The Immigration
Debate > us-immigration-reform.com
updated
November 29, 2007
Comprehensive Immigration Reform
President George W. Bush reaches up to shake the hand of a youngster
Tuesday, May 29, 2007, after delivering remarks on
comprehensive immigration reform during a visit to the
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Ga.
White House photo by Eric Draper
President Bush Discusses Comprehensive Immigration
Reform
"I view this as an historic opportunity for Congress
to act, for Congress to replace a system that is not working
with one that we believe will work a lot better. In other
words, this is a moment for people who have been elected to
come together, focus on a problem, and show the American
people that we can work together to fix the problem."
President George W. Bush
June 26, 2007
June 27, 2007
Fact Sheet: Bipartisan Border Security and Immigration
Reform Bill
President Bush Urges Members Of Both Parties To
Support The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill Now In The
Senate. The status quo is unacceptable – by acting
now, we can ensure that our laws are respected, that our
borders are secure, that the needs of our economy are met,
and that our Nation helps newcomers assimilate.
The Lessons Of History Are Clear: All
Elements Of This Issue Must Be Addressed Together – Or
None Of Them Will Be Solved At All. Illegalimmigration is a serious problem that has been
growing for decades. Past efforts to address it have
failed because they did not do enough to secure our
Nation's borders, failed to address the underlying
economic reasons behind illegal immigration, and failed
to provide sensible ways for employers to verify the
legal status of the workers they hire.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform Must
Accomplish Five Clear Objectives
1. Securing The Border
Under The Bipartisan Immigration Reform Bill,
Temporary Worker And Z Visas Will Not Be Issued Until
Meaningful Border Security And Worksite Enforcement
Benchmarks Are Met. These triggers include:
Increasing border fencing.
Increasing vehicle barriers at the Southern border.
Increasing the size of the Border Patrol.
Installing ground-based radar and camera towers
along the Southern border.
Ensuring resources are available to maintain the
effective end of "Catch and Release" at our border.
Ensuring a reliable Employment Eligibility
Verification System (EEVS) is established and in use.
To Show The Government Is Serious About Meeting
These Benchmarks, The Bill Provides $4.4 Billion In
Immediate Additional Funding For Securing Our Borders And
Enforcing Our Laws At The Worksite.
2. Holding Employers Accountable For The
Workers They Hire
The Bipartisan Immigration Reform Bill Sets Up A
Sophisticated Electronic EEVS To Give Employers The Tools
They Need To Verify The Status Of Workers. EEVS
will require workers to present a limited range of stronger
and more readily verifiable identification documents, which
will be checked electronically against Federal and State
databases.
EEVS Will Allow Employers To Verify The
Authenticity Of Documents By Providing Access For The
First Time To Identification Photographs In Government
Databases.
The Bill Imposes Stiff New Criminal And
Civil Penalties On Employers Who Continue To Hire And
Employ Illegal Workers. Under current law, the
civil fine for employers who hire illegal workers is
between $275 and $2,200 per alien for first-time
offenders and between $3,300 and $11,000 per alien for
four-time offenders. Under the bill, the civil fine for
employers who hire illegal workers will be raised to
$5,000 per alien for first-time offenders, and to
$75,000 per alien for four-time offenders.
3. Creating A Temporary Worker Program
Under The Senate Bill, A Temporary Worker Program
Will Allow U.S. Law Enforcement To Focus More Resources On
Apprehending Violent Criminals And Terrorists. The
temporary worker program will help meet the needs of our
economy and reduce the number of people trying to sneak
across our borders by providing a lawful and orderly channel
for foreign workers to fill the jobs that Americans are not
doing.
This Temporary Worker Program Has Tougher
Labor Standards And More Robust Protections For U.S.
Workers Than Any Existing U.S. Nonimmigrant Worker
Program.
Before hiring a temporary worker under the bill,
an employer must first try to recruit U.S. workers
for 90 days – three times longer than any other
temporary worker program.
Temporary workers under the bill must be paid
the prevailing competitive wage, which is based on
the wages paid to U.S. workers, and ensures that the
wages of U.S. workers cannot be undercut.
4. Resolving The Status Of The Millions Of
Illegal Immigrants Already In The Country
The Bill Will Strengthen Our National Security By
Bringing The Millions Of Illegal Workers Already Here Out Of
The Shadows – Without Amnesty. This will allow law
enforcement officials to know who is in the country and
allow immigration enforcement officers to focus their
resources on finding and apprehending violent criminals and
terrorists.
Illegal Workers Already Here Must Come
Forward And Pay A Fine. In order to obtain a Z
visa granting temporary legal status, workers in the
country before January 1, 2007, must come forward, pay a
$1,000 fine, pass criminal background checks, remain
employed, and maintain a clean record.
