Congressman Wants Amnesty for 'Law-Abiding' Illegal Aliens

Cyber News Service ^ | June 19, 2003 | Jeff Johnson

[fightinJAG]

Congressman Wants Amnesty for 'Law-Abiding' Illegal Aliens By Jeff Johnson CNSNews.com Congressional Bureau Chief June 19, 2003

Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - Illegal aliens who have been in the United States for more than five years could receive immigration amnesty under a plan proposed by a House Democrat from Illinois. Opponents said Wednesday that the move would reward illegal aliens already in the country for defying U.S. laws and encourage others around the world to do the same.

Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) believes the people he calls "undocumented workers" should not be punished for violating American immigration laws to enter or remain in the U.S. illegally.

"We know that there are seven, eight, maybe nine million undocumented workers in this country. Let me reiterate that word: Undocumented workers," Gutierrez said, "people who work hard and pay taxes and follow the laws of our country. And what they want is a simple opportunity to integrate themselves fully into our society."

But David Ray, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, disputed both Mendez' terminology and his ideology.

"Calling an illegal alien an 'undocumented worker' is like calling a bank robbery an 'unauthorized withdrawal,'" Ray said. "We're talking about people who knowingly violate our federal laws and then try to paint themselves as victims.

"If you're here illegally, the first thing you did when coming to America was to violate our immigration laws," Ray added. "So to try to euphemistically paint this group of illegal aliens as law-abiding is really being a bit disingenuous."

One answer to illegal immigration: make it legal

Gutierrez' "Unity, Security, Accountability and Family Act" (USA Family Act, H.R. 440) would allow any illegal alien who had been in the U.S. for five years on January 29, 2003, and who had not been convicted of certain criminal or civil violations to apply for and automatically receive permanent resident alien status. Illegal aliens who had been in the U.S. for less than five years but met all of the other conditions of Gutierrez' bill would be granted "conditional" permanent resident alien status, including work authorization.

Gutierrez believes the U.S. government is not really serious about enforcing limits on immigration.

"In the absence of somebody coming forward with a program with the requisite resources to deport over eight million people," Gutierrez argued, "if you're not going to do that, then what you're saying is that they can stay."

Colorado Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo conceded Gutierrez' assessment of current immigration enforcement.

"Let's not pretend that we're operating an 'immigration' policy," Tancredo said. "We're not, it's a fraud."

Despite the problems with enforcement of existing immigration laws, Tancredo told CNSNews.com Wednesday that amnesty for illegal aliens is not the answer.

"People hear it and see it and naturally think, 'Oh, good. If I get there quick, I can get in on it,'" he said. "It just encourages millions of people to come into the country [illegally]."

Tancredo said amnesty for illegal aliens is also "the biggest slap in the face there is" to all of the foreign citizens who have ever entered the U.S. legally.

"This is just simply saying to them, 'You're nothing but a bunch of suckers because, if you'd sneak into the country, we'd give you amnesty,'" he explained. "It also, of course, sends the wrong message to every single person who's trying to come in here legally. We are rewarding people for breaking our law."

'If there weren't jobs for them to do...'

Gutierrez believes, however, that the U.S. has already been welcoming illegal immigrants into the country, even if only passively.

"If there weren't jobs for them to do - that those of us who were born in this country would never consider doing - we would not have them coming to this country," Gutierrez argued. "If you don't have a plan to deport them, if you don't have the resources and the will to deport them, then stop being an accomplice in their exploitation and allow them to benefit fully from their work."

Dr. Jose Mendez, executive director of the Global Evangelism Task Force, believes the millions of "undocumented workers" currently living in the U.S. are a resource the country simply cannot survive without.

"Controlled immigration of honest taxpayers, honest citizens, law-abiding citizens is good for this country," Mendez said. "Without a fresh flow of immigrants, it would be an impossible task to achieve the economic and social development of this country."

Tancredo responded that Congress has the power to make such a change, even though he would not recommend it.

