those who
ILLEGALLY employ these ILLEGAL ALIENS. Wouldn't you prefer
these workers return to their homelands and obtain a LEGAL
TEMPORARY WORKER PERMIT and apply for a job at a living
wage, at least something above the poverty level? I'd
rather pay a little more for a hamburger, than to have tens
of millions of ILLEGAL ALIENS in this country continuing to
break our laws and working as "slave labor (30% of those in
our prisons are ILLEGAL ALIENS -- you also pay to support
and house them)! And, how attractive would these ILLEGAL
ALIENS be if those who ILLEGALLY employ them had to pay a
living wage?! How many of those jobs would be filled by
American workers, just as was the case with the Swift Meat
Packing plants -- if you recall, when the ILLEGALS were
caught at these plants, and removed, the jobs were
immediately filled by LEGAL American workers (I'm sure you
also knew these ILLEGAL ALIENS had ILLEGALLY obtained
ILLEGAL ID's and documentation)!
As you know, most ILLEGAL
ALIENS don't speak English, especially in the border towns
("sanctuary cities")! And history proves, multilingual
societies crumble and fall! As you also know, a common
language integrates and unites... and their is also a common
allegiance. If you watch those ILLEGAL ALIENS marching and
protesting in OUR streets, some actually have the arrogance
to wave Mexican flags -- some with the Mexican flag flying
above an up-side-down American flag. Their allegiance is
still to Mexico... and they defiantly demonstrate that!
But, even knowing this, the cowards in our Congress, and
even Bush, while they have been aiding, abetting and
harboring these criminals for many years, and pandering to
Mexico, apparently would rather toss in the towel,
capitulate and grant amnesty, forgiveness and a path to
citizenship, rather than taking the initiative and doing the
will of the people, the LEGAL CITIZENS of this nation, and
"deporting" every LAWBREAKING ILLEGAL ALIEN in this country
(of course, that would help rid this nation of tens of
thousands of terrorists -- that which our Congress and
President also seem to ignore)!
If you haven't
contacted your Reps., Senators, and Bush, it's still not too
late to protest any form of amnesty or path to citizenship!
House:
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml
Senate:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Your President:
comments@whitehouse.gov
--
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Letter to the Editor
and to Congress
Newspapers
simply won't publish letters to the editor which they either
deem politically incorrect (read below) or which does not
agree with the philosophy they're pushing on the public.
This woman wrote a great letter to the editor that should
have been published; but, with your help it will get
published via cyberspace!
New Immigrants From:
"David LaBonte"
My wife,
Rosemary, wrote a wonderful letter to the editor of the OC
Register which, of course, was not printed. So, I decided to
"print" it myself by sending it out on the Internet. Pass it
along if you feel so inclined. Dave LaBonte (signed)
Written in
response to a series of letters to the editor in the Orange
County Register:
Dear Editor:
So many letter
writers have based their arguments on how this land is made
up of immigrants. Ernie Lujan for one, suggests we should
tear down the Statue of Liberty because the people now in
question aren't being treated the same as those who passed
through Ellis Island and other ports of entry.
Maybe we
should turn to our history books and point out to people
like Mr. Lujan why today's American is not willing to accept
this new kind of immigrant any longer. Back in 1900 when
there was a rush from all areas of Europe to come to the
United States, people had to get off a ship and stand in a
long line in New York and be documented. Some would even get
down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They made
a pledge to uphold the laws and support their new country in
good and bad times. They made learning English a primary
rule in their new American households and some even changed
their names to blend in with their new home.
They had waved
good bye to their birth place to give their children a new
life and did everything in their power to help their
children assimilate into one culture.
Nothing was
handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labor laws
to protect them. All they had were the skills and
craftsmanship they had brought with them to trade for a
future of prosperity. Most of their children came of age
when World War II broke out. My father fought along side men
whose parents had come straight over from Germany , Italy ,
France and Japan . None of these 1st generation Americans
ever gave any thought about what country their parents had
come from. They were Americans fighting Hitler, Mussolini
and the Emperor of Japan . They were defending the United
States of America as one people. When we liberated France ,
no one in those villages were looking for the
French-American or the German American or the Irish
American. The people of France saw only Americans. And we
carried one flag that represented one country. Not one of
those immigrant sons would have thought a bout picking up
another country's flag and waving it to represent who they
were. It would have been a disgrace to their parents who had
sacrificed so much to be here. These immigrants truly knew
what it meant to be an American. They stirred the melting
pot into one red, white and blue bowl.