Z Visa Workers Must Pay An Additional Fine,
Learn English, And Meet Other Requirements To Apply For
A Green Card, And Cannot Receive One Until Years In The
Future. Z visa workers must apply at the back
of the line and wait until the current backlog is
cleared, pay an additional $4,000 fine, complete
accelerated English and civics requirements, maintain
employment, leave the U.S. to file their application,
and compete in the merit system based on the skills and
attributes they will bring to the United States.
Satisfying The Requirements In The Bill Will
Take Most Green Card Applicants More Than A Decade.
5. Finding New Ways To Help Newcomers
Assimilate Into Our Society
The Bill Will Strengthen The Assimilation Of New
Immigrants. The bill declares that English is the
national language of the United States and calls on the
United States Government to preserve and enhance it. It
also enacts accelerated English requirements for many
immigrants. In addition, the DHS Office of Citizenship will
be expanded to include coordinating assimilation efforts in
its mission, and the Secretary of Education will make an
English instruction program available for free over the
Internet.
Senators, who have been arguing for weeks over
provisions of the compromise immigration bill, are
set to decide today whether to close debate and vote
on passage. Whatever happens, the fate of the
immigration bill is likely to have consequences for
both parties in the 2008 presidential election.
The Times’s Robert Pear reports that the
“outlook for the bill remained in doubt” after
senators considered a slew of amendments yesterday.
Supporters of the bill say if they can muster the 60
votes needed to close debate, passage would be
likely.
But, already
three moderate Democrats — Senator Claire
McCaskill of Missouri, Jim Webb of Virginia and Jon
Tester of Montana – have indicated they are balking
at the bill.
Meanwhile, the immigration debate has been
generating a flood of phone call, e-mails and, as
The Time’s Jeff Zeleny reports, at least a few
threats to members of Congress: “Not since the
impeachment of President Bill Clinton, several
Senate aides said, have the lines been so jammed by
a single issue.”
Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, a Democrat,
flew to Washington this week to lobby for the bill’s
passage. She “warned her party that failure to deal
with immigration this year could hurt Democrats in
next year’s presidential race”:
“If there’s no bill, it spills into the
presidential election in a major way,”
Napolitano said. “I would suggest to
presidential candidates, Democrat and Republican
alike, that … if you’re going to say something
besides the word amnesty, it is a hard issue to
deal with in the sound-bite nature of a
presidential campaign. If I were the
presidential candidate, I would want the
Congress to move on a bill, so that my
sound-bite is, ‘I’m going to enforce the law
that the Congress just passed, and make sure
that we get the resources to enforce it.’ “
The senior senator from Ms. Napolitano’s state,
John McCain, is likely hoping for a chance to use
that sound-bite in the presidential race. While his
campaign is trying to portray his unwavering support
for the immigration bill as an example of his
principled leadership, even some of
his closest advisers acknowledge their concern.
“From a political perspective, having a
candidate that takes on all the tough issues is
not always the most politically expedient thing
to do,” said David Roederer, the chairman of
McCain’s campaign in Iowa. Asked what he would
like to see happen on immigration, Roederer
laughed and said: “Wind the clock back and
forget that this issue ever came up?”
The
clock is ticking on the June 30 campaign finance
reporting deadline, and the presidential campaigns,
finding they have tapped out some of their high
rollers, are now turning to smaller donors to fill
their campaign war chests.
The Chicago Tribune’s political blog,
The Swamp, reports that the campaign of Illinois
Senator Barack Obama, is saying that it has received
contributions from nearly a quarter-million people
so far this year.
While all eyes will be on the action in the
Senate during the day, tonight the Democratic
presidential candidates appear at Howard University
for a
forum aimed at minority voters. Talk show host
Tavis Smiley moderates the discussion that will be
broadcast on PBS beginning at 9 p.m.
The top Republican candidates gather for a forum
of their own in Iowa this weekend.
Representative Ron Paul, who is vying for the
Republican nomination, was not invited to
participate, so he’s decided to hold his own forum
right next to the main event.
One debate that has already been playing out on
the airwaves this week is the one between the
campaign of former Democratic Senator John Edwards
and conservative commentator Ann Coulter. In case
you missed the verbal sparring,
The Times’s Adam Nagourney has the details.
Following Republican presidential candidate
Rudolph W. Giuliani around on the campaign trail,
the Los Angeles Time’s Maria L. La Ganga, picks
up on one of the former New York mayor’s most
consistent campaign themes: terrorism.
Bloomberg’s Kim Chipman and Julianna Goldman
trace former Tennessee Senator Fred D. Thompson’s
path from small-town lawyer to United States senator
to the brink of a presidential run. But, Mr.
