Insecure Borders: Let’s Give Blame Where Blame Is Due

The Family Security Foundation, Inc. ^ | 7/23/07 | Peter Gadiel

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

Oops. Forgot to add that Bush began these talks on February 15, 2001, less than one month after being inaugurated.

I guess this was pretty important to him because it was one of his first acts as President.

[RichRepublican]

It took this long of an article just to say “It’s Bush’s fault”?

[MEGoody]

:::sigh::: You are still just arguing for the sake of arguing.

[Guenevere]

Hunter said CIR held border control enforcement as a bargaining tool ....(he was on Hannity last night)

[stephenjohnbanker]

I know how you feel, OKIEDOC!

Bush has done nothing but promote illegal immigration

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

::sigh::: You are still just arguing for the sake of arguing.

LOL! I can't really say that I blame you. I wouldn't want to go on record defending Bush on immigration, either.

[MEGoody]

LOL You are still arguing just for the sake of arguing.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

You are still arguing just for the sake of arguing.

As long as we're bumping this back to the top, we might as well educate the folks about Bush's record, eh?

This is what Bush was doing while America's back was turned:

New Alliance Task Force

2006 Finalist
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation of Chicago

Award Sponsor
Innovations in American Government Awards

Without access to banking services, even small necessities, like paying rent, incur high costs. For the "unbanked," payments are often made with an expensive cashier's check and paychecks cashed through predatory services that charge high fees. It is difficult and dangerous to save money when it must be kept at home, increasing the incentive to consume and placing the purchase of houses, cars, and even most large appliances out of reach. For 75 percent of Mexican immigrants living in the United States--and nearly one third of immigrants from all Latin American countries--these difficulties are part of daily life.

As in other immigrant communities around the country, the large Hispanic community of Chicago, composed of recent documented and undocumented immigrants, faced such financial problems. Most were without banking services, paying high premiums to predatory financial businesses such as check-cashing services. Then, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) stepped in.

The FDIC branch in Chicago initially intended to fulfill one part of the 2001 "Partnership for Prosperity" agreement between the U.S. and Mexico. The agreement urged the U.S. to seek alternatives to the high-cost wire transfers to Mexico that many immigrants used to send money to families back home. Joining with the Mexican Consulate of Chicago, the FDIC created the New Alliance Task Force (NATF).

It was clear to members of the NATF that wire transfers were only the symptom of a larger problem: lack of access to financial services. Drawing on a coalition of 65 people from banks, mortgage industry representatives, community organizations, federal bank oversight agencies, and other government agencies, the NATF sought a comprehensive solution.

Four major working groups targeted specific problems; they addressed access to financial education, bank products and services, mortgage products, and social products. Each group developed specific strategies as well as programs to implement them.

In some cases, these solutions required dramatic change. Many immigrants lacked identification, which is usually required to open up even basic checking accounts. The NATF helped to sell the Matricula Consular card, issued by the Mexican consulate, as a valid form of banking identification. Partner banks began to accept income tax records to substantiate loan applications.

Other solutions employed common sense. Many in the immigrant population were suspicious of both banks and government presence in their lives. The NATF worked to overcome this by positioning bank representatives in the Mexican Consulate. As new immigrants waited in line for their identification cards, they heard about the benefits of banking.

The NATF's comprehensive programs helped nearly 160,000 immigrants to open bank accounts. Many thousands more received financial counseling, mortgage assistance, and other forms of support.

The success in Chicago has already prompted the FDIC to bring the NATF's innovations to other districts. Programs are underway in Charlotte/Raleigh, Boston, Austin, Kansas City and Los Angeles. More FDIC districts are scheduled to adopt similar initiatives.

Contact Information
Luke W. Reynolds
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection
1333 S Mayflower Ave., Suite 450
Monrovia, CA 91016
(626) 359-7152 ex. 4115
lureynolds@fdic.gov

[Kimberly GG]

Thanks ODT, you’re right on all counts. Bush had it in for us all along.

I’ve been outraged about the Trilateral agreement since I first learned of the details of it via a FOIA. I became permanently disabled almost 4 years ago after a 25 year career in a Corporate office in Cleveland. I collect SSD and would not have been eligible for it had I not worked 10 years full time, not a mere 18 months. I must tell you, it irks me to no end to have to press 1 for English whenever I call the SSA. I am also convinced that illegals applying for benefits is the reason for the 3 1/2 year delay it took from date of application to get a hearing date before a judge (lasted 1 hr and I was given a favorable bench decision due to the seriousness of my condition) and another almost 6 months for receipt of backpay. In 2003, Ohio had a backlog of over 10,000 applications and I hear it is like this all over the country. Other assistance in Ohio is very limited and I believe it is due to the number of illegal aliens collecting benefits. Any single person who is elderly or disabled and meets the income/asset guidelines qualifies for only $115 a month living expenses and medicaid, because the majority of the funds are being distributed to others that include illegal alien families (who are probably double-dipping and paying no taxes). Applications state that proof of citizenship is needed.... only by citizens!

There are many reasons for my active involvement in the defeat of CIR, but the destruction of SS is one that will have an immediate life/death affect on me personally.