And here we
are in 2006 with a new kind of immigrant who wants the same
rights and privileges. Only they want to achieve it by
playing with a different set of rules, one that includes the
entitlement card and a guarantee of being faithful to their
mother country. I'm sorry, that's not what being an American
is all about. I believe that the immigrants who landed on
Ellis Island in the early 1900's deserve better than that
for all the toil, hard work and sacrifice in raising future
generations to create a land that has become a beacon for
those legally searching for a better life. I think they
would be appalled that they are being used as an example by
those waving foreign country flags.
And for that
suggestion about taking down the Statue of Liberty, it
happens to mean a lot to the citizens who are voting on the
immigration bill. I wouldn't start talking about dismantling
the United States just yet.
(signed)
Rosemary LaBonte
P. S. Pass
this on to everyone you know!!! KEEP THIS LETTER MOVING!!
I hope this
letter gets read by millions of people all across the
nation!!
Ever onward!!
Senator DeMint:
"As for people who are
already in the United States illegally,
I do not
support any form of amnesty...
We cannot
reward illegal behavior
with a path to
citizenship,
voting rights,
or Social
Security benefits."
Dear... ,
Thank you for contacting me to
express your concerns about the need to reform our current
immigration system. I value your opinion and would like to
share my thoughts about this important matter.
We must stem the flood of illegal aliens into
our country and take control of our borders. You will be
pleased to know that I voted for, and Congress passed, the
Secure Fence Act and its funding last fall. This bill
authorizes 850 miles of physical fencing along the border
with
Mexico
and $1.2 billion for its construction. The bill
also strengthens operational control of all borders and
ports through additional physical barriers, fencing, and
greater use of state-of-the-art technology and
surveillance. Only when we have true border control will
comprehensive reform be realistic.
As for people who are already in the
United States
illegally, I do not support any form of amnesty
and will continue to vote against it. We cannot reward
illegal behavior with a path to citizenship, voting rights,
or Social Security benefits. Rest assured that I will
continue to be a vocal supporter of reserving Social
Security only for American citizens who have legally paid
into the system.
I believe
America
is a land of hope and opportunity. But, the
price of participation is to obey the law and enter our
country through legal channels. I will continue voting to
maintain the rule of law, ensure the safety of our homeland,
and uphold the sanctity of American citizenship.
Thank you again for sharing your views with
me...
Sincerely,
Jim DeMint
United States Senator
Congressman Boehner:
"... the illegal aliens that have cut to the front of
the line
not only disrespect the men and women that are awaiting
their rightful turn...
but compromise the integrity of the law as a whole.
America's immigration laws exist for a reason - they
must be enforced.
... key members of the Senate never relented
on their demands to see amnesty-related provisions...
the majority of the House of Representatives
(including myself) opposed those conditions..."
Dear ... :
Thank you for contacting
me regarding
America 's ongoing illegal immigration challenge. It is good to hear from
you.
In light of the September
11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the continued problem of
porous border control, I believe a complete
restructuring of
America 's immigration control system is an absolute
necessity. While I hope that legal immigrants will
continue to contribute to America's strong economy, the
illegal aliens that have cut to the front of the line
not only disrespect the men and women that are awaiting
their rightful turn at a better life but compromise the
integrity of the law as a whole. Moreover, modern
dangers mean we must be more careful than ever in
closely examining those who wish to cross our borders.
America's
immigration laws exist for a reason - they must be
enforced.
On December 17, 2005, the
House of Representatives passed H.R. 4437, the Border
Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration
Control Act of 2005. This bill includes a number of
important reforms designed to put some teeth into
existing immigration laws. These reforms include: 1)
requiring mandatory detention for all aliens who are
apprehended at U.S. land borders attempting to cross
illegally, 2) authorizing 1,000 new full-time port of
entry inspectors over the next four years, and 3)
increasing cooperation between border sheriffs and
federal law enforcement by reimbursing 29 counties along
the southern border for enforcing immigration laws and
requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to
take custody of illegal aliens.