Thompson’s supporters wonder “whether he wants it
badly enough to endure the rigors of a campaign.”
The Times’s Susan Saulny, who followed Mr.
Thompson to South Carolina yesterday, reports that,
like the actor he is, Mr. Thompson is
practicing his lines for his campaign’s expected
debut.
What ever happened to representitive government?
Overwhelmingly Americans are against this
Amnesty bill yet many of our polititions seem to
be deaf to the roar of the American electorate.
How can this be? I say, follow the money trail!
Observe how fast many of the Senators that are
for Amnesty are trying to push this latest
Amnesty bill through with out allowing other
Senators to read the amenedments or even allow
any debate.
Simply enforce the laws already on the books.
Finish building the 850-mile fence that Congress
O.K.’d last year. Dry-up job opportunities,
start throwing employers in jail for hiring
illegal aliens.
My all-time favorite Bush comment is when he
insults every American when he says, “they do
the jobs that Americans won’t do”. Who does Bush
think did those jobs before the illegals broke
our laws to come here? Now Bush wants to reward
them with Amnesty!?
Why are most of the Democrats in the Senate
going along with the criminal “president” in the
White House on the pending immigration bill?
Don’t they know that everything this man has
promoted has been against the people and the
Constitution of our country? If this bill passes
it will be the beginning of the end of the
United States of America and the start of the
borderless North American Union!
Business and Wall Street (and the politicians
who are supported by them)promote fear (hatred)
between segments of the population, for instance
low wage workers and “immigrants” or “illegals”
(who they hire in the shadows), in order to
maximize profits for themselves.
They look at the results of their efforts on
places like this opinion board and laugh all the
way to the bank.
Immigration is a major issue, but let us not
forget the nation is still engaged in an
illegitimate war of aggression against the
people of Iraq.
It is unfathomable the lengths
leaders in washington will go to avoid working
on the task at hand.
Yes immigration reform is greatly needed, but
why doesn’t congress investigate the Bush
administration and its wrong doings. chine has
finally been subpoenaed.
Additionally, along with previous posts, the
people don’t support this measure but the dems
are now turning a deaf ear to their
constituents. Just another gleaming example of
washington’s failure to serve the people.
Is it the immigrants themselves who are at
fault, or the employers who exploit their
desperate situations? If companies were punished
in the form of fines that invalidate the money
saved through lower wages for illegals and its
employers imprisoned for hiring illegals,
doesn’t this completely invalidate the incentive
for hiring illegals in the first place? Thus,
there would be no work available for people who
aren’t legal citizens of this country, as the
opportunity cost for hiring illegal aliens
(hefty fines and possible jail time) is far too
high. Punishing illegal immigrants is punishing
the victims of an exploited situation. The real
perpetrator is not the poor migrant chicano
willing to shovel cow dung in the blazing Texas
heat, it’s the guy who pays him ten dollars a
day (if he’s feeling generous) instead of hiring
a legal citizen for the legal minimum hourly
wage.
The current immigration bill is flawed from the
outset by the very nature of its conception. Any
legislation of this magnitude absolutely demands
a very public, transparent discussion. This bill
was crafted in secret. Let’s first ask the
question, “why?” Why was this bill discussed
behind closed doors and sprung on the American
people? Anybody want to wager a guess on this?
Instead of the hand-wringing and the whining
from many democrats and republicans in Congress,
about how “this is the last chance” to pass
legislation on immigration. Again, let’s ask all
of them to tell us why it’s the “last chance.”
Don’t insult my intelligence any longer and do
not be riduculous. It is not the ‘last chance’
motel, rather it is just the beginning of what
should have been an open, honest, national
discussion. It is just the beginning. I want to
be heard on this issue, as do most Americans.
(It’s impossible to gain entrance into the
rarified BACK ROOMS of Congress by ordinary
citizens …..not at all difficult for corporate
lobbyists though).
My suggestions for the way to proceed are
much line with those of Frank @ 2 above.
1. Strict border enforcement now. If this
govt. can’t do this job now, they cannot do it
after this bill is passed. This means training
and hiring of border patrol enforcement police
with the technological support to accomplish
their job. These police would automatically have
the power to revert every illegal to a detention
center until further action, such as
deportation, were to take place. Every foot of
the border needs some sort of surveillance,
whether by satellite, or by human intervention.
This border enforcement would apply to our
Canadian border as well.
2. Before we can set up enforcement
procedures for businesses, we have to have the
technology in place that will easily verify the
identity of each and every employee. No mention
of this though. Require businesses to verify
every single employee’s documents, under a
microscope if necessary. Root out those who are
using your fellow Americans’ SS#. and other
false documents. There is a thriving black
market for these phony docs.
