Posted on 08/10/2007 4:46:04 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
(AP) WASHINGTON -- A crackdown on illegal immigration will have to go forward without help from Congress, the Bush administration said Friday, asserting that an executive-branch-only approach is better than doing nothing.
Two Cabinet secretaries — Homeland Security's Michael Chertoff and Commerce's Carlos Gutierrez — said they hoped to have new tools to combat illegal immigration before moving further to cope with the problem. But Congress could not agree on comprehensive legislation to attack the problem.
The officials said they'll rely instead on tools already in their arsenal, some of which are already under way, including a plan to administratively sanction employers who hire illegal immigrants.
At a joint news conference, Chertoff and Gutierrez put the onus on Congress for any consequences that may be suffered by employers as result of the stepped-up enforcement effort.
"Our hope is that key elements of the Senate bill will see the light of day someday. But until Congress chooses to act, we are going to be taking some energetic steps of our own," Chertoff said. The steps will "significantly strengthen our hand with respect to immigration enforcement."
The White House emphasized that its package of enforcement changes was all it could do under "existing law" — the same law that President Bush has repeatedly called unacceptable.
"Although the Congress has not addressed our broken immigration system by passing comprehensive reform legislation, my administration will continue to take every possible step to build upon the progress already made," Mr. Bush said as the changes were announced.
Presidential spokeswoman Dana Perino said Mr. Bush has used his executive authority in the past to improve immigration enforcement, such as by strengthening border enforcement. She was pressed on why — if the new changes were such a good idea — Mr. Bush hadn't done them already.
Perino, talking to reporters at the Kennebunkport, Maine, seaside home of his father, George H.W. Bush, said the president held off on sweeping administrative action while pushing Congress to pass better legislation to address the matter. With that effort now sidelined, she said "We're going as far as we possibly can without Congress acting." enforcement.
The administration rolled out a proposed rule that will mandate employers to fire employees unable to clear up problems with their Social Security numbers 90 days after they've been notified of such discrepancies in so-called "no match letters." Employers who fail to comply will face possible criminal fines and sanctions.
"This regulation lays out a clear pattern for doing the right thing which will afford protection for employers," Chertoff said. The new rule will be effective in 30 days.
Recognizing that the crackdown could hurt some industries — particularly agriculture, where more than half of workers are believed to be undocumented — Gutierrez said the Labor Department will try to make existing temporary seasonal agriculture worker and non-agriculture worker programs easier to use and more efficient.
In addition, Chertoff said he will try to use the department's regulatory authority to raise fines on employers by about 25 percent. Current fines are so modest that some companies consider them a cost of doing business, the agency said in a summary of the new enforcement effort.
The administration also wants to expand the list of international gangs whose members are automatically denied admission to the U.S., reduce processing times for immigrant background checks, and install by the end of the year an exit system so the departure of foreigners from the country can be recorded at airports and seaports.
The Homeland Security Department will ask states to voluntarily share their driver's license photos and records with the agency for use in an employment verification system. The sharing is meant to help employers detect fraudulent licenses.
Some of the initiatives are similar to proposals contained in the recent immigration measure which failed to pass in the Senate, though they are not nearly as sweeping.
Mr. Bush suffered a major political defeat when Senate immigration legislation that he had backed and Chertoff and Gutierrez helped draft failed to pass this year.
Senate Republican Mitch McConnell of Kentucky offered a different view of Congress' work on immigration, saying the White House and the Capitol heard the call of "countless, well-informed Americans" who wanted improved enforcement of border security and immigration laws.
He said the billions of dollars that Congress added for immigration enforcement and the administration's "enhanced commitment" on immigration enforcement will secure borders.
But Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, said the administration "can talk until they're blue in the face" but "I won't be happy until I see action that's more than just a press conference and words on a piece of paper."
The Senate legislation was opposed by many conservatives, who complained that people don't trust their government to start new immigration programs since existing immigration laws are not enforced.
The Senate bill would have allowed millions of illegal immigrants to obtain legal status and eventually apply for legal residency. It also would have created a guest worker program and stepped up border security.
Some lawmakers have kept up efforts to tighten the border. Last month, the Senate added $3 billion to a homeland security bill and devoted the money to U.S.-Mexico border security.
Let me see ... was that Mr. Jeckle or Dr. Hyde?
It’s about time - I can see why Grassley is skeptical, but better late than never.
Another indicator that the WH finally got it.
Hmm....anyone think that someone from the RNC sat the President down for a come to Jesus meeting about what he was doing to the base?
So when can we expect the "executive order" requiring the Social Security administration to connect their computer files of non-matching SS numbers to ICE's investigatory branch???