The Border Protection,
Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of
2005 reflected the 5 principles that I believe are
crucial in addressing this important issue:
Securing our borders and providing additional resources
to federal and state authorities to strengthen border
patrol efforts.
Strengthening enforcement and stiffening penalties for
illegal aliens who break our immigration laws.
Enforcing the law on employers who knowingly hire
illegal aliens and holding them accountable.
Oppose efforts to reward the behavior of illegal aliens
who have made the choice to break our laws.
Encouraging newcomers to assimilate into American
society by learning English and embracing our common
identity as Americans.
On May 25, 2006, the
Senate passed its own immigration reform proposal
sponsored by Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and pushed by
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). Unfortunately,
instead of first securing
America
's borders and then addressing the issue of the
10-12 million illegal aliens within existing immigration
law, the Reid-Kennedy bill actually makes it more
difficult to secure the American-Mexican border while
rewarding those that have been breaking the law. Some of
the more disturbing aspects of the Reid-Kennedy bill
include the following:
Mexico would have to be consulted regarding the
construction of a barrier at the border.
As many as 60 million new immigrants would be allowed
into the country during the next twenty years.
Guaranteed Social Security benefits would be provided
for illegal immigrants for time they were in the country
illegally.
Illegal aliens would receive in-state tuition breaks at
state colleges and universities.
Illegal aliens who have avoided deportation for five
years or longer would be allowed to remain after paying
a fine. Those who have stayed for two to five could
remain after reapplying at the border. Those who had
entered less than two years ago would be required to
leave (though the bill features no actual mechanism to
enforce that deportation).
Unfortunately, despite
overwhelming calls for
America
to effectively police her borders, key members of
the Senate never relented on their demands to see
amnesty-related provisions attached to a comprehensive
enforcement bill. Because the majority of the
House of Representatives (including myself) opposed
those conditions, no comprehensive bill could be passed
before the end of the 109 th Congress. That
said , I am pleased to inform you of some positive
developments over the past year:
On June 15, 2006, President Bush signed a $1.9 billion
border control supplemental appropriation that includes:
1) the deployment of 6,000 national guard troops by
August 1, 2006, 2) enhanced technological security and
physical barriers, 3) 4,000 new beds for detention and
removal, and 4) local law enforcement officer training
to assist border patrol.
On October 4, 2006, President Bush signed into law the
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act,
2007. The act appropriates nearly $1.2 billion in
additional funding for border strengthening measures
including: more border fencing, vehicle barriers, and
lighting, ground base radar, infrared cameras, advance
sensors, and an additional 1,500 Border Patrol Agents.
It also incorporated H.R. 4830 the Border Tunnel
Prevention Act of 2006.
On October 26, 2006,
President Bush signed H.R. 6061, the Secure Fence Act of
2006.
While I believe that we must take serious action to
secure
America 's borders, please be aware that I
remain a strong proponent of legal, regulated
immigration.
America
was built by immigrants and continues to benefit from
them. To change our open and free society, in the face
of terrorism, would automatically represent a small
victory for those who abhor democracy and would punish
freedom. When individuals come to
America legally and eager to work, we
have always welcomed them and should continue to do so.
Thank you for inviting me to discuss these
important issues. I look forward to an opportunity to
meet in person.
Sincerely,
John A.
Boehner
The year, 1907
or, is it 2007?
You won't want to
miss the "Editor's" comments!*
Theodore
Roosevelt's ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in
1907.
"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant
who comes here in good faith becomes an American and
assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact
equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to
discriminate against any such man because of creed, or
birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the
person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing
but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here.
Any man who says he is an American, but something else also,
isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the
American flag... We have room for but one language here, and
that is the English language... and we have room for but one
sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
Theodore Roosevelt
1907
*
Editor's comments:
It is now 100 years later, 2007...
and it is well past due for George Bush to make
the same proclamation
and stop the pandering to Mexico, the ILLEGAL
ALIENS, and those who ILLEGALLY employ them.
English must be the official language of this
nation...
and all those who seek LEGAL citizenship must
learn to speak English!
Another President, Abraham Lincoln, made another
proclamation and abolished slavery... so he thought!