3. Eliminate benefits for illegals and their
families. A revisit to the ‘anchor baby’
loophole. The 14th Amendment was never intended
to be used in this manner, I would venture to
guess.
4. Fines and imprisonment for companies and
individuals who do not comply with the law, or
try to play Mickey the Dunce, and just say “they
aren’t required to check.” Baloney.
This is the beginning…..only the beginning of
what should have already taken place. Just
witness the embarrassment of our gov’t. over the
Passport debacle. They can’t even keep up with
our fellow citizens’ following the NEW law
requiring passports for travel. The backlog mess
would be hilarious if it wasn’t so seriously
dangerous. What makes the gov’t. think it can
process illegals and verify their authenticity
in 24 hours? It’s absurd, that’s what it is.
Does anyone think a felon will come forward and
use his or her real name? The whole thing is so
flawed, they need to start over, but this time
do it right - openly and honestly.
Meanwhile, let’s prioritize the processing of
the long-suffering, patient, LEGAL immigrants
who are stunned and disgusted by this
line-jumping and sudden clamoring for
immigration relief. The laws are already in
place to handle this crisis for the moment.
First things first.
The people of the United States should now begin
a campaign to push ALL levels of government to
enforce the immigration laws that we currently
have.
As Frank said “Simply enforce the laws already
on the books. Finish building the 850-mile fence
that Congress O.K.’d last year. Dry-up job
opportunities, start throwing employers in jail
for hiring illegal aliens.”
The need to reform immigration is one thing most
agree on. The problem starts in trying to figure
out how. The current bill in the senate needs to
die a sudden death as it poorly thought out and
is a mishmash of pet solutions from the various
interest groups. The unusal bedmates of some
democrats and the president, who are pushing the
bill for very different reasons, shows how
rather then being the comprehensive approach to
immigration that is needed, it has become a
something for everyone love/hate. Many democrats
want to treat the immigrants in a fair manner,
which consevatives see as amnesty ( too bad they
don’t respect the law as much when its one of
theirs on the recieving end). Bush respresents
the other side of the bill that will guarantee a
free flow of underpaid, unrepresnted,
unprotected, permanent second class labor to be
wielded by american business to increase their
profits and hammer into submission the last
vestiges of the american labor movement that
built the middle class of america and is
responsible for the standard of living that was
once the gold standard for the world. This bill,
as it now, will not solve any problems and will
infact put another nail in the coffin of the
american worker. It is not immigration that is
the problem, rampant illegal immigration is only
a symptom of the global, capitalist race to the
bottom in which the very rich get richer and the
rest slowly bleed to death.
Immigration: a hot Issue. It seems that both the
Democrats and Republicans wanted the bill passed
in some ways. But they were all for selfish
reasons. It would give the Democrats more voting
power, etc. and for the Republicans it would be
more cheap labor for some industries and those
in large farming areas where food products are
grown.
It would also enhance the possibilities of the
North American Union which moneyed powers and
some organizations are trying to accomplish.
It’s about time to take back the USA and
promoting its sovereignty
I thank the Senator’s that voted againt the
Amnesty Bill today. The American citizens did
not want this Bill.
We want a secure border and Corporations that
hire illegal workers to be held accountable. We
have laws, so inforce the ones we have.
How can Senator’s vote for a Bill when they
don’t take or have the time to read what they
are voting into law.
The system is broken, so fix it.
From top to botton, from left to right, we are
all in denial/cynical about the problems facing
our nation ( USA )today, inclusive the one
concerning immigration. Here we all are post
9/11 and yet we’ve learned nothing. Many things
need to be done and bring this nation up to its
deserved place in the world. We can’t keep
living in a conservative/stone age era when
faced with social issues that must be dealt
with. Those same groups who are fighting agains
the immigration reform are also the same groups
or people who are profiting from the chaos
situation, where the transport of millions of
illegals are broght into our country and economy
by american citzens in their pick-up / 4×4 /
suv’s trucks undetected by our authorities. Yes,
these same americans don’t really want to see an
end to their source of ( illegal )income, mainly
because it’s an easy money. So, why to pass an
immigration reform where you would make these
“jobs” disappear from the legal americans?
I am a living proof of this practice in our
american society today…
This bill has been torpedoed beyond recognition
in order to make it palatable to the haters.
Although it hurts me personally, I am glad it
didn’t pass.
Dear Editor:
If the phone lines to the Senate or White House
were jammed on Wednesday, you can be sure most
callers were responding to the incessant barrage
of
comments being “hurled” by so-called
Conservative Radio Mouthpieces. I drove from
Dallas to Houston and listened to them through
my four-hour long trip. And they never stop!
