Posted on 02/14/2018 9:56:30 AM PST by newgeezer
Congressional Republicans threw fiscal sanity out the window last week, so it comes as no surprise that the immigration bill introduced in the Senate Wednesday comes with an eye-popping price tag of nearly $100 billion. But what may surprise conservatives who believe in President Trump’s America First campaign message is that this bill spends twice as much on foreign aid as it does on border security.
The Trump-endorsed plan proposed by Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, includes $25 billion for a “Border Security Enforcement Fund,” $18 billion of which is appropriated for “tactical infrastructure.” But in a section titled “Foreign Migration Assistance,” there is an additional $50 billion appropriated for the Department of Homeland Security, “with the concurrence of the Secretary of State” to provide “to a foreign government, financial assistance for foreign country operations to address migration flows that may affect the United States.”
The foreign aid in this immigration bill is only to be provided if “such assistance would enhance the recipient government’s capacity to address irregular migration flows that may affect the United States,” but there’s the catch. What exactly does “may affect the United States” mean? That’s up to the determination of the secretaries of homeland security and state, it seems.
President Trump has repeatedly railed against foreign aid, both on the campaign trail and in office. The White House’s 2019 budget proposal features billions of dollars in cuts to foreign aid. But this bill would authorize an increase of aid to countries that have already demonstrated they are unable to stem illegal migration with the funds we already provide to them.
This is just the beginning. Jamie Dupree noticed that the phrase “such sums as may be necessary” appears in four different sections of the bill, which could authorize even more spending.
So what are conservatives getting in exchange for all of this money? Diversity visa lottery visas are relocated to other visa programs, instead of outright repealed. Chain migration is likewise limited to immediate family members (fathers, mothers, siblings, and spouses) but is not repealed. Also, immigrants who are currently waiting to come to the U.S. under the chain migration program will be grandfathered in. Lastly, of course, 1.8 million illegal immigrants will be granted amnesty with a path to citizenship.
There are some good reforms. The bill includes Kate’s Law, and it permanently authorizes a voluntary E-verify program. There are enough appropriated funds to begin construction on physical barriers along the southern border.
The question remains, however, is it worth nearly $100 billion to codify into law President Obama’s DACA program? And lest we forget, not only will Obama’s illegal amnesty become justified by Congress, but the principal of amnesty for children who came to the U.S. through “no fault of their own” will be codified as well. The message the U.S. government is sending to Latin America remains: If you bring your children here illegally, we will not deport them and they can become U.S. citizens.
Eh, whatever. This bill is going nowhere.
Put the DACA repeal on the fast track to the Supreme Court so that the enforcement of EXISTING LAW can resume ASAP after March 5.
What would foreign aid be doing in an immigration bill?
Foreign aid equals money laundering for our politicians.
Apparently,
@ MNDude...correct..Pay us a billion each, or no wall. Look at all the trillions missing and un accounted for. You know damn well it ended up in all of their personal bank accounts somewhere. Trump should Veto this, but Grassley thinks he has Trump by the balls because of the Deep State investigations he is doing. No Pork, No investigation.
No. It has to be mandatory.
No. It has to be mandatory.
Absolutely MUST be mandatory.
It is voluntary now and there are still millions of illegal aliens working illegally.
Coordinated enforcement across all levels of government as it happens in most other countries is how we reduce illegal aliens.
In Japan if you are overdue to leave by 12 hours, they will find you and deport you.
Is the foreign aid supposed to build more jails and more gallows in the invaders’ home countries, to accommodate future deportees? Otherwise it’s a waste.
Whether E-Verify is mandatory or voluntary is still pretty mudy.
HOWEVER-—YOU MUST USE the I-9 form when hiring an employee. There are various kinds of certified papers you can present to get past the I-9. I used to be a payroll supervisor& I had plenty of problems with ranch managers across 7 states following the correct paperwork. I finally demanded a copy of the I-9, a copy of the soc sec card- and other copies for the master files in the headquarters. Funny how compliance was spotty and then they got the message-—I was more stubborn than they were. I got the paperwork I wanted for the master files.
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