All those folks ARE part of the executive branch, and subject directly to the president's authority---no congressional action needed.
Let’s build the fence and start deportations.
How about shutting off the spigot by building a fence amd moat etc etc
“Clear and Present Danger “
A crackdown on illegal immigration? So THATS what Bush meant by 'comprehensive reform'. /s
Anyone think that it's too late to repair what he's done to the base?
After what this man has done to the country, I certainly hope he managed to pay off whatever debt he owed. Because this infection is going to hurt us for generations.
All they have to do is visit Bellflower, Ca. Nearly half are illegal and they’re just walking the streets. Won’t take much to round ‘em up.
Same story posted here http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1879369/posts
That's it...25 percent?? If current fines are so modest, raising them only 25% will hardly make a difference. How about a raise of 2500% and loss of license and possible jail time for the employers...that ought to scare enough employers to make a serious dent in illegal employment.
The burden of proof is on Bush, as his credibility on the issue is not strong.
No, is still as pro-amnesty as ever. Many in Congress told the president that they want enforcement first before they will consider any amnesty. Realizing this the president probably sat down and decided that the only way to get amnesty ram amnesty through congress is by making it look like he is enforcing the law. He will pretend to have secured the borders superficially and then ask Congress to give him an amnesty.
In the Metro Kansas City area they are thick as can be, pulling up to the local DMV to register their cars, get driver's licenses, with interpreters, and everywhere else.
The very idea that they are going to give employers 90 days in which time to correct their records on Social Security FRAUD and not to charge each and every illegal using stolen IDS with felonies, shows just how "intent" they are on gettiing businesses to put pressure on Congress to legalize their workforces before harsh penalties become a reality.
This is nothing but CYA on the governments part.
It’s been reported, and a new report just released *Monday* that has further documented the fact that Mexican gangs and Mexican drug cartels are assisting terrorist. How long ago was 9/11/01? How many thousands of TONS of drugs have been smuggled in, how many truckloads of human cargo have been smuggled in....And God knows what else has been smuggled in, in the past 6 years? And this is not to mention the millions of unknowns that have entered during Bush’s watch.
All this during wartime?
And all of a sudden they have a plan?
From a national security standpoint, this is embarrassing .
Michael Chertoff was touted as a savior when he took over but nothing is working and the future dosen’t look to bright from where I sit here on the border.
But Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, said the administration “can talk until they’re blue in the face” but “I won’t be happy until I see action that’s more than just a press conference and words on a piece of paper.”
Let’s build the fence and start deportations.
I agree with you and the Senator. I’m not all excited about it-I’m sure there’s a whole school of rotten stinky fish wrapped up in that paper too!
So now after seven years of inaction on border security, and being shot down on his amnesty/slave labor bill, President Arbusto want's to "crackdown" on illegal immigration? Give me a break. Build the fence. Pardon the Border Patrol agents, and fire the prosecutor in that case. And quit angling for a new amnesty bill.
Uh...born in Cuba, raised in Mexico, career in Mexico, never came to the U.S. until he was promoted Jefe de Kellog's.
Utterly beyond ridiculous. The phrase "fox guarding the henhouse" doesn't even begin to describe the insanity of having this guy talk about "pertectin' the border".
Might as well have one of the Salinas brothers up there.
LLS
“With that effort now sidelined, she said “We’re going as far as we possibly can without Congress acting.”
So they’ll be building the full 800+ miles of fencing Congress authorized and the President signed into law ten months ago, of which only a few miles has been built so far?
Not believing one word this administration says about the enforcement of immigration law. Only fully inspected and independently verified progress will be taken seriously, well after said progress has been completed and verified.
(Just waiting for the whining press conference a few months from now about what unbelievable progress has been made in enforcement, and how we simply must now grant shamnesty to the 12 - 20 million illegals.)
The same happens here. At McCarthur Park in L.A., illegals know where to get phoney documents and no one does anything about it. On the streets, they drive like TiJuana taxis. They drive in bike lanes and over mediums. It’s getting so bad the locals are starting to drive like them or get run-over.
Hope it’s not a ‘close the libraries so people will complain to get a budget passed’ type of deal where the admin thinks that if they cause ‘pain’ then people will think that they really don’t want enforcement and then accept amnesty. In other words is this a sincere effort or just a misguided belief that people will recant what the admin believes are their impetuous desires once their food prices go up a penny a pound?
Thought this might help
Pardon me for being cynical, but I find this highly suspicious.
President Bush has had almost eight years to do something about this (like, enforce existing laws; hey there’s an idea!) and he’s done nada.
Why, all of a sudden is this so all fired important to him?
