Posted on 05/30/2007 3:09:04 PM PDT by Baladas
COLUMBIA, S.C. --U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn won't support any type of amnesty in plans to overhaul immigration, but he said it may be unfair to force people to travel back to their native countries to apply to re-enter the United States legally.
"I don't think there's a quick fix to this. I don't think there's any simple way to deal with this. And I will not support amnesty for anybody, I mean, that would be rewarding bad behavior," said Clyburn, D-S.C., during a news conference Tuesday.
Clyburn also doesn't think it's fair to require some illegal immigrants to travel to West African nations under so-called touchback requirements before they apply to re-enter the U.S. legally. That would "send somebody back to some of these countries I don't think we want to send them back to," Clyburn said.
"I would love to see us do something with a friendly country that would set up an Ellis Island sort of process outside of the country for people to acknowledge they're in here illegally to then start the process of coming back in," Clyburn said.
One of the goals Clyburn pushed when he ran South Carolina's Human Affairs Commission was getting migrant workers to stay in South Carolina, using the state's schools and health agencies.
"Now all of the sudden, we're saying, you've got to go back," Clyburn said.
U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis, R-S.C., said he is hearing frustration over the immigration issue as he holds town hall meetings with constituents.
"We've got to take action," Inglis said. "They want it done yesterday - many yesterdays ago."
Inglis is opposed to amnesty. But he said requirements to pay fines, wait more than eight years to become a citizen and learn English don't sound like amnesty.
Clyburn said the House will work off the legislation drafted by U.S. Reps. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill.
"It is a lot different from the Senate bill because I think the Senate bill pays more attention to employer protections than they does to family stabilization. And I think that you have to do both," Clyburn said.
Clyburn also defended Democratic leadership plans to not renew federal tax breaks set to expire in 2010. Extending those or other breaks will depend on budget surpluses coming through a growing economy and it would be irresponsible to do right now, Clyburn said.
There is a quick fix - ENFORCE CURRENT LAW!
IMHO, ALL of this is much ado about nothing.
IMHO, if we’d just enforce all the existing laws 90% of the immigration problem would be solved.
We don’t need new laws. We don’t need all the acrimony created by the current bill.
Just enforce existing laws.
Close the door first and then we can talk.
There’s probably different ways to implement amnesty, but in a general sense, it’s allowing an illegal to stay and benefit.
Notice that this article also mentions that the House will take up the immigration issue using the STRIVE Act.
Of course those distinctions are no longer available to the GOP. The dems now control congress and amnesty to guest worker is no longer an option.
"It is a lot different from the Senate bill because I think the Senate bill pays more attention to employer protections than they does to family stabilization. And I think that you have to do both," Clyburn said."
Good eye, Ben..thanks :(
sw
sw
neer = never
Its kind of like being in jail for stealing a car... they pay a fine to avoid jail,but they also get to keep the car.
Exactly.
“Clyburn also doesn’t think it’s fair to require some illegal immigrants to travel to West African nations under so-called touchback requirements before they apply to re-enter the U.S. legally”
1. Why ever not? They managed to get to the US in the
first place without anyone’s help...
2. How about some “fair” for the American citizen tax-
payers who have to pay taxes and pay for these
criminal illegal aliens while the illegal aliens get a
free ride..and the REAL immigrants who just had
the green card and immigration filing fees
increased on them must still pay fees that the illegal
aliens dont have too....
Hey y’all ((( CANT WE ALL JUST BE FAIR )))
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.