Now, almost 150 years later, this nation has a
modern-day form of slavery/slave labor, the ILLEGAL
ALIENS...
and it is well past due for George Bush to make
the same proclamation and once again abolish slavery,
returning those, who ILLEGALLY entered this
country, the ILLEGAL ALIENS, to their homelands...
without rewarding these LAWBREAKERS with amnesty
or citizenship!
Mr. President, you have spent approximately $1.3
trillion dollars attempting to secure Iraq's borders,
it's well past due that you secure our borders!
Mr. President, "Secure Our Borders!"
JONES REJECTS AMNESTY
FOR
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
"Amnesty
hurts vulnerable American workers,
burdens American
taxpayers, and
rewards
lawbreakers."
Washington, D.C. - In a letter this week to Speaker
of the House Nancy Pelosi, Third District
Representative Walter B. Jones (R-NC) united with
other members of the Immigration Reform Caucus
asking the Speaker not to bring amnesty legislation
to the floor of the House as part of its
consideration of immigration reform.
"Citizenship is the greatest honor and
responsibility our country can offer. Millions of
people around the world play by the rules, obey the
law, and often wait years for the opportunity to
legally immigrate," the letter states.
"When
Congress granted permanent residence to millions of
illegal immigrants in 1986, we required them to
wait, pay a fine, and 'learn' English. The result
was legally and publicly recognized as amnesty," the
letter continues.
"Amnesty
hurts vulnerable American workers, burdens American
taxpayers, and rewards lawbreakers," the letter
states. "It encourages more illegal immigration. And
it tells all those who have patiently waited abroad
for their turn to come to the United States that
they are foolish."
"The
United States has the most generous legal
immigration system in the world. We should take the
side of American workers and taxpayers, legal
immigrants and the rule of law. Please oppose any
effort to put illegal immigrants on the path to
amnesty," the letter concludes.
Mr.
President, are you listening?! It is well past due
to deport all ILLEGAL ALIENS --
they have broken our laws!
Clear vision, not politics...
should guide Congress!
By Congressman Bill Sali
Sixty years ago, U.S. Senate chaplain
Peter Marshall prayed that God would “give us clear vision, that
we may know where to stand and what to stand for - because
unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything.”
Those words are moving in their
simplicity and honesty. Only with the grace of God, with strong
values, deep conviction of principle and ongoing willingness to
listen and learn can leaders gain "clear vision" of their
responsibilities to citizens. When we believe in something -
and stand firm in our principles and values - we gain a clear
compass and a clear conscience to do the right thing for our
country.
Unfortunately, Congress has a history
of doing otherwise. Sadly, votes are not always black and white,
choices between obvious good and transparent evil. Too often
legislation is a confusing cocktail of essential items laced
with pure political pork. When there are 10 things in a bill
that you support and five things you don't, pork politics
compels your vote according to your stake in the political
smorgasbord.
A prime example is the vote held
recently in Congress on the measure to set a strict timetable
for pulling troops out of Iraq. The House of Representatives
voted 218-212 in favor of the Democrat-led legislation. I voted
against the proposal, because I believe that a publicly-declared
timetable to withdraw troops from Iraq will hurt our troops and
damage national security.
How disheartening that Speaker Pelosi
and her House lieutenants included in the bill the worst, rawest
form of political bribery - spending on the parochial pet
projects of wavering Members of Congress. By including
everything from funding for Gulf Coast levees and shrimp
subsidies to peanut storage money and a spinach program, Speaker
Pelosi bought the votes of reluctant Congressmen - some who want
an immediate pullout and some who don't really support a
timeline at all.
Mrs. Pelosi's bill even included badly
needed money for rural Northwestern schools, counties and
highway districts... This item was included specifically so...
(we) would have to choose between a vote for the Democrat troop
pull-out plan or a difficult vote against schools and roads.
If House Democrat leadership truly
agrees... that relief is needed for our rural schools and
counties, they should be willing to permit a straight up-or-down
vote...
It shocks and infuriates me to see
Mrs. Pelosi and the Democrat majority in Congress
use... schoolchildren and economic infrastructure as pawns in
the War against America's enemies.
