Posted on 05/12/2006 5:47:27 PM PDT by ohioWfan
I’m going to try something entirely new to Free Republic………..start a thread restricted to practical, positive. pro-active things that this huge forum filled with good people who love this country can actually DO about helping to solve the illegal immigration problem, and how we can ‘encourage’ our leaders at all levels to get their acts together.
This is not a thread for venting or attacking (Heaven knows, that‘s been done plenty around here!). Let’s keep it entirely positive……..no attacks on the President and ‘Bushbots’ or the GOP………or on each other, from EITHER side. No threats to ’kick the GOP bums out’ …….we all know that the risk of having Dems in power is too great for that irresponsible threat. NO name-calling from EITHER side……..’Jorge‘ and ‘El Presidente‘ both qualify as disrespectful name-calling. (Perhaps we can all just ignore anyone who tries to turn this into a hostile thread, and punch the abuse button, but NOT engage in battle with him/her). Disagree, but be respectful about it.
What we really need are practical things we can do……with links to key Senate and Congressional offices, the White House, as well as STATE and LOCAL government offices, examples of THOUGHTFUL and POSITIVE letters to our leaders that will actually be read, and responded to. Phone numbers, and ideas for THOUGHTFUL and POSITIVE phone calls to leaders. What we also need are specific PRAYER requests for you, so that those of us who believe that our God is the God of the impossible can be on our knees in prayer for the details of this immense problem. We need fervent prayer for the President and Congress, as well as our State and Local authorities. And we need Freeper creativity!
We are LEGION, and together, I believe we can make a difference in moving this engine down the track more rapidly.
There are people who are very angry with the President and the Republicans in Congress, and people who still respect and admire the President greatly, and are angry with the Republicans in Congress……..and even some who are NOT angry with the Republicans in Congress (OK……..maybe not..... :)………..but we ALL want to end this invasion, and help our brothers and sisters in the Southwest to have their safe and normal lives return, and prevent the invasion from moving further.
Those of us outside the region may not understand what things are like, but we want to, so if those of you in the affected states could give us more details about how bad this is, without belittling us because we don’t live there, it would be much appreciated. We know it‘s bad, and we care about it, even though we cannot fully appreciate it from where we sit.
There is a great work force of pro-Bush people out in freeper lurker land who have been shoved out of the discussion by bashers. There are lots of us who want to know what’s going on, but wouldn’t go on a standard immigration thread if our lives depended on it, because the disdain for us there is palpable. We may agree with the idea of a guest worker program, or we may not, but we don‘t want to be labeled just because our ideas are different.
So…… LET US HELP YOU, PLEASE! We are activists, and we are willing to work.
Tell us what we can do. Let’s band together on this important issue to do whatever we can do to put pressure on Congress, the White House, state and local governments………polite, respectful pressure……….as well as encouraging them when they do make good decisions, and see what happens.
What do you think? Can we be pro-active and actually get something done? Can we discuss this without rancor, but with the common goal in mind to rescue our beloved country from invasion?
If you think so, please ping those who will, without personal attacks, tell us their stories, and let us get involved in getting something done. This thread is not to place blame, but to come up with solutions.
This is America………..and we are Freepers! Let’s ROLL!
You're right. While the whole sytem needs reforming, Visa tracking and overstays also need to be addressed:
Millions overstay legal visas while U.S. focuses on illegals
The Cox News Service ^ | April 3, 2006 | TERESA BORDEN
Posted on 04/03/2006 9:02:57 AM PDT by GarySpFc
ATLANTA — As the debate over the 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States continues in the Senate, a large group is getting overlooked: people who enter on legal visas and then never leave.
Known as visa overstays, these visitors make up between a third and a half of the illegal immigrants in this country, according to government reports — between 4 million and 6 million people.