"If we do not believe - as a nation - in borders, and if we do not believe in immigration policy being established by a nation-state, then let's abolish the borders, let's repeal the laws," Tancredo said. "If that's our policy, if we're working a 'cheap labor' policy, let's say it, let's do it.

"[But] it is the dumbest thing we could ever do," he added, "in terms of our national security and in terms of trying to actually control immigration."

'Porous borders are a national security problem'

Mendez blames what he called "anti-immigration sentiments" on the terrorists who attacked the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001.

"But we were not the ones who brought down the World Trade Center. We were not the ones who brought down the Pentagon," Mendez said. "We were victims of this as many other Americans were victims of these tragedies."

While Ray acknowledged that most illegal immigrants are not terrorists, he feels Mendez and other proponents of essentially unlimited immigration are missing the most important point.

"The loopholes that allow millions of illegal aliens to live amongst us for years and years are the same loopholes exploited by terrorists who are looking to set up cells in the United States and kill innocent Americans," Ray explained. "Therefore, any war on terrorism has to have a serious border enforcement component."

Tancredo agreed.

"Porous borders are a national security problem, and yet, we find it impossible to deal with this," he said. "We should be using our own military on our borders to augment the Border Patrol until they get to a position where they can actually seal off the border."

The Colorado Republican dismissed critics who charge that the U.S. borders are too large to effectively seal and that, even if it could be done, would require too many personnel.

"We're beyond the days when you have to have people arm-in-arm to defend the border," Tancredo explained. "Now, we have technology that allows you to take huge sections of land and survey them and go to the spot where there's a problem where you see people coming across."

It would take no more than 20,000 U.S. troops - along with unmanned aerial drones, radar and other electronic sensors - to effectively stem the flow of illegal immigrants to the U.S., Tancredo predicted.

"We have the resources to do it," he explained. "We do not have the will."

Tancredo says Bush is 'AWOL' on immigration enforcement

Even though he voted for and supports President Bush, Tancredo blames the leader of his party for fueling the current push for amnesty in a quest for Hispanic votes.

"On this issue, he is absolutely AWOL," Tancredo explained. "The president sees this as a wedge issue, he's going to go after that vote, and he doesn't want to do anything that would get them mad at him.

"Democrats see massive immigration as a source of votes for them; Republicans generally see it as a source of cheap labor.

"So, as I always say, if I could get those three problems taken care of," he added, "it would be just great."

Gutierrez' proposal would also:

Eliminate the three- to 10-year ban on re-entry into the U.S. by previously deported illegal aliens;

Bar the attorney general and the Department of Justice from using any information learned as part of the amnesty application process in immigration enforcement;

Exclude relatives of aliens who receive amnesty from the world-wide cap on the number of visas granted to the U.S. annually; and

Forbid deportation of immigrants who committed deportable offenses unless the offense was deportable at the time it was committed.

The Unity, Security, Accountability and Family Act has 16 co-sponsors and has been sent to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Claims.

[sarcasm]

ping

[goldstategop]

While we're at it let's release our own criminals too. They're law-abiding behind bars.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Dr. Jose Mendez, executive director of the Global Evangelism Task Force, believes the millions of "undocumented workers" currently living in the U.S. are a resource the country simply cannot survive without.

Absolute B.S.! This country survived and thrived for more than 200 years without millions of dirt-poor, uneducated illegals flooding into it. They are a net drain on the economy because of their overwhelming use of government services.

[TomGuy]

That's a tuff one:

8 million votes vs. immigration law enforcement
8 million votes vs. border safety and security
8 million votes vs. National Sovereignty
8 million votes vs. opposition party trying to get those 8 million votes

[chicagolady]

Chicago SunTimes..Letters to the Editor.
Out Congressman has nothing better to do that stupid SH** like this!