It is wrong for Democrats to use
political bribery to enact their military micromanagement,
especially so wrong-headed a strategy as the one that passed the
House. How ironic that Mrs. Pelosi was unwilling to impose a
deadline on herself and her operatives in the arm-twisting
battle for sufficient votes to pass her bill, but she is more
than willing to impose a deadline on American military personnel
fighting a real war in Iraq.
Last week in Iraq, terrorists used
children as decoys to drive a car through a security checkpoint.
After making it through the checkpoint, the terrorists
detonated the car with the children in the back seat. This is
the kind of enemy America faces in Iraq. They are not
rational. They are not patriots. They care nothing for human
life or dignity. They are murderers, and they must be stopped -
on their soil, not ours.
Tying the war against America's
enemies in Iraq with issues here at home is politics as its
worst.
Now, more than ever, Congress needs
"clear vision.” Our nation deserves leaders who will stand for
what is right, however difficult that might be. The pork
politics of the Democrat's Iraq funding bill resulted in
Congress retreating from principle and standing for nothing that
is honorable. By proudly proclaiming victory in passing their
bill, Democrat leaders have asked our county at large, to join
them in preparing to fall for anything.
Editor's comment: The
sad, sad commentary is that this is "politics as usual in DC --
Petty, Partisan Politics!" And, rather than Congress and the
President representing the LEGAL CITIZENS of this nation, when
it comes to ILLEGAL ALIENS, and breaking our laws, they instead
aid, abet and harbor criminals and pander to Mexico, ILLEGAL
ALIENS and the special interest groups profiting off the backs
of this modern-day form of SLAVE LABOR! And unfortunately, the
consequences are dire and this country is quickly becoming a
bilingual, divided "nation!"
Congressman, do you
forget that Congress has done nothing to truly secure our
borders, especially with Mexico, and has allowed millions of
ILLEGAL ALIENS to enter, work and remain in this country for
many years. And, don't forget, the Republicans had control of
the House and Senate, with a sitting "Republican" President, and
nothing was done to deport these ILLEGAL ALIEN LAWBREAKERS, or
those who ILLEGALLY employ them! So, it appears that leadership
is, and has been lacking for many, many years! And, pork is
nothing new, Congress has been feasting on pork, in luxury,
also for many, many years! Yes, feasting on pork, in
air-conditioned luxury, while our troops, the heroes of this
land, sweat in filthy foxholes... ironically defending those in
Congress who won't provide the funds to adequately equip our
troops, nor close our borders to those who are invading our
country from Mexico, including terrorists, possibly tens of
thousand of terrorists! What hypocrisy!
Is Everyone a "flake"
in Congress?!
Gutierrez/Flake AMNESTY Bill
U.S. House of Representatives
UNDER GUTIERREZ/FLAKE:
- Every illegal alien who could produce marginally
plausible “evidence” that he/she had been illegally
present in the United States since June 1, 2006, would
get amnesty and be put on the path to US citizenship.
- In exchange for the highest honor
our country has to bestow, the illegal alien would have
to pay $2,000, pass a criminal record check, pay at
least some of any income taxes he/she had chosen not to
pay while working illegally, and learn some English. The
already overburdened and error-prone U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services (USCIS) would be responsible
for ensuring that applicants meet these criteria and for
handing out temporary visas and work permits to 2-plus
million illegal aliens.
- After the no-longer‐illegal aliens
had been in temporary status for six years, USCIS would
issue green cards to those who had learned passable
English and, in the case of some heads of household, had
traveled outside the United States (to any other
country, not necessarily their own) for a short time.
Single heads of household, children, the elderly,
business owners, and those in the military would be
exempt from the travel requirement. (Any criminals and
terrorists whose fingerprints were not yet on file with
the FBI would then have official documents in whateve
name they chose to provide USCIS during the first phase
of the amnesty.)
- Lest any illegals be left out of
the general amnesty, the bill includes two others for
which they could qualify: the AgJOBS amnesty for those
claiming to have performed agricultural work in the
United States (the fraud rate for a similar amnesty in
1986 is estimated at 70% and resulted in at least one of
the 1993 World Trade Center bombers getting a green
card, which he used to fly to Afghanistan for terrorist
training) and the DREAM Act amnesty for those who
received a US taxpayer-funded high school diploma or an
equivalent.