They never tell the American listeners the truth
about their new whipping boy. They don’t tell
them that their parents and grandparents
“allowed” and “condoned”
illegal aliens/immigrants to work in the United
States as long ago as the 1920s, 1930s and
1940s!! The demagogues don’t say that these “New
Slaves” Worked Their Fa,iles Farms and Business
In the Name of the Almight Dollar. Michael
Savage, Glenn Beck and all the Racist Radio
Jocks fear the revival of the FAIRNESS DOCTRINE
because they have never allowed these 12-plus
immigrants to have a voice. And that’s even if
they SPEAK ENGLISH. So today’s Immigration Bill
failure is a victory for Conservative Radio
Racists, who used the “public airwaves to get
their bigoted, hate-filled message out to those
who pretend to have had official
legal “papers” upon their arrival in America.
SHAME ON THE USA!!!
This Message Is For FRAN N. Guess What?
Businesses and Wall Street profitting from
“illegal immigrant” labor is NOT NEW in the
United States!
After President Abe Lincoln declared the Slaves
free, who stepped in to do the work? Ever wonder
about that? The Mexican Revoluntion, circa 1910,
brought a wave of Mexicans into USA (formerly
Mexican soil) and they have been coming here to
WORK since! Nobody asked for papers. Do YOU Know
Why? They didn’t CARE. They Just Needed “Strong
brown backs and brown hands” to collect all Your
Vegetables/Fruits and whatnot from Texas to
Michigan,Wisconsie and Ohio,where I was BORN in
the 1940s FRAN.
So THAT’S THE “SCOOP” THE TALKING RACISTS RADIO
DOGS DON’T TAlK ABOUT. Talking to your ancestors
(still alive) won’t help. They will lie and keep
covering up the fact that:Mexicans toiled in
their farms and fields from sun up to sun down.
And NOBODY ASKED OR CARED IF THEY WERE “ILLEGAL”
OR NOT. They cared about the Bottom Line Fran.
So this pretended anxiety about illegal
immigrants launched by the Republican Party is a
farce! But the GOP for me as a VOTER is DEAD. I
will spread the word among all Hispanics NOT TO
VOTE REPUBLICAN. And I’ll never vote Republican
again—ever!!
10:33: All business and WS are interested in is
the cheap labor. They would jump for joy if the
people of this country overlooked their own self
interest and embraced “diversity” and open
borders.
I BELIEVE THIS REFORM THAT THEY DONT WANT TO
PASS IS A CRIMINAL AND UNJUST. WHY WOULD
ANYBODAY WANT TO TRANSPORT IMMAGRANTS OF
FAMILIES, I THINK IT SO CRUEL THAT THESE
FAMILIES HAVE TO BE SEPARATED. WHAT IS UP WITH
ALL THESE SENATOR. THE ONLY THING CREATED THIS
HATRED TOWARDS IMMAGRANTS WILL ONLY CAUSE THE
HISPANIC TO VOTE MORE AND IT WONT BE FOR THE
REPUBLICAN FOR THEY HATEFUL PEOPLE NOT ALL OF
THEM BUT THERE SURE IS ALOT OF THEM. THEY TAKE
WORKERS WHO WHO WORD HARD FROM THEIR JOBS PULL
THEM OUT, WHAT IS THIS, CRUELTY, THEY CANT GET
MEDICAL HELP BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO A
INSURANCE AND THESE IMMAGRANTS DONT WANT TO GET
HELP BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID TO BE DEPORTED.
WHAT HAPPEN TO UNITED STATES SENATE WANT TO DO
SUCH A THING IS TO STOP THE REFORM.
GUESS WHAT SOME OF THESE REPLUBICAN WILL BE
VOTED OUT BECAUSE WE MAY VOTE DEMORCRAT, BECAUSE
THEY ARE HURTING MY PEOPLE. I AM A MEXICAN
AMERICAN BORN IS THE U.S.A.
I don’t understand how people can say we don’t
need this bill we should think about the
families that will be effected by this bill. If
it isn’t passed then families will be split
apart when fathers or mothers are taken away
from their children because of not being legal.
Sandy, they’re free to go back to their home
country with their children. If we followed your
sentiment to its logical conclusion, the
population of our country would double or triple
within a few decades. How would you like to have
the standard of living of a Chinese or Indian?
Why are people who opposed this ill-conceived
bill called haters? Probably some are xenophobic
haters, but in reality, I think many people,
like myself, objected to this bill from the
beginning because of its clandestine origins.
This is a huge problem for our country, and
issuing statements and poll results that only
tell half the story are misleading and
deceptive. I’m sure that most Americans support
immigration reform, but that support - through
these various ‘poll’ results - was twisted to
mean that our citizens favored this particular
bill!! Not even close, guys.
