Posted on 06/29/2004 3:34:54 PM PDT by The Bandit
Contact: Allison Dobson of John Kerry for President, 202-464-2800, Web site: http://www.johnkerry.com
WASHINGTON, June 29 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Kerry Campaign today released the following fact sheet on immigration reform:
Today at the National Council of La Raza's annual conference, John Kerry will continue to talk about his plans to open the doors of opportunity and expand access to the American Dream, including reforming America's immigration laws.
Kerry strongly supports responsible reform of our immigration laws that honors our tradition as a nation of immigrants and that will make America stronger. Today, our immigration system is broken. Each year, hundreds seeking a better life in our country die in the desert, often at the hands of cruel smugglers. Millions within our borders live and work in hiding, in fear and often abused. President Bush came to office promising a new approach to immigration, but his failure to take real action illustrates his indifference to this issue. His immigration outline, which he still has not formally introduced, would lock immigrant workers into a second-class status, driving down wages and safety standards for all working people in America.
Kerry has a different approach. He will offer a reform bill in his first 100 days that allows immigrants to earn legalization, encourages family reunification, and strengthens our border protections. By reforming our immigration laws, Kerry will honor America's promise and strengthen America's economy and security. Kerry will:
IMMEDIATELY SIGN TWO BIPARTISAN REFORM BILLS
Reward Students Who Study Hard and Play by the Rules. John Kerry strongly supports the DREAM Act, sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), which will give young people who consider the United States their home, who have worked hard in school, and have stayed out of trouble the chance to go to college and pursue their dreams. The DREAM Act has broad bipartisan support and would be law today if George Bush supported it. As President, John Kerry will make it a priority to make the DREAM Act the law of the land.
Offer a Fair Deal for Farmworkers. John Kerry supports the AgJobs bill, which is sponsored by Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) and has 62 Senate cosponsors. This bill will secure the rights and futures for hard-working, honorable agricultural workers and will secure a legal labor force for America's farmers. Once again, this bill would be law today but for George Bush's failure to support it. As President, John Kerry will make this law a reality.
OFFER IMMIGRATION REFORM BILL WITHIN 100 DAYS
In his first hundred days, John Kerry will also offer a comprehensive immigration reform bill with four basic components. And Kerry will work tirelessly until reform has become law.
Earned Legalization. Under John Kerry's approach, undocumented workers who have lived and worked here for 5 years, who pay taxes, and who are successfully screened for security purposes will have a path to citizenship. Kerry will also expand opportunities to learn English and obtain civic education classes to help immigrants assume all of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
Reuniting Families. Kerry will eliminate the massive administrative backlog and delay that has left many families unnecessarily divided for a decade or more. Our Nation's immigration system must be able to more quickly reunite husbands with wives, parents with children. Legal permanent residents seeking to reunify with spouses and children must be provided a fair and efficient process to do so.
Visa Program with Worker Protections. Kerry will establish a secure channel for a limited number of temporary workers to come into the United States. To protect all working people in the United States, Kerry will ensure that these temporary workers have the protections of U.S. employment and labor laws, including fair wage protections. These protections must be rigorously enforced.
Stronger Border Security. As an integral part of his reform, John Kerry will reach an accord with neighboring countries to improve security along our borders and stop illegal smuggling. He will improve our nation's security databases and watchlists and better control the borders to ensure that people who intend to harm us cannot cross our borders.
These families were always able to be reunited---all the illegal had to go was go back HOME.
Earned Legalization. Under John Kerry's approach, undocumented workers who have lived and worked here for 5 years, who pay taxes, and who are successfully screened for security purposes will have a path to citizenship.
ping
In fear of what? If they run the gauntlet (border) and get to the interior, they are home free. Darn few, by comparison, get thrown out, including criminals who do time in our jails. Free healthcare and other social services.......trust me, they ain't in fear (or don't need to be).
I caught a little bit of his appearance with Jessie Jackson today. Ole John seemed to be struggling and the crowd seemed angry.
More like forty million when you consider the number of "reunified" families.
Under John Kerry's approach, car theives who have driven a stolen car for 5 years, paid for the gas and oil, and who are successfully screened and determined not to have any driving offenses will have a path to car ownership.
What's the difference?
Millions within our borders live and work in hiding, in fear and often abused.LOL! My thoughts exactly. I was going to say if they are concerned about being abused why are they sneaking over here?In fear of what? If they run the gauntlet (border) and get to the interior, they are home free. Darn few, by comparison, get thrown out, including criminals who do time in our jails. Free healthcare and other social services.......trust me, they ain't in fear (or don't need to be).
This sounds lame to me, especially blaming Bush for non-passage of a bill that has 62 Senate sponsors. But it does sound like the kind of touch leadership we can expect from Kerry. IMHO, if the congress would do it's oversight rather than passing it off to blue ribbon comissions, we would have better enforcement.
The democrats want to flood the country with more socialistic voters and organize them into their unions. This will dilute the conservative vote. If amnesty to the illegals here is ever given, we will never have a conservative government again, IMO.
Kerry is following the plan that the Clinton/Gore team laid out in the 1990's.
I've always said that we need to depopulate the border areas to create a buffer zone. Looks like Kerry will accomplish this.
The only problem with his approach is that his plan will depopulate the border by inviting ALL of them to come to the US.
Isn't world socialism wonderful.
Voting for Kerry is treason.
And, sadly, the Pubbies support this plan because of the illusion of "cheap labor" providing "higher profits."
Memo to Carl Rove (for the twentieth time): You can never out-pander the Slave Party.
Kerry's now courting the illegal alien voters, just as he has been courting the terrorist's votes and the votes of those dead by terrorist's hands.
Here is a question for the Senator from France ... why wait for the 1st 100 days to introduce a bill? You have had the ability to do so for HOW many years? In all that time you haven't offered a single substantial piece of legislation, have you? Why should we think you can do so when elected?
bttt
One guy is offering a death by a million little cuts and the other offers death by an axe. Some choice.
Sadly, we've had people right here on this forum promoting both those bills. And those same "progressives" and big tenters tell *ME* to go to DU (when I bring up pure conservative principles)? The nerve! I say, all *Leftists*, no matter whether they have a "D" or an "R" by their name, can take a hike and go to DU, as far as I am concerned. And you can take that to the bank!
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