Back to work, Luis

I am thrilled to know that one of our state's representatives in Washington, Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), has nothing better to do with his time than promote the passage of a resolution honoring Sammy Sosa [sports story, June 5]. Regardless of the dubious distinction of sponsoring a proclamation to laud the achievements of a confessed cheater, there are far more important matters concerning our nation today.

*Millions can't afford health care or prescription drugs.

*The economy is depressed and getting worse by the day.

*Jobless rates continue to rise while thousands have lost their life savings due to corporate corruption.

Our government spent billions fighting a war against an ''army of none''--and the taxpayers will likely foot the bill in order to maintain a military presence in that country for 10 more years. The reason? Foremost among many the Bush administration has spun, that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction and posed an imminent threat to our safety and well-being.

If I'm not mistaken, at least Hans Blix and his team of [UN] weapons inspectors found a few missiles lying around gathering dust. With all the problems we now face, I would just as soon Rep. Gutierrez not be found doing the same.

Reese Thompson,

Near North Side

[chicagolady]

BY THE WAY ILLINOIS LEGISTALURE VOTED 124-4 TO PAY FOR TUITION FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS!
I am convinced they are doing it for votes
It is unconstitutional!
What the Democrats will not do to stay in office!

[chicagolady]

BARF ALERT!

[steve in DC]

Are they willing to offer the same amnesty for an otherwise "law abiding" manufacturer who has failed to obtain an operating permit from the EPA?

[el_texicano]

The terms "law abiding" and "illegal immigrant" are mutually exclusive - ummmm, DUH!!!

The mental cartwheels these libs can do is far beyond Olympic caliber.

Simply taking the logic that the congressman proposes in this simple statement, the entity "law abiding illegal immigrants" do not exist. PERIOD!!!

[Alex Murphy]

"If you're here illegally, the first thing you did when coming to America was to violate our immigration laws," Ray added. "So to try to euphemistically paint this group of illegal aliens as law-abiding is really being a bit disingenuous."

Ding ding ding ding ding - we have a winner!

[THEUPMAN]

Gutierrez believes the U.S. government is not really serious about enforcing limits on immigration. "In the absence of somebody coming forward with a program with the requisite resources to deport over eight million people," Gutierrez argued, "if you're not going to do that, then what you're saying is that they can stay."
Colorado Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo conceded Gutierrez' assessment of current immigration enforcement.
"Let's not pretend that we're operating an 'immigration' policy," Tancredo said. "We're not, it's a fraud."

[raybbr]

"We know that there are seven, eight, maybe nine million undocumented workers in this country. Let me reiterate that word: Undocumented workers,"[Undocumented means illegal] Gutierrez said, "people who work hard and pay taxes [People here illegaly and getting paid cash don't pay taxes] and follow the laws of our country[They started breaking our laws the minute they crossed the border illegaly].

And, the biggest lie of all: And what they want is a simple opportunity to integrate themselves fully into our society."

...and who had not been convicted of certain criminal or civil violations to apply for and automatically receive permanent resident alien status.

Which laws are ok to break? Where is the line drawn? Is rape and murder acceptable? Give me a frelling break. Is there a recall vote possible for this jerk?

[joesnuffy]

Rep. Luis Gutierrez

Si Jefe Once our people take over...I will be el presidente

[myrabach]

Isn't law-abiding illegal alien an oxymoron?

And, isnt' this an insult to all the law-abiding legal aliens?

[cherry_bomb88]

Well of course he does....the lie-brals need to refresh their voting base....the last set of immigrants have been educated enough to realize the dems are full of it!!!!!

CL....I just posted in IL....BILLY BOB SIGHTING ALERT....Bill Clinton is headed to Chicago on Tuesday!!!!!!!

[tbpiper]

I think the congressman has a poit here, I agree with him. We outh to give these undocumented workers amnesty......as long as every damn one of them goes to Illinois.

[varon]

Gutierrez' "Unity, Security, Accountability and Family Act" (USA Family Act, H.R. 440) would allow any illegal alien who had been in the U.S. for five years on January 29, 2003, and who had not been convicted of certain criminal or civil violations to apply for and automatically receive permanent resident alien status.