First of all, the bill was full of
inconsistencies and was so convoluted and
cumbersome, that it would have taken a great
deal of time for every interested American to
get hold of a copy and read the contents for
themselves - in its entirety. This wasn’t done
and I wonder why some sponsors tried to rush its
passage. Any ideas? What we were treated to was
more of the same WH directed, and probably Karl
Rove inspired, accusations of “hate.” Then we
had the veiled warnings from both sides of the
Congressional aisles, that “this is our last
chance to effect change in immigration?” Those
Americans who harbored deep distrust of the
process used to forward this agenda once again
were accused of being anti-poor, anti-”brown’
and anti-progress. Baloney. What we are opposed
to is legislation by secret fiat. Blatant and
powerful corporate interests that supercede a
thoughtful dialogue to craft a bill that
addresses everyone’s concerns. That is the
problem. If anyone truly believes that we have
lost our “last chance for immigration reform,”
then that person should retire from office and
start a new career elsewhere. For the rest,
start rolling up your sleeves, and let the
debate begin AFTER the current laws are enforced
- just for starters. This is just the beginning.
Meanwhile, we have a war to end. First things
first.
Sandy, there is no US law that
would prevent a minor US citizen to live with
their parents in their home countries. There are
a lot of legal immigrants with American kids who
had to go back to their country because they did
not get Green Cards after waiting for several
years. They could have chosen to live illegally
in this country but they chose to respect the
laws of this nation even when they were in a
position of disadvantage.
there are many people that come here for
oportunities for a better life, to provide their
children with food and clothing, but some people
just want to turn their backs to them and throw
them away like garbage. Well this country if it
wasn’t for inmigrants, the US will not even
exist.
There are a lot of jobs americans won’t even
dare to look for, so with that in mind how is it
possible this nation will survive without
inmigrants, there is no way. I think there are
racism in this country and the government needs
to stop playing around with people’s life and
get their act together. IN GOD WE TRUST, that
needs to be change to, WE WANT YOUR MONEY.
because thats what it’s all about anyways.Thats
why this world it’s so messed up. The so called
land of the freedom, should need to be called
the land of the law, meaning you have to do what
those politicians wnats you to do. What a mess.
This nation needs to change because it’s not too
popular anymore. Already people are looking
somewhere else and those are oing to make other
nations more powerfull. I love this country but
is not the same anymore.
That forum on June 30 in Des Moines, IA which
Ron Paul was excluded from had 6 Presidential
hopefuls speaking. It drew a smaller crowd
(600-700 vs. 1000 for Paul) than Ron Paul
speaking all by himself next door.
Who looks
foolish now?
— Posted by Cameron
Certificate of United States
Naturalization
The
Certificate of Naturalization (form N-550 or N-570) is a
document issued by United States government as proof of a
person having obtained U.S. citizenship through
naturalization (a legal process of obtaining a new
nationality). The Certificate of United States
Naturalization has been issued since October 1, 1991 by the
USCIS, and on or before September 30, 1991 by Federal Courts
and particular State Courts. The United States Certificate
of Naturalization is proof of an individual’s U.S.
citizenship through naturalization.
The Immigration
Debate > us-immigration-reform.com
The
Certificate of Naturalization (form N-550 or N-570) is a
document issued by United States government as proof of a
person having obtained U.S. citizenship through
naturalization (a legal process of obtaining a new
nationality). The Certificate of United States
Naturalization has been issued since October 1, 1991 by the
USCIS, and on or before September 30, 1991 by Federal Courts
and particular State Courts. The United States Certificate
of Naturalization is proof of an individual’s U.S.
citizenship through naturalization.
2007
10:01 am
We do need a lively discussion of population and demographics.
But first, we need to settle the Iraq war.
— Posted by Steve Bolger
2007
10:06 am
Observe how fast many of the Senators that are for Amnesty are trying to push this latest Amnesty bill through with out allowing other Senators to read the amenedments or even allow any debate.
Simply enforce the laws already on the books. Finish building the 850-mile fence that Congress O.K.’d last year. Dry-up job opportunities, start throwing employers in jail for hiring illegal aliens.
My all-time favorite Bush comment is when he insults every American when he says, “they do the jobs that Americans won’t do”. Who does Bush think did those jobs before the illegals broke our laws to come here? Now Bush wants to reward them with Amnesty!?
— Posted by Frank
2007
10:27 am
— Posted by carolb75
2007
10:33 am
They look at the results of their efforts on places like this opinion board and laugh all the way to the bank.
— Posted by Fran N.
2007
11:20 am
It is unfathomable the lengths leaders in washington will go to avoid working on the task at hand.
Yes immigration reform is greatly needed, but why doesn’t congress investigate the Bush administration and its wrong doings. chine has finally been subpoenaed.
