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To: inquest

2002 wasnt listed on vote-smart.org


37 posted on 09/02/2005 8:59:50 AM PDT by Alex Marko
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To: Alex Marko

I personally met with Tancredo in DC in Sept. 2001. He was the leader of the group of Congressmen opposed to Illegal Immigration.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/congress/july-dec01/immigration_9-6.html
September 6, 2001

RAY SUAREZ:
We're now joined by three Congressmen who follow immigration issues: Thomas Tancredo of Colorado, who chairs the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus; Silvestre Reyes of Texas, head of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; and Chris Cannon of Utah, a member of the House subcommittee on immigration.

Well, Congressman Tancredo, you just heard the president discuss a solution that Congress can accept. By your views, what does that look like?

Guest worker programs vs. amnesty
REP. THOMAS TANCREDO: Well, it's an interesting question and one that we keep wrestling around up here. We have said and certainly I have said over and over again that if anybody can prove that there is a significant need for workers in the United States that we do not have here, that Americans will... For jobs that, quote, I always hear this, Americans will not fill for whatever reason, if that is the case, then we can devise a guest worker program that can do two things: Bring workers in and protect their rights so that they won't be exploited as they often are today by people who are trying to get them to work for lower wages and fewer benefits. On the one hand, we can also control the process and they can go home after a period of time, whatever the contractual arrangement is for. If you can come up with a good guest worker program that does those two things, I will be very willing to look at that.

RAY SUAREZ: Does that guest worker program imagine handling first those people who are already here, or you would ask that hey go home first?

REP. THOMAS TANCREDO: No, absolutely not. No guest worker program that is connected to something like amnesty-- although nobody wants to use that word anymore but it is exactly what we're talking about-- guest worker programs are guest worker programs; amnesty is amnesty. They should never be connected. If you believe we have a problem in the United States with illegal immigration, which I certainly believe we do, then please explain to me... I'd love anybody to explain to me how they think amnesty helps solve the problem of illegal immigration; it certainly doesn't. We tried it in 1986. What happened, of course, is immigration -- illegal immigration exploded because we sent the wrong message; that is, get here avoid detection, stay long enough and we'll give you legalized status. It's a bad, bad thing for a government to do.

RAY SUAREZ: Well, Representative Reyes, let's move to you next. The Hispanic Caucus met with President Fox during his visit here. Immigration was certainly discussed. Where do you and the caucus come down on how these matters should be handled now? ..........


210 posted on 09/02/2005 7:53:55 PM PDT by TomasUSMC (FIGHT LIKE WW2, FINISH LIKE WW2. FIGHT LIKE NAM, FINISH LIKE NAM.)
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