If I rob a bank, have a clean criminal record and the cops don't catch me in five years, can I keep the money and not be prosecuted?

[Imagine]

ACTION PLAN: Border Violators

1) Close all US borders to illegal entry forthwith by any and all means possible, including military presence.

2) Maintain legitimate immigration levels at modest annual level with requirements that immigrants be employable or sufficiently wealthy for self-support if they do not intend to work, proficient in basic English and willing to be assimilated into American culture and language. All applicants shall provide prints, photos and DNA samples.

3) Legal immigration shall be awarded to individuals on a lottery basis, wherein all countries are given equal status in the immigration lottery, without regards to color or economic plight of originating nation.

4) Those from Muslim countries, or individuals of Islamic faith from any country, shall be denied immigration privileges to the US.

5) Detain all border violators, taking photos, prints and DNA samples of said violator while at the same time, checking for out standing warrants. If no warrants are outstanding, return border violators to home country within 20 days via commercial airline and submit cost of such action, including processing and housing costs for said violator, to country of origin. If costs are not paid within 30 days, reduce any and all aid to said country by a like amount.

6) Should any country from which a border violator originates not currently receive any aid from the US, the Justice Department shall be authorized to seize or secure liens on assets owned, managed or registered to that country to the full extent of the obligation.

7) Establish new Guest Worker Visa (GWV) category, renewable every 6 months, for unskilled labor positions wherein all applicants shall provide prints, photos and DNA samples. Work permitted of such applicants shall be limited to one of several categories, including childcare, lawn/gardening, restaurant staff, cleaning and the like. Families of GWV workers are not permitted to enter US, nor will the birth of a child to one of GWV status confer citizenship to either parent or child.

8) Any violation of civil or criminal laws shall result in the forfeiture of the GWV and immediate return to originating country.

9) GWV holders shall be prohibited from claiming unemployment benefits, welfare support or free medical service.

10) The originating country of all GWV holders shall be responsible for any uninsured loss caused by the GWV, including emergency medical claims and/or claims resulting from illegal actions committed while in the US.

11) Companies who hire GWV holders shall submit to the Immigration Dept the name and GWV number of that individual, along with a description of employment tasks. Companies who fail to report employment of GWV workers, or hire illegal workers, shall be subject to penalty. GWV workers shall be paid with check, having income tax withheld. GWV workers shall not be subject to unemployment tax because they are not eligible for unemployment claims.

12) Border violators, or any non-citizen not possessing a valid visa, detained by local police for any reason shall be turned over to border control officials for immediate deportation action, except if they face criminal charges in other jurisdictions.

13) GWV workers shall be prohibited for voting in local, state and federal elections.

14) (NEW) Border Violators shall NOT be afforded the rights enjoyed by American citizens, as guaranteed under the constitution.

15) (NEW) Public education (at institutions supported by taxpayer dollars) at any level (pre-school, kindergarten through the university level,) shall NOT be available to Border Violators (or children of Border Violators) and schools that enroll such individuals shall be subject to penalties.

16) (NEW) Foreign Students (individuals admitted to the U.S. for the purpose of attending any educational facility,) private or public institution (i.e. supported by taxpayer dollars,) must have valid student visas, such visas being in force only if the FS attends school full-time. Foreign students shall be required to pay tuition, housing and related costs such that all their educational costs are fully reimbursed to the institution attended and the originating country of said student shall indemnify the students for any and all loss caused by that individual while he/she is on U.S. Soil.

[RinaseaofDs]

Good plan, except they'd get another electoral vote or two for flouting the law.

I'm thinking, however, Illinois can be calved off and be made it's own country. You've got a dictator already running Chicago, ripping up runways in the dead of night.

Chicago is the home of the communist movement in the US anyway, as well as the labor movement.

Wall it off, give the refugees a place in the US, and then cut of diplomatic relations to the rest.

Better plan, no?