Posted on 07/14/2007 7:23:33 PM PDT by Tennessee Nana
Robert Divine, former chief counsel of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, told the Rotary Club of Chattanooga Thursday that there needs to be a multifaceted approach to addressing the immigration issue in America.
Mr. Divine served part of his time with the agency as acting director and also as acting deputy director. He said that people will find a way to come to the United States since there is a demand for work here and a supply of workers south of the border.
"We do not have the will and the resources, in my opinion, to put toward a border … that can on its own prevent (illegal immigration) from happening," he said at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
Mr. Divine was appointed by President Bush as chief counsel of the immigration services and served in that capacity in Washington, D.C., from July 2004 until November 2006.
Mr. Divine, who now works in Chattanooga and leads the immigration group for law firm Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC, said it is essential to have mechanisms for employment verification and allowances for some people to stay in America.
"I've never heard anybody who's in charge of immigration enforcement ever say that they thought that they could deport 10 million people," he said.
The U.S. Senate last month prevented an immigration reform bill from moving ahead in the chamber.
Many opponents of the bill rejected its path to citizenship for illegal immigrants currently in the United States.
Mr. Divine said that the debate over amnesty for illegal immigrants is really "a pretext for nativism and protectionism."
"It's not really about 'the law must be the law,' " he said.
After hearing the talk, Bill Chapin, of Lookout Mountain, Ga., said Mr. Divine's "discussion showed the complexity of the issue."
"There is no single answer for such an emotional and complicated situation," he said.
E-mail Michael Davis at michaeld@timesfreepress.com
Which, to me, at least, is fine if it is free of pejorative. Respect is earned, not bestowed by default. I'd love to hear your solution to the problem, free of amorphously labeling those of us concerned about our futures as "racist", "nativist", etc. All ears.
Well for starters try the fact that the Senate switchboards were shut down due to angy calls from constituants the day the Senate was to vote on the infamous "Shamnesty" bill (I refer to it as the day the people spoke)...or the various localities around the country (being added to by the day) that are enacting their own legislation regarding illegal aliens..that is leading to exodus...and ultimately (if enough follow their lead) a thing referred to as "self-deportation"..(I agree with those who say you don't really need mass deportation..."remove the sugar from the table and the ants will go away on their own...) you don't have to look far for evidence my friend... and I'm not going to waste my time regurgitating what is being offered here in these threads...
Still trying to get your own little illegal, papers I see.
Of course I was born in this country from parents born in this country...but I'm sure that doesn't matter to you.
How’s that preamble to the Constitution go again?
Sorry, I got distracted for a minute, but I think that’s the entire idea.
Thanks for posting...many aren't aware of this....:o)
Nice to meet you Jorge.
Being kind I'll say half of that money is paid under the table. Probably more .Is it decent that these people escape taxation while sucking dry our schools and hospitals?
They're paying taxes on everything they buy and every commercial transaction just like everyone else, and you don't know what's under the table and what's not.
Plenty of natural born citizens work under the table for that matter.
IJ..
Did you hear something, for a minute there I thought I heard a strange annoying noise.
I wonder..
I’ll have a rum runner please? Did you bring the guacamole and oreo’s?
You've never heard me label all who disagree with me on this as "racist", "nativist", etc. AT ANY TIME.
Have a reading problem? I said tyring to get your own little illegal, his papers, you admitted on a post some time back that you had an illegal that you did not want to see deported. So he's your own little illegal! And you are still trying to protect a pos law breaker.
Thank you. Same here. I've enjoyed our disagreement. You're OK.
LmAo. Thank you, I needed that.
I’m out of rum, Cutie. This is a healthy debate. No worries.
Still, my favorite Cantina is open for at least another hour - there’s no substitute for guacamole on flank steak.
Ok. If you say so.
You really need to try to brush up on your English cause your post really didn't make sense.
Sorry!
We do not have the will and the resources, in my opinion, to put toward a border....<
Mr. Divine can take a long walk off a short pier! What the dickens does he think the American people just mandated? It’s the government that doesn’t have the will, and the resources are therea all right. Just like a stupid liberal to start name calling when the people do not agree with him!
Deal. I’ll bring the oreo’s.
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America
“Mr. Divine was appointed by President Bush as chief counsel of the immigration services and served in that capacity in Washington, D.C., from July 2004 until November 2006.”
All I need to know....he is a TRAITOR!!
WE the poeple of the UNITED STATES.... WEW for a second there I thought it said of the North American Union or something.
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