Tom Ridge's Immigration Remarks Draw Fire

newsmax.com ^ | Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003 | NewsMax.com Wires

[VU4G10]

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge's expression of support for giving legal status to immigrants drew congressional criticism Wednesday but heartened advocates. At a town hall meeting in Miami, Ridge said the country needs to "come to grips" with an estimated 8 million to 12 million illegal immigrants and "determine how you can legalize their presence." He also said during a visit to Florida on Tuesday that the immigrants should not be rewarded citizenship.

Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security, said Wednesday in Miami that Ridge's comments simply reflected the debate in Congress on immigration.

"Secretary Ridge addressed it very honestly yesterday, engaged in that debate, but clearly this administration has not taken a firm policy position on that and the debate continues," Hutchinson said.

But Rep. J.D. Hayworth, R-Ariz., said it was "inconceivable to me that Secretary Ridge is speaking for the Bush administration when he unilaterally and offhandedly suggests such a radical policy reversal that is guaranteed to encounter strong opposition in Congress."

The attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, slowed talks about whether to legalize millions of illegal immigrants in the country.

Ridge's words excited immigration advocates and one of Hayworth's House colleague, Rep. Jeff Flake, who is sponsoring legislation that would give legal residency to illegal immigrants through work.

"Those who are working here illegally need to be here under a legal framework. Secretary Ridge also understands that this needs to be coupled with serious workplace enforcement," said Flake, R-Ariz.

Judy Golub, senior policy and outreach director for American Immigration Lawyers Association, said she thought it was the first time that a top administration official had made "such a clear articulation of the fact that these folks are not threats and deserve some form of legal status."

Cecilia Munoz, vice president of policy for National Council of La Raza, said Ridge's comments broke two years of silence by the administration on the legalization issue.

[martin_fierro]

At this rate, we might as well just annex Mexico.

[TheDon]

Not enforcing immigration is a festering problem that must be addressed. It is quite unhealthy, for the rule of law, to do otherwise.

If we won't enforce the law, as it is quite apparent we don't want to, then the law should be changed to legalize those who would otherwise come here illegally.

[sasafras]

Wrong - mexico will eventually annex the US.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

At this rate, we might as well just annex Mexico.

I think Mexico's trying to annex the U.S.A.

And Jorge Bush's administration and the Republican party is doing evertying in their power to help.

[Digger]

Forget this "Two-Party Cartel". They have been completely bought out by the elites. When are all of you FReepers going to understand this? We need another viable party that has OUR (the people who pay the taxes)interest at heart. You please tell me the difference in these two parties.

[DoctorMichael]

Are these clowns OUT of their FREAKIN' minds?

[Dante3]

We should have our military protect our borders and round up and deport ALL illegals, no matter what country. Illegal aliens have demonstrated that they have contempt for our laws when it suits their agenda.

Deporting them can readily be done. But first, we must do something about Tom Ridge.

[Reagan Man]

At a town hall meeting in Miami, Ridge said the country needs to "come to grips" with an estimated 8 million to 12 million illegal immigrants and "determine how you can legalize their presence. He also said during a visit to Florida on Tuesday that the immigrants should not be rewarded citizenship. "

Tom Ridge is opening up Pandora's Box again. The head of Homeland Security should not be in support of finding a way to give legal status to illegal aliens. Not only should there be no reward of citizenship to illegal aliens, there should be no reward of any kind to anyone, who chooses to enter the US without following American law. Illegal aliens should be sent packing out of the the US, PERIOD!

[TomasUSMC]

Yep, we may have to move to somewhere on this earth were democracy is still new and vibrant, somewhere the people have the joy of freedom and liberty running hot in their veins, a place maybe that has just been freed of the yoke of tyranny, and ...... welll hey how about Iraq?

Nah, the U.S. is training their military which means they won't be able to control their borders either.

[fatrat]

our first revolutionary war was due to taxation without representation, i predict that the next revelution will be due to representation without taxation.

[Digger]

I'm hearing Rush now. He claims the republicans have ONLY one party to go to. He has put this issue squarely on the problem. We need to vote outside of this corrupt party apparatus.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Rush is great today on both CRIMINAL INVADERS and
giving CRIMINAL INVADERS social security payments.

[ambrose]

ping.

[Reagan Man]

The only rational political alternative conservatives have right now is the GOP and that won't be changing anytime soon. Voting for a third party that has no chance of winning, is not a viable alternative and would only allow liberals an opportunity to regain power. I don't want to see Democrats back in power.

[Dane]

Could we please hear solutions and not rants.

[Dane]

Rush is great today on both CRIMINAL INVADERS and giving CRIMINAL INVADERS social security payments

Rush is ranting and not offering solutions. What is your solution.

[Consort]

Tom Ridge is addressing the steep price we will have to pay for generations of open, uncontrolled borders....and we will pay. Blaming Ridge is a cop-out. We can change what is happening but we can't undo what has happened.

[Dane]

Tom Ridge is opening up Pandora's Box again. The head of Homeland Security should not be in support of finding a way to give legal status to illegal aliens. Not only should there be no reward of citizenship to illegal aliens, there should be no reward of any kind to anyone, who chooses to enter the US without following American law.

Actually what got undereported and was glossed over by the rants on FR, was Ridge basically saying that the problem has to be dealt with once and for all.

[Kuksool]

Tom Ridge came within a whisker of being selected as Vice-President. I don't know which is worse, him being VP or Homeland Security Director.