Posted on 08/10/2007 8:14:18 PM PDT by LouAvul
WASHINGTON (AP) -- 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.
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," Bush said as the changes were announced.
Presidential spokeswoman Dana Perino said 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 -- Bush hadn't done them already.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Because Jorge has a hidden agenda that doesn't include loyalty to America.
Truth.
Its all smoke and mirrors people. Don’t be fooled, Buch and Congress want as many as many ilegals as they can cram into our country. It they really wanted to enforce our immigraton laws especially after 911, they would have done it. Don’t beleive them, not yet.
Having the Commerce secretary and Cherty in cahoots does not breed a great deal of confidence in some or any accomplishment in this field. Look for more dithering and blathering—followed by an announcement that everything on the border is just keen.
Then in 3 months look for a repeat amnesty push by the usual cast of clowns.
Build the fence, arm the thing, and then bring up new proposals, please.
Outstanding news. Glad Bush is doing something - anything.
Dohn’ need no more stinkin’ laaws.
Jus’ need more stinkin’ BADGES to enforce the ones we got.
(Mebbie some FENCES, too?)
What say, Jorge?
Man is Bush ever out to lunch on this issue. It’s absolutely disgusting.
We won't get fooled again.
A conspicuous absence in all the stories on this announcement by the White House is that of the uprising of the masses as the cause of Congress’ “failure.”
Guess pulling the Guard from the border is part of the White house strategy.
a plan to administratively sanction employers who hire illegal immigrants.
“administratively”????????
there’s the weasel word for this PR concoction
Why is this so hard for them to accomplish? Just follow the law; not their private, and I mean private(they are playing with the futures and lives of Americans)agendas.
When the illegals are back in their countries of origin; I will believe it. We should demand that we not pay for these criminals anymore.
I’ve got to give the President a hands up OK here.
The do nothing Congress will have to eat their words. They could have passed just getting the fence done, but they wouldn’t even do that.
This is going to be interesting!
Popcorn anyone?
Speaking of immigration issues,you think El Presidente will ever pardon Ramos and Compean for doing their jobs as border guards ???
I read it...I saw BS in every line of wording. So much BS that it would have taken all night to post a line by line commentary, so I’ll leave it at simply BS.
No AMNESTY period.
Seriously,I’m impressed. Can we all hold hands and have a “Day in the Life of President Bush” right about now ???
Just makes it easier for the credit card companies to track down dead beats. As of right now, 40% of L.A.'s economy is off the books anyway.
Needless to say, I don't trust the President as far as I can throw his LBJ worshiping body.
“Because Jorge has a hidden agenda that doesn’t include loyalty to America.”
I do have to admit that Dubya is a committed guy.
Committed to ILLEGALS, no matter where they come from.
Bush ‘committed to illegal Irish’
BBC News ^ | 8/10/07 | BBC
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1879206/posts?page=1
Yet another thread to express your "FEELINGS" about our President.
Make us proud!!
We don’t have to try real hard, GW does it for us !!!
The Mexican government might have old pictures of then UN Ambassador Bush’s son on one of his lost weekends in Mej-he-co.
Just a guess.
Of course the media talking points here are: "What was a fifteen year old girl doing being unsupervised anyway".
“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.”
Given the facts, that’s quite an insult to the Senate.
I guess the White House thinks they can get away with that since the Senate is on vacation, IIRC.
You know, it might be a dastardly plan to deter the Senate to pass new funding laws for enforcement!
Attention BUSH BASHERS!!!
My friend, you might find the amnesty supporters in the Senate bashing Bush after these comments about them.
I wonder if they are going to do anything about these cities that give illegals sanctuary?
A young girl killed by an illegal,that’s not important to President Bush or PISANO. What’s important is cheap labor for American businesses and the hispanic vote.Anything else doesn’t mean sh*t to a tree !!!
“administratively”????????
Maybe Bush cannot “act” alone to make harden criminal sanctions.
It might be a devious plan — seeing that Kyl, Graham, etc. have sponsored a new bill that hardens penalties and provides new funding, bush can circumvent those by concocting relatively lighter restrictions.
Whatever is going on, insulting the Senate like that is not polite.
Hahahaha - In other words, “Hey all you businesses who are employing illegals...well, we’re sorry, we really had hoped Congress would pass our amnesty bill so your “illegals” would magically be “legals”, but they dropped the ball, so you could be in trouble now! Don’t forget to vote Republican though!”
“Glad Bush is doing something - anything.”
If you don’t think this is a prelude to another attempt at an amnesty bill, you are missing something. He decides to enforce the laws for a bit so that he can use that to counter detractors who say laws should be enforced and illegals deported before any wholesale “reform” is enacted.
That was passed and funded last year, what do you want, the congress to order jorge fulfill his oath of office.
Does anyone really think the administration will get tough? I expect a few token busts for the cameras and no more. They’ve had seven years to enforce the border laws of this country and I don’t see them starting now.
Blah blah blah blah blah.....
Sorry. I leave mind-reading to others and take this on face value.
Malkin and some others seem to have BDS. I guess it is not just the left.
Well, I'll be... How about that.
I'll believe it when the anchor baby thingy goes away.
I'll believe it when all government forms are printed in English only.
I’ll believe it when I see buses lined up to enter Mexico to take back all the trash that has come across our border illegally and huge penalties levied on whoever hires these illegals.....
There’s a huge difference between Mercy and Justice. Any good soul doesn’t mind being Merciful to refugees who are law abiding. Citizens will favor Justice for those who know no law and are in a prosperous country only to profit from illegal activity. Voters know the difference and so will newly naturalized citizens. This discernment will separate the goats from the sheep in finding issue of right and wrong concerning illegal aliens.
Anyone have any confidence in this administration when it comes to border security?
How about protecting our borders?
Great job there Mr. President.
Heck of a job your doin’ Georgie, keep it up.
> Sorry. I leave mind-reading to others and take this on face value.
Get ready for Lucy to yank the football away one more time.
Ignore Jorge’s history on this at your peril.
Whatever.
Amen and right on!
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