This whole thing about blaming Congress is a cop-out. What the White House wanted was amnesty in order for them to keep doing nothing.
Last time I checked the Constitution, the Executive was in charge of enforcement. The Congress has already passed the required laws, so Bush's "new approach" is essentially to recognize those laws.
As for being better than nothing, does he mean no enforcement or no extra laws. The former is obvious, while the latter is laughable.
You could add.....”Have a Nice Day! (smile)
The VampireBill approach is too tough...time to try Stealth Amnesty!
“Possible” criminal fines and sanctions?
Yeah, that’ll do it!
George and Karl: The Snooker Brothers.
I remember Bellflower in the 1950s and early 1960s. It was a nice community, with young families (Americans and legal newcomers) setting down roots to experience the American Dream. Then, the illegals came in — in droves — and destroyed it. Just like they’ve destroyed every damn place they came to. They have no allegiance to America. They scoff at American laws and American traditions. They scoff at American and Americans in general. I know. I grew up in Southern California. And I saw first hand the destruction wrought by the army of illegals.
They use OUR social security numbers, and f**k up our records! They bankrupt our public services, trash our communities, commit heinous crimes like there’s no tomorrow...and they’re still here?
Americans are at the point where they’re going to remedy this problem themselves, since it’s obvious the government has dropped the ball on this — big time.
Planning, readying, ordering, preparing; when is he actually going to DO IT???
Is he maybe expecting all kinds of outrage so that he will not HAVE to do it?
“The same happens here. At McCarthur Park in L.A., illegals know where to get phoney documents and no one does anything about it. On the streets, they drive like TiJuana taxis. They drive in bike lanes and over mediums. It’s getting so bad the locals are starting to drive like them or get run-over.”
You mention something I’ve thought about several times, and maybe you answered it. But the flourishing illegal document business is often mentioned. Are there ever any prosecutions and convictions of those who produce and sell forged/illegal documents for illegal aliens? Or is this just another part of the illegal alien industry that is deliberately ignored and allowed to flourish?
I went to St. John Bosco and left in ‘82. I came back in ‘97 after serving in the Navy. I still live here to be close to my aging in-laws. But this place is certainly different.
If he does the right thing it'll be because he did so either a) by accident or b) his keepers are again manipulating him for their hidden agenda.
I hope whatever he got paid for forfeiting America's sovereignty was worth it.
So, El Jefe Boosh needs a better plan?
The Emperor has no clothes.
why doesn’t bush boy just enforce the existing laws.
and meanwhile work on health care before comrade hillary takes over and ruins the economy with universal health care.
i’m tired of paying taxes to pay for mexican health care when i don’t have health care myself.
Over the past year I have heard of arrests. They showed piles of blank IDs and drivers licenses on TV, but that by no means puts a dent in the problem. There are more to take their place because it’s lucrative.
Few obey the laws here.
I thought illegal immigration was the problem---what's the "problem," now?
Nope. This smacks of extortion. He's threatening the anti-amnesty senators from ag states.
Oh--if only, if only--GWBush had been as passionate about reforming social security, as he is about being the president of Mexican nationals...
I see you have a bad case of BDS... sorry it clouds your vision to the point that you cannot see the good things he has done. You are no better than harry reid! I’ll bet you think kerry and Bush would have been no different. Maybe YOU would have preferred kerry.
LLS
This is actually an extremely shrewd move. Congress made a collective arse of itself. The Democrat Congress’s poll ratings are lower than the president’s, which are actually rising as the surge seems to be working, so he is emphasizing that his Administration can get things done and the Democrat Congress cannot. AND, he is enforcing the laws his base, or former base, has wanted all along. Just very shrewd.
“They scoff at American laws and American traditions”
Our liberals agree with that idea, afterall, if they came here to accept the American Way of life, that would only be because evil America would have destroyed their “diversity.” That’s evil to expect people to come here and act like Americans, because America is evil, according to our politically correct instititutions where all the snooty liberals are educated at. They put all their hope and faith in education and so can be educated about anything that is being taught. Liberals don’t believe in God, so it’s easy to teach them whatever you want, it doesn’t matter if it’s right or not, because they have no core beliefs to guide them, they are an open book, and the rest of us are stupid. They are stupid!
I voted for Bush both times so you have no right to say such a thing. Bush has done this to himself, to the party, and to the country. This flood of criminal aliens (currently numbering somewhere between 14 and 30 million I might add) is going to destroy the future of America, and it's all thanks to Bush.
So you can save your pompous attitude for someone else because Bush gets no accolades from me. He's the worst president since Carter, and that takes some doing.
LLS
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