Additionally, along with previous posts, the people don’t support this measure but the dems are now turning a deaf ear to their constituents. Just another gleaming example of washington’s failure to serve the people.
— Posted by tom
2007
11:34 am
— Posted by Ian
2007
11:42 am
— Posted by Thomas
2007
11:56 am
Instead of the hand-wringing and the whining from many democrats and republicans in Congress, about how “this is the last chance” to pass legislation on immigration. Again, let’s ask all of them to tell us why it’s the “last chance.” Don’t insult my intelligence any longer and do not be riduculous. It is not the ‘last chance’ motel, rather it is just the beginning of what should have been an open, honest, national discussion. It is just the beginning. I want to be heard on this issue, as do most Americans. (It’s impossible to gain entrance into the rarified BACK ROOMS of Congress by ordinary citizens …..not at all difficult for corporate lobbyists though).
My suggestions for the way to proceed are much line with those of Frank @ 2 above.
1. Strict border enforcement now. If this govt. can’t do this job now, they cannot do it after this bill is passed. This means training and hiring of border patrol enforcement police with the technological support to accomplish their job. These police would automatically have the power to revert every illegal to a detention center until further action, such as deportation, were to take place. Every foot of the border needs some sort of surveillance, whether by satellite, or by human intervention. This border enforcement would apply to our Canadian border as well.
2. Before we can set up enforcement procedures for businesses, we have to have the technology in place that will easily verify the identity of each and every employee. No mention of this though. Require businesses to verify every single employee’s documents, under a microscope if necessary. Root out those who are using your fellow Americans’ SS#. and other false documents. There is a thriving black market for these phony docs.
3. Eliminate benefits for illegals and their families. A revisit to the ‘anchor baby’ loophole. The 14th Amendment was never intended to be used in this manner, I would venture to guess.
4. Fines and imprisonment for companies and individuals who do not comply with the law, or try to play Mickey the Dunce, and just say “they aren’t required to check.” Baloney.
This is the beginning…..only the beginning of what should have already taken place. Just witness the embarrassment of our gov’t. over the Passport debacle. They can’t even keep up with our fellow citizens’ following the NEW law requiring passports for travel. The backlog mess would be hilarious if it wasn’t so seriously dangerous. What makes the gov’t. think it can process illegals and verify their authenticity in 24 hours? It’s absurd, that’s what it is. Does anyone think a felon will come forward and use his or her real name? The whole thing is so flawed, they need to start over, but this time do it right - openly and honestly.
Meanwhile, let’s prioritize the processing of the long-suffering, patient, LEGAL immigrants who are stunned and disgusted by this line-jumping and sudden clamoring for immigration relief. The laws are already in place to handle this crisis for the moment. First things first.
— Posted by Peter G.
2007
12:05 pm
BRAVO!!! WELL SAID
THERE SHOULD BE ONLY ONE DEBATE BY CONGRESS
HOW SOON WILL WE GET OUR TROOPS OUT OF COMBAT…
THEN GET OUR ACT TOGETHER (without bush & company)NEXT ELECTION WILL BE MANDATE FOR INTEGRITY NOT MORE LIES…
PHIL MA.
— Posted by PHIL
2007
12:34 pm
As Frank said “Simply enforce the laws already on the books. Finish building the 850-mile fence that Congress O.K.’d last year. Dry-up job opportunities, start throwing employers in jail for hiring illegal aliens.”
— Posted by Mc20Morty
2007
12:48 pm
— Posted by byron
2007
12:58 pm
It would also enhance the possibilities of the North American Union which moneyed powers and some organizations are trying to accomplish. It’s about time to take back the USA and promoting its sovereignty
— Posted by Byron M Hunt
2007
1:45 pm
We want a secure border and Corporations that hire illegal workers to be held accountable. We have laws, so inforce the ones we have.
How can Senator’s vote for a Bill when they don’t take or have the time to read what they are voting into law.
The system is broken, so fix it.
— Posted by Betty Buikema
2007
2:04 pm
I am a living proof of this practice in our american society today…
— Posted by Jeff Sess
2007
2:21 pm
Although it hurts me personally, I am glad it didn’t pass.
— Posted by Gonzalo Díaz
2007
2:23 pm
If the phone lines to the Senate or White House were jammed on Wednesday, you can be sure most callers were responding to the incessant barrage of
comments being “hurled” by so-called Conservative Radio Mouthpieces. I drove from Dallas to Houston and listened to them through my four-hour long trip. And they never stop! They never tell the American listeners the truth about their new whipping boy. They don’t tell them that their parents and grandparents “allowed” and “condoned”
illegal aliens/immigrants to work in the United States as long ago as the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s!! The demagogues don’t say that these “New Slaves” Worked Their Fa,iles Farms and Business In the Name of the Almight Dollar. Michael Savage, Glenn Beck and all the Racist Radio Jocks fear the revival of the FAIRNESS DOCTRINE because they have never allowed these 12-plus immigrants to have a voice. And that’s even if they SPEAK ENGLISH. So today’s Immigration Bill failure is a victory for Conservative Radio Racists, who used the “public airwaves to get their bigoted, hate-filled message out to those who pretend to have had official
legal “papers” upon their arrival in America. SHAME ON THE USA!!!