- To ensure a constant flow of cheap
labor into the United States, the bill would create a
worker importation program for an additional 400,000
foreign “guest” workers each year, all of whom would be
given the choice to stay permanently, as long as they
weren’t caught committing a crime or terrorist act
before they applied. DHS would have to certify
that it is capable of verifying workers’ legal status
before this new program could take effect.
- As a bone to lawmakers who believe
that the laws they pass should actually be enforced, the
bill would mandate that all employers eventually verify the
legal status of their workforce and it would increase
penalties for those who fail to do so. It would also
authorize an increase in the number of border enforcement
personnel and in enforcement technology.
- Finally, as icing on this rich
enforcement cake, the bill would create a “North American
security perimeter” that would establish Mexico as our
first—and only—line of defense against any security threat
from the south.
You shouldn't have any problem
finding good reason to feel strongly about opposing any of these
points in the bill! There can NOT be amnesty for these
lawbreaking ILLEGAL ALIENS!
The United States
Use To Be a Proud Nation of
Laws,
a Nation
Speaking One, Common, Integrating, Language,
English!
But unfortunately, instead, Congress,
the Legislative Branch of Government, has made a mockery of
this tradition!
Regarding ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, our
Congress, rather than enforce our laws, instead aids, abets
and harbors millions of ILLEGAL ALIENS!
Congress gives only lip-service to
our border security. Consequently our borders remain wide
open to anyone who wants to enter ILLEGALLY by simply
walking across our borders. And, when our border patrol and
sheriffs attempt to enforce our laws our government fails
them and even prosecutes them, again letting the ILLEGAL
LAWBREAKING ALIENS go free! Even worse, in one specific
instance, the ILLEGAL ALIEN was a known drug-runner! What
hypocrisy!
Congress appears to cower when it
comes to confronting Mexico and the millions of ILLEGAL
ALIENS invading our country, who have crossed our
borders ILLEGALLY. Also, Congress shudders and
stutters rather than enforcing our laws regarding the
ILLEGAL employment of these millions of ILLEGAL ALIENS!
Now, rather than enforcing our laws,
as the oath they have taken commands, apparently those in
Congress are more concerned about courting this massive
ILLEGAL Hispanic vote and the support of special interest
groups, and will do anything to avoid keeping that oath and
enforcing the laws of our land! Does this cheap, modern-day
form of slave labor control our Congress' decisions? Does
Mexico dictate to our government as to who is prosecuted
and who goes free? Where does the rule of law come into
play? Apparently it, the rule of law, no longer applies to
our borders and those who break our laws by ILLEGALLY
entering this country, ILLEGALLY working in this
country, ILLEGAL remaining in this country, and those who
ILLEGALLY employ.
Think about this, the President, with
the support of Congress, has spent approximately $1.3
trillion dollars protecting those in Iraq and their borders,
while our Congress plays games with the security of our
nation and its borders. Another charade, smoke and mirrors,
Congress passes limited legislation to "secure" our borders
with a fence, but provides less than adequate funding to
build the fence which covers only about a third of our
southern border. As soon as Mexico objected, Congress
rejected funding and building the fence. Our borders remain
open and unsecured! But, over $1.3 trillion dollars have
been spent to protect those in a foreign land and secure
their borders!
How many deaths will each member in
Congress be responsible for resultant from the terrorists
imbedded within these millions of ILLEGAL ALIENS whom
Congress continues to aid, abet and harbor?! Some now
estimate there are almost 20,000,000 ILLEGAL ALIENS in this
country, if not more. If only 1%, a very low estimate, are
terrorists, that would amount to no less than 200,000
terrorists that Congress has allowed to enter this country
ILLEGALLY, and continues to aid, abet and harbor! That's is
far more than the size of the army the U.S. has fighting the
war in Iraq! 200,000 terrorists -- well, that's about 4,000
terrorists per state. It took just a handful of
terrorists to take command of three passenger jets and bring
down the twin towers and kill thousand of innocent LEGAL
AMERICAN CITIZENS. What will the ultimate tragedy be as a
result of Congress not doing its job and not keeping its
oath? How many bombs will be smuggled in with these
terrorists? How many bombs and bio-terror weapons will be
smuggled into this country because Congress will not fully
fund our port security and our borders?!