(Excerpt) Read more at oxfordpress.com ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1608312/posts
A few months ago, two of my neighbors were raped, beaten, and robbed in their homes (these are ladies in their 60's and this is a very nice, well established neighborhood)
I have been hit twice by hit and runs and had to fork out over $1,400 dollars to repair my car because both were under my deductable (you have to have a pretty HIGH deductable just to afford insurance in Phoenix these days).
A couple of weeks ago, I stood barefoot in my very own kitchen with a gun pointed at the forehead of an illegal who was trying to break into house through the kitchen door. Turns out he was a car thief who was being pursued by the police, he did manage to get captured two doors down after he saw me with the gun pointed at him. I was lucky, he ran off, he could just as easily have broken in the door and I wouldn't be here today.
I am Sooooooo tired of this.
Absolutely AC! Our government only works by participation. I think as a whole we had forgotten. Our founding fathers warned us about the very thing. We need to make sure our children and future generations genuinely know this as well.
And if the border is tightened, the number of illegals using the overstay-visa method will increase.
The good news is we will know the identity of these illegals.
"They don't allow legal aliens to have any rights in their country (including owning real estate as I understand)
Making title to real property held by illegals subject to seizure would be a big step in the right direction."
Here's the exact language:
Article 27 states, "Only Mexicans by birth or naturalization and Mexican companies have the right to acquire ownership of lands, waters and their appurtenances, or to obtain concessions for the exploitation of mines or of waters."
If you haven't seen it, Frank Gaffney's article from early April outlining the 'rights' wrt aliens in Mexico is interesting. Here are 2 interesting ones in particular:
Article 11 guarantees federal protection against "undesirable aliens resident in the country." What is more, private individuals are authorized to make citizen's arrests. Article 16 states, "In cases of flagrante delicto, any person may arrest the offender and his accomplices, turning them over without delay to the nearest authorities." In other words, Mexico grants its citizens the right to arrest illegal aliens and hand them over to police for prosecution. Imagine the Minutemen exercising such a right.
• The Mexican constitution states that foreigners -- not just illegal immigrants -- may be expelled for any reason and without due process. According to Article 33, "the Federal Executive shall have the exclusive power to compel any foreigner whose remaining he may deem inexpedient to abandon the national territory immediately and without the necessity of previous legal action."
http://www.washtimes.com/commentary/20060403-091644-4215r.htm
I am very sorry to hear about your neighbors.
It's like a war zone down here sometimes, my friend. You did the right thing. Thankfully here in AZ they still respect (for the most part) our 2nd amendment, and we have the right to defend ourselves from harm, especially in our own home.
This has got to stop. And it's past overdue. I hope the Sheriff's Posse will make a dent, at least in our county. And I hope other counties will take notice and do the right thing, and enforce our state laws in this regard.
I agree w you. Though I just knew that the ACLU would have their noses all over the immigration issues.
"Does anyone know if there is anything about it in the House Bill?"
There doesn't appear to be. For reference,here are the House bill, the original senate bill and Frist's original proposal. Many have mentioned that the House wants to change 'felony' to a 'misdemeanor'. One thing that I forgot to add on my previous list (long, I know) is that any guest workers, aliens, etc. drviing must have insurance - -that has been a big issue in many accidents.
-----
A Look at Major Immigration Proposals
The Associated Press
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060328/ap_on_go_co/immigration_glance;_ylt=AqRWKGfyBYOJX37tebfT90ayFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--
Highlights of major immigration proposals in Congress:
___
Senate Judiciary Committee's bill:
_Allows illegal immigrants who were in the United States before 2004 to continuing working legally for six years if they pay a $1,000 fine and clear a criminal background check. They would become eligible for permanent residence upon paying another $1,000 fine, any back taxes and having learned English.
_New immigrants would have to have temporary work visas. They also could earn legal permanent residence after six years.
_Adds up to 14,000 new Border Patrol agents by 2011 to the current force of 11,300 agents.
_Authorizes a "virtual wall" of unmanned vehicles, cameras and sensors to monitor the U.S.-Mexico border.
_Creates a special guest worker program for an estimated 1.5 million immigrant farm workers, who can also earn legal permanent residency.