— Posted by Rosie Carbo
2007
2:53 pm
After President Abe Lincoln declared the Slaves free, who stepped in to do the work? Ever wonder about that? The Mexican Revoluntion, circa 1910,
brought a wave of Mexicans into USA (formerly Mexican soil) and they have been coming here to WORK since! Nobody asked for papers. Do YOU Know Why? They didn’t CARE. They Just Needed “Strong brown backs and brown hands” to collect all Your Vegetables/Fruits and whatnot from Texas to Michigan,Wisconsie and Ohio,where I was BORN in the 1940s FRAN.
So THAT’S THE “SCOOP” THE TALKING RACISTS RADIO DOGS DON’T TAlK ABOUT. Talking to your ancestors (still alive) won’t help. They will lie and keep covering up the fact that:Mexicans toiled in their farms and fields from sun up to sun down. And NOBODY ASKED OR CARED IF THEY WERE “ILLEGAL” OR NOT. They cared about the Bottom Line Fran. So this pretended anxiety about illegal immigrants launched by the Republican Party is a farce! But the GOP for me as a VOTER is DEAD. I will spread the word among all Hispanics NOT TO VOTE REPUBLICAN. And I’ll never vote Republican again—ever!!
— Posted by Rosie
2007
3:00 pm
— Posted by Mike Woods
2007
5:42 pm
INSURANCE AND THESE IMMAGRANTS DONT WANT TO GET HELP BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID TO BE DEPORTED. WHAT HAPPEN TO UNITED STATES SENATE WANT TO DO SUCH A THING IS TO STOP THE REFORM.
GUESS WHAT SOME OF THESE REPLUBICAN WILL BE VOTED OUT BECAUSE WE MAY VOTE DEMORCRAT, BECAUSE THEY ARE HURTING MY PEOPLE. I AM A MEXICAN AMERICAN BORN IS THE U.S.A.
— Posted by ELENA
2007
5:51 pm
— Posted by Sandy
2007
12:00 am
— Posted by Mike Woods
2007
10:46 am
First of all, the bill was full of inconsistencies and was so convoluted and cumbersome, that it would have taken a great deal of time for every interested American to get hold of a copy and read the contents for themselves - in its entirety. This wasn’t done and I wonder why some sponsors tried to rush its passage. Any ideas? What we were treated to was more of the same WH directed, and probably Karl Rove inspired, accusations of “hate.” Then we had the veiled warnings from both sides of the Congressional aisles, that “this is our last chance to effect change in immigration?” Those Americans who harbored deep distrust of the process used to forward this agenda once again were accused of being anti-poor, anti-”brown’ and anti-progress. Baloney. What we are opposed to is legislation by secret fiat. Blatant and powerful corporate interests that supercede a thoughtful dialogue to craft a bill that addresses everyone’s concerns. That is the problem. If anyone truly believes that we have lost our “last chance for immigration reform,” then that person should retire from office and start a new career elsewhere. For the rest, start rolling up your sleeves, and let the debate begin AFTER the current laws are enforced - just for starters. This is just the beginning.
Meanwhile, we have a war to end. First things first.
— Posted by Peter
2007
12:35 pm
Sandy, there is no US law that would prevent a minor US citizen to live with their parents in their home countries. There are a lot of legal immigrants with American kids who had to go back to their country because they did not get Green Cards after waiting for several years. They could have chosen to live illegally in this country but they chose to respect the laws of this nation even when they were in a position of disadvantage.
— Posted by Sid
2007
10:08 am
There are a lot of jobs americans won’t even dare to look for, so with that in mind how is it possible this nation will survive without inmigrants, there is no way. I think there are racism in this country and the government needs to stop playing around with people’s life and get their act together. IN GOD WE TRUST, that needs to be change to, WE WANT YOUR MONEY. because thats what it’s all about anyways.Thats why this world it’s so messed up. The so called land of the freedom, should need to be called the land of the law, meaning you have to do what those politicians wnats you to do. What a mess. This nation needs to change because it’s not too popular anymore. Already people are looking somewhere else and those are oing to make other nations more powerfull. I love this country but is not the same anymore.
— Posted by alex
2007
4:01 pm
Who looks foolish now?
— Posted by Cameron