Posted on 06/25/2012 2:19:34 PM PDT by mdittmar
Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding the Supreme Court’s decision on Arizona’s SB 1070. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:
Today, the Supreme Court correctly struck down the vast majority of the mean-spirited Arizona immigration law.
And while I agree with the Court’s decision to invalidate three troubling provisions of Arizona’s flawed law, I am concerned that the Court would leave any part of this law in place.
The justices upheld a measure that allows police to conduct immigration checks on anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally – even if their only evidence is an accent or skin color.
Allowing Arizona to keep its “papers please” system of immigration checks invites racial profiling.
And it gives Arizona officials free rein to detain anyone they suspect of being in the state without documentation.
As long as this provision remains, innocent American citizens are in danger of being detained by police unless they carry immigration papers with them at all times.
However, it is reassuring that the court left the door open to further challenges of this unsound provision.
I am optimistic that once that portion of the law is implemented, it will be discarded by the court as well.
Laws that legalize discrimination are not compatible with our nation’s ideals and traditions of equal rights.
So it is disturbing that Mitt Romney has called the Arizona law a “model” for immigration reform.
Anyone who thinks such an unconstitutional law should serve as a “model” for national reform is clearly outside the mainstream – and the U.S. Supreme Court agreed today.
Today’s partial victory affirms the Obama administration was right to challenge this awful law.
And it is a reminder that the ultimate responsibility for fixing our nation’s broken immigration system rests with Congress.
Instead of allowing 50 states to have 50 different enforcement mechanisms, we need a national solution that:
Democrats are ready for this challenge – to craft a common-sense, legislative solution that is tough, fair and practical.
We have been for years. The problem has always been that Republicans unwilling to vote for immigration reform.
A good first step would be to pass the DREAM Act, which would create a pathway to citizenship for children brought to the country through no fault of their own.
If upstanding young people stay out of trouble and work hard in high school, they should have the chance to serve their country in the military, go to college and work toward citizenship.
Unfortunately, Mitt Romney has said he would veto the DREAM Act.
President Obama, on the other hand, took decisive action in halting deportation of the DREAMers.
His directive will protect 800,000 young people and focus law enforcement resources where they belong – on deporting criminals.
As we all know, it’s not a permanent solution.
But President Obama’s decision to defer these deportations was necessary precisely because Republicans have so far refused to work with Democrats on a solution.
Congress must consider a long-term resolution that protects the DREAMers, and tackles comprehensive immigration reform that addresses all 11 million undocumented people living in this country.
But that will take cooperation from our Republican colleagues.
We have a lot to accomplish this week – and getting it all done before the July Fourth holiday will also take cooperation.
By Friday the Senate must:
And the deadline to stop student loan rates from doubling for 7 million students looms at the end of the week as well.
I am putting my colleagues on notice that the Senate will stay as long as it takes – into the weekend if necessary – to complete this substantial workload.
Uh harry,in the private sector we stay into the weekend to get the job done,it's not exceptional.
I like the Company I work for harry,I don't like you.
Clowns work all the time Dingy Harry!
Congress needs to pass legislation giving cover to Arizona immediately, if not sooner.
If even Mitt would veto that act... you can rest assured, Harry, that it’s horrible.
DoughtyOne: Nevada Senator Reed Should Not Be A “Model” For senators trying to destroy this nation, but he is.
Geary Reid just shut up
Dems have run congress for most of the last 50 years? Why didn’t they fix it then?
Hey Harry, what did you do about immigration issue when your RAT party controlled the SENATE, HOUSE and WHITEHUT??
It is really sad to see an added old man drone on incoherently
Good God, Harry, if you do not like America...get out. I will pay for your one way tix anywhere
Since the feds will not pick up illegals from Arizona and since Harry Reid is the senator from Nevada and is one of the main obstructionists in the way of immigration enforcement and his state happens to be right next to Arizona...
Why doesn't Arizona Put these illegals in a bus and drop them off in downtown Las Vegas?......Or maybe in Searchlight, Nevada.... Harry's supposed hometown? Or both.
I believe that if the big casinos who voted for Reid had to deal with some of the problems he is creating, they might have a word with him.
“Hey Harry, what did you do about immigration issue when your RAT party controlled the SENATE, HOUSE and WHITEHUT?? “
They don’t want to do it without cover from their RINO friends. I just penned an email to McConnell telling him to not cooperate with Reid in ANY way.
In any event, the Arizona law merely echoed federal law.
Federal law outlaws blue shoes.
Arizona law outlaws blue shoes.
For some reason, SCOTUS sees this as a violation of federal supremacy.
For nefarious and racist reasons, Dingy Harry sees the Arizona law as racist, mean-spirited, and somehow far removed from the will of Congress.
Since the feds will not pick up illegals from Arizona and since Harry Reid is the senator from Nevada and is one of the main obstructionists in the way of immigration enforcement and his state happens to be right next to Arizona...
Why doesn't Arizona Put these illegals in a bus and drop them off in downtown Las Vegas?......Or maybe in Searchlight, Nevada.... Harry's supposed hometown? Or both.
I believe that if the big casinos who voted for Reid had to deal with some of the problems he is creating, they might have a word with him.
Might work for California too.
Harry doesn’t seem to get anything right even accidentally....
*Why doesn’t Arizona Put these illegals in a bus and drop them off in downtown Las Vegas?......*
Yes, they can sleep in the casinos and eat the free and cheap food offered in Vegas.
A new slogan for the town, “Whatever illegals come to Vegas, stay in Vegas!”
On the topic of Harry Reid, I’m reminded of the expression “It takes a village idiot”
Anyone else here think that there will soon be large new classes for learning traveller Spanish opening in Tehran, Pakistani NWF, and Hamasstan? What kind of nation survives with no borders.
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