I heard today how difficult it is going to be for those with even pretty good credit to secure a mortgage. Yet I’d be willing to bet that illegal aliens will still be given them and at better interest rates than American citizens.

I’ve also just heard that Bush will probably veto the bill that was passed Thursday, almost unanimously, for funding of the border security. I’ve been suspicious about the bill since I saw the voting results. Clearly, those who were never in favor of “security first”, knowingly used it as an no-risk opportunity to vote in favor of it.

[Lancey Howard]

"Each time I speak with a person whose family has been shattered by the violent act of an illegal alien, an illegal who almost invariably has had numerous previous encounters with the law, I wonder anew what kind of man it is who occupies the White House and tolerates, and by that tolerance encourages, these crimes. What kind of man is this who lifts not a finger to acknowledge his role in these acts of violence and refuses to take action to prevent future crimes?"

[Kimberly GG]

“Hunter said CIR held border control enforcement as a bargaining tool “

Really? Hunter was just being nice...imo, it was outright blackmail. In fact, I just heard that Bush will probably veto the bill that was passed yesterday, almost unanimously, for more border security funding.

[Guenevere]

Where did you hear this Kim?....not that I doubt you.

[Kimberly GG]

I heard that he would probably veto it on CNN today.

[lonestar67]

It is perfectly consistent with his style of governance found in Texas as governor.

here again both in 2000 and 2004 so called conservatives had an option to punish Bush by choosing someone they viewed as more reliable. It was the best available option in both cases.

Moreover, Bush has proven to be a demonstrable success in conservative political results:

1. Large tax cuts
2. Active defense of pro life principals
3. Strong response to 911
4. Strength as Commander in Chief
5. Conservative Supreme Court appointments

Make the world more conservative, but stop bashing Bush— it does no good to conservative causes. It also undermines our war on terror.

[Kimberly GG]

Spare me.

He is a ‘conservative’ Republican President who has sold out not just our Party, but the entire country. His doing, not mine.

As a tool for the Bipartisan OBL, his refusal to secure our borders leaves us vulnerable and at risk of loosing our sovereignty and security.

And any ‘demonstrable successes’ of which you speak, will all be for naught should we lose the WOT in our own backyards.

‘08 is a critical election. Unless we shine a spotlight on the past, we are doomed to repeat our mistakes in the future. Settling or making a fear-based choice will get us nothing but the same old, same old and the time has come when we MUST instead support and elect the best and most qualified man for POTUS and CIC, Duncan Hunter.

[Guenevere]

Thanks Kim

[Guenevere]

Well said, Kimberly.

Lonestar, in every one of your posts you continue to defend the President.....

..Did you know....or do you care to know...I too defended him right up to May 17, 2007.

I not only defended his every action...(or at least ignored some glaring ones I disliked)..

..I worked to get this man elected in my own little burg...

..I traveled to West Palm when it looked like his 'win' was in peril....

..I have supported him to the nth degree....

..but like Kimberly GG, I have seen the truth about him, and it is sadly disappointing (to put it mildly).

What a guilt trip you impose by saying we aren't supporting our military if we doubt our CIC.

We are Patriots.

We love and support our military 1000 percent!....and I, for one, never doubted a single edict or plan of his for the WOT until the day I realized he was ready to ruthlessly hand over our nation to those who have come here illegally....fully knowing terrorists have just as much an opportunity to enter through our porous borders as well as drug smugglers, etc.

We, as Patriots, also love and support our homes, our families, the future of our sovereignty as a nation...

..and are horrified that our nation's borders are not being defended and secured....

..that laws are being ignored.

[MEGoody]

LOL You just really love to argue. Ah, well, I guess everyone has to have a hobby.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

Thankfully, the Totalization agreement still hasn't been submitted to congress to begin the formalization process, so the SSA is still prohibited under federal law from giving illegals (and their families back home in Mexico) benefits. If it were to go into effect, it would set aside federal law and allow the illegals to start collecting benefits.

It looks like a lot of other people are beginning to get really mad about the illegal alien situation, too. The in-your-face demands for citizenship by the illegals attending the early rallies sort of had the opposite effect of what was intended because they opened America's eyes to just how widespread the problem really was and just how little the Bush administration was doing. Bush's talk about national security rings hollow now that it's apparent that he's let anyone and everyone cross America's southern border, then let them stay here with no real interior enforcement during his two terms in office.

One bright spot in the sub-prime lending debacle is that the avenues for illegals obtaining home loans are narrowing. The bummer is that the American taxpayer will probably have to pick up the tab.

Thanks for the head's up about the upcoming 'bill signing'. I'll keep an eye on it.

[lonestar67]

Support Duncan Hunter.

Drop your bogus claims about Bush.

Our President has done an excellent job and has been true to his word.

He offered a compromise of increased enforcement. You and your pals rejected it as purists.

Bush has never pretended to be the border hardliner that you act like he must be. He is not Pat Buchannan. That is why he was elected— unlike Pat.

I am not going to treat President Bush like a traitor, because he is not a traitor.

I am not going to treat President Bush like he has forfeited our sovereignty because he has not.