___
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's proposal:
_Requires all employers to verify the identity and immigration status of their employees through an electronic system.
_Assesses civil penalties of between $500 and $20,000 against employers for each illegal immigrant they hire and criminal penalties of up to $20,000 per illegal immigrant hired and up to six months in jail for engaging in a pattern of employing illegal workers.
_More than doubles the number of employment-based green cards, from 140,000 to 290,000, and makes more employment based visas available to unskilled workers. It also would free up other visas by exempting immediate relatives of U.S. citizens from being counted in the annual pool of 480,000 visas, and increase country-by-country ceilings on family sponsored and employment-based immigrants.
_Cancels visas of immigrants who have overstayed their visas and requires them to return to their home country to undergo additional screening at U.S. consulates.
_Makes it a misdemeanor crime for an immigrant to be in the country illegally.
_Increases the number of visas available for high-tech workers.
_Does not address President Bush's proposal for a guest worker program.
___
House bill passed in December:
_Requires all employers to use within six years a database to verify Social Security numbers of employees or face civil or criminal penalties for hiring illegal workers.
_Requires mandatory detention for all non-Mexican illegal immigrants arrested at ports of entry or at land and sea borders.
_Establishes mandatory sentences for smuggling illegal immigrants and for re-entering the United States illegally after deportation.
_Makes illegal presence in the country a felony.
_Makes a drunken driving conviction a deportable offense.
_Requires building two-layer fences along 700 miles of the 2,000-mile border between Mexico and the United States.
_Does not address President Bush's proposed guest worker program for illegal immigrants already in U.S.
54 posted on 03/27/2006 6:06:01 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Monthly Donor spoken Here. Go to ... https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1604345/posts?page=54#54
242 posted on 03/28/2006 7:36:27 AM PST by Seattle Conservative (God bless and protect our troops and their CIC.)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1604568/posts?page=242#242
In this case, it would be H R Clintoned...even worse.
Yes it would and yes it would be!!!!!
You would think people that proclaim they will stay home and those that say they would vote "other" to make a statement would be aware of the consequences.
Phoenix has always had rough areas, but I don't live in one of those. I live in a very well maintained little gem of a neighborhood. My house was been on the garden tour for years. When a place like this becomes vulnerable we're really in trouble. Even our policeman for the neighborhood watch doesn't know what to say anymore. He's almost embarrassed to come to the meetings and give out the statistics.
I just heard a brief bit about Goldwater on the radio the other day. As I understand it, among other things, he's Barry's nephew, is for strong border patrol and is even a Minuteman. Sounds like a pretty good guy.
I have. And at a place named McCoys, but I doubt if they're nationwide. Have also bought at Home Depot, Lowe's, KMart, Sears, and all the places somebody said to boycott. But I don't do REGULAR business with them. My frequent, repeat business is with WalMart, McCoys, and an old fashioned hardware store close to me named Bible Hardware. Not kidding...BIBLE.
Thanks for that info, SC.
Wondering what 'Bible hardware' might be........the full armor of God? :)
WOW! I am so sorry for all you've been through and so glad you survived. Thank you for sharing your horrific story. BTW - I hope the bugger is in a tough slammer or at Sherrif Joe's (he IS the MAN!)
"The ACLU is playing it's usual deceit game."
Yes, and this time the AFL-CIO is going along w them (they need to keep/acquire more members to keep the dues coming in so they can keep the fat cats happy and donate to the Dims).
I think this about the Schiavo difference.
A young woman's life hung in the balance. Jim is so very, very prolife. But yes, some of them got very anti-GOP (I was pro-Terri's family but not ready to ditch all Republicans). The difference is they weren't a serious political threat in an election year when our country's very survival could be at stake if the Democrats take control of America and never give it back. At least I think that is what Jim fears, and he is reacting to the situation he perceives right now.
My take, FWIW.
If you leave them in the United States you perpetuate the problems. We have too many, too fast.
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