The United States use to be a
unified nation proudly speaking one language, English. Now,
even the President's website caters to those speaking
Spanish and not learning to speak English! But, at the
same time, this President's site, as does Congress and our
state and local governments, discriminate by not providing
access to all languages, nationalities, races and
ethnicities. As history has born out, no nation
survives being divided by languages... they all crumble and
fall! English can be the only official language of the
United States, or the United States will no longer be
united.
Also, the LEGAL TAXPAYING CITIZENS of
this nation are forced to pay for the support of these
ILLEGAL ALIENS and their ILLEGAL use of our welfare,
education, and healthcare systems, as well as subsidizing
all those who ILLEGALLY employ these ILLEGAL ALIENS! Plus,
the number of ILLEGAL ALIENS in our prisons is staggering,
as is the tax burden on the LEGAL CITIZENS of this nation to
support our prisons and law enforcement to catch and house
these ILLEGAL ALIEN LAWBREAKERS! Apparently those in
Congress have concluded that it is "worth it" to have this
modern-day form of slave labor and the support of the
special interests groups.
As with the meat packing company,
identify the ILLEGAL ALIENS and replace them with willing
American workers, that which was quickly accomplished.
Therefore, Congress must require all employers to identify,
photo ID and document all those ILLEGAL ALIENS they
employ. And, in lieu of paying fines and going to prison,
have those who ILLEGAL employ the ILLEGAL ALIENS, pay for
their return to their homeland. Have them LEGALLY apply for
a TEMPORARY work permit from their homeland. After these
jobs have been offered to LEGAL AMERICAN CITIZENS, at a fair
living wage, any jobs that remain unfilled may be offered to
those who have applied for LEGAL TEMPORARY work permits.
If these employers are required to
pay a fair living wage, how attractive, then, will these
ILLEGAL ALIENS, this modern-day form of slave labor, be?!
Congress and the President can NOT
attempt to excuse themselves by granting any form of
amnesty to these LAWBREAKERS, while supporting the
special interest groups, those who profit from
their ILLEGAL employment. Congress, the Legislative
Branch of Government, can NOT reward LAWBREAKERS with
any form of amnesty. Why then would there be any reason
to observe any of our laws, that is if breaking the laws
pays with a reward, such as amnesty?! The only road
to citizenship must be through LEGAL APPLICATION and the
LEGAL IMMIGRATION PROCESS. And, the ability to speak
English must be achieved before LEGAL CITIZENSHIP can be
granted.
Will Mexico continue to dictate,
Congress and our President
capitulate,
while the ILLEGAL ALIENS and IMBEDDED
TERRORISTS elate?!
PS: Feel
free to copy and send this message to The President, Vice
President, your Representative and Senator.
House of Representatives:
House
Where's Bush?
Where's Congress?
Where's the Department of
Treasury?
A
Man for the Times!
When I'm
Your President, Bank of America
Won't be Giving Credit Cards
to Illegal
Aliens!
Dear Friend
of This Campaign,
I
feel outraged! The Bank of
America scandal has given me one more reason
I must
run for President. As
you know, I can only run if I have your support.
The Bank of America admitted last
week that it has begun
issuing credit cards to Illegal Aliens.
I plan to stop them!
Bank of America has admitted it has changed
its ID requirements for credit cards so that Illegal
Aliens can qualify. The bank's motive is higher
profits.
Yet if an ordinary Illegal Alien can get a credit card,
couldn't a clever terrorist? Or
just about anybody in the U.S. illegally with something to hide?
Our whole national security system is thrown
overboard when
drug dealers,
human smugglers, and
possibly even terrorists can gain access
to the U.S. financial system. What was the Bank of
America thinking?
And here's what really makes me angry.
The
other Republican candidates are being totally silent
about this matter.
No protest from
McCain.
Silence from
Giuliani.
Nothing from
Romney. I
can't find any candidate who cares.
This shouldn't surprise us, considering that . . .
McCain
hates border security,
Giuliani
wants higher immigration,
and
Romney
refuses to support Ramos and
Compeon, those two Border Patrol agents
unfairly thrown into prison for doing their
job.
If you help ge
