Tancredo doubts he can block amnesty-extension bill

Denver Post ^ | March 8, 2002 | Bill McAllister

[sarcasm]

Friday, March 08, 2002 - WASHINGTON - Rep. Tom Tancredo takes credit for thwarting the Bush administration's last effort to offer partial amnesty to thousands of illegal residents, but Thursday the outspoken immigration foe said he may have been outmaneuvered by the White House.

President Bush has struck a deal with the House leadership to place legislation that offers an extension of amnesty on its consent calendar before Bush heads to Mexico for a state visit next week, the Colorado Republican said.

That action should ensure quick House passage of legislation that Bush has repeatedly sought from Congress. It would allow an undocumented person to receive legal standing, such as a valid green card, by filing a declaration with the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

It presumably also would require the person to have been in the United States by a certain date and have filed a declaration with the INS from an appropriate sponsor, such as a relative or employer, and pay a $1,000 penalty.

"The terms are still up in the air," said Dan Stein, executive director of the Federation for American Immigration, a group that has been allied with Tancredo. "We've heard to the effect that the president wants something to bring down to Mexico."

The initial Bush proposal, designed exclusively for Mexicans, once was high on the president's legislative wish list, but it was delayed after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. However, as the president noted Wednesday in a speech to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, he now is pushing for the extension of the amnesty program known by the section of immigration law that covers it, Section 245I.

The president hailed it as a way to reunite family, separated by the border. "If you believe in family values, if you understand the worth of family and the importance of family, let's get 245I out of the United States Congress and give me a chance to sign it," Bush told the chamber members.

Tancredo, the head of a congressional caucus on immigration issues and proponent of halting virtually all immigration, said he had blocked a previous attempt by Bush to push an extension of the amnesty program through the House. But this time, he said House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., had agreed to place the issue on the suspension, or consent, calendar, making it difficult to defeat the proposal.

The Senate might be more favorable to the bill than the House, expanding the numbers of individuals who can apply, Tancredo said.

[sarcasm]

ping

[Sabertooth]

Memo to President Bush:

Kiss My Vote

We're a nation strong with immigrants
     Who know about fair play;
But you prefer the other ones,
     Without an honest day.
I know that you will call me names
But I will not be shy…
          Hey go ahead, kiss illegals,
          And kiss my vote goodbye.

I don't care if they're from Mexico,
     Canada, France or Spain.
I don't care if they swam a river,
     Or got here in a plane.
I'm not giving up my country,
No matter how hard you try…
          Hey go ahead, kiss illegals,
          And kiss my vote goodbye.

Put down your economics,
     Your demographics too.
Uphold our laws and borders,
     As we elected you.
But if you're thinking otherwise,
We'll know for sure you lie…
          Hey go ahead, kiss illegals,
          And kiss my vote goodbye.

You lightly take your promises,
     But we will not forget.
Double cross us once again,
     Your sun will surely set.
The time has come to send them home,
And I have told you why…
          But go ahead, kiss illegals,
          And kiss my vote goodbye.

And if you' think it can't be done,
     Then step aside, we'll fight.
It's amnesty or honesty,
     Surrender or be right.
So listen, you politicians,
And hear our vengeful cry…
          Deport your dear illegals,
          Or kiss our votes goodbye.

CC: All other Republicans

[Marine Inspector]

This is just step one of the Bush/Fox Amnesty program.

Regardless of what the American people want, Bush wants Amnesty, and he will get it.

[Regulator]

Funny, but I've been singing that song all morning...

Like, to the RNC, the White House, anyone in the Republican Party who'll listen.

It doesn't matter now if it doesn't pass. The point is, he did it.

[Be active]

HERE'S WHAT WE CAN DO

SEND A FAX TO CONGRESS FREE Roy Beck's NumbersUSA http://www.numbersusa.org

Tell your Congressman and 2 Senators not to pursue amnesty for illegal aliens.

Please go to the above link and click on FAX CONGRESS FREE to advise Congress before they take a vote.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

You know I want to support Bush, but since he's taken office he seems to show more interest in the plight of illegal aliens than Americans. If the Republican party goes along with this, they're risking their majority status in November. More people than they think are watching.

[Mercuria]

Link to NumbersUSA.

Equal protection under the law, anyone?

Our President has become the chief lobbyist for illegal Mexican "rights" in our country, despite the fact that lax oversight of our borders and our immigration procedures contributed to the atrocity of 9/11.

We should be asking ourselves WTF he is in such a hell-fire hurry to cram this down our throats.

[goldstategop]

Exactly. If the President goes through with this the base may well decide to stay home in November. After all if he provides the Rats with millions of non-citizen voters and to add insult to injury, Republicans vote to grant amnesty to illegals, who needs Republicans without cojones in Congress? We're better off with the Rats ruling the roost.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

UTAH - are you paying attention to what your Congressman is doing?

From FAIR's web site:

Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT), a keynote speaker at today's national convention of the American Immigration Lawyer's Association (AILA), shared the Bush Administration's current agenda. Cannon said that gaining passage of Section 245(i) - the provision that allows illegal aliens to gain green cards after paying $1,000 - is the current highest priority and the timetable is to get it passed before Pres. Bush goes to Mexico later this month. He claims the Administration is angry with the work of the Immigration Reform Caucus headed by Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) in heading off an earlier attempt to adopt the measure. Cannon said the White House objective is to get a permanent program or at least a "real extension."

To accomplish this AILA has been lobbying Congress with the help of Cannon and the White House, and Cannon said that he is setting up a "Pro-Immigration" Caucus to counter the successful Reform Caucus. He also hinted that the Administration is working on a plan to "regularize" Mexicans illegally working in the United States into a new temporary worker (H-2A) program, and hopes to be able to announce that initiative also at the time of the Bush trip to Mexico. On INS reorganization, Cannon said that he is working with Rep. Lofgren (D-CA) to craft a compromise between the Administration's in-house reorganization and efforts in Congress to achieve a formal split between enforcement and service operations.

[WRhine]

Thanks for the ping sarcasm. This is a truly depressing development.

[Joe Hadenuf]

I personally know of 25 to 30 votes that President Bush will loose if he goes through with it.

It is a disgrace to our country to even consider this insane act of amnesty for these criminals.

They know damn well what will follow if this comes to pass.

[sarcasm]

and Cannon said that he is setting up a "Pro-Immigration" Caucus to counter the successful Reform Caucus.

Better name - pro illegal alien caucus.

[Joe Hadenuf]

This is a kick in the teeth. I have just sent out a mass email to 50 friends and co-workers. If this goes through, President Bush will pay the political price.

[RnMomof7]

I will sit out the next election or vote 3rd party I just can not take it anymore..the war efforet has become cover to give away America

[sarcasm]

There is no way that I would even consider voting for Bush again.

[WRhine]

Not only is this a slap in the face to all those immigrants that abide by our laws and patiently wait many years for eventual citizenship this is also an affront to the Black Community who will find themselves competing with yet more illegal Mexican labor. I have lost all respect Bush.

[goldstategop]

He will. And it will be reflected in November. You know like the saying "pride goeth before a fall." And not even the President's 80% plus approval ratings will be able to help him sell this to the base.