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.

[Consort]

Rush is ranting and not offering solutions.

On this one, I think he's whining. Ranting is more dignified.

[Dane]

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.

And your solution to the illegals already here and the problem in the future is?

[VU4G10]

POLLS

Why is the Bush administration REALLY looking to legalize illegal aliens?

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/polls/

 

Do you believe millions of illegal aliens already living in the United States should be legalized?

http://edition.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/lou.dobbs.tonight/

[ought-six]

I get it: Break our laws and get rewarded. Why didn't I think of that?

[big gray tabby]

All the wishing, hoping, whining and kvetching won't change a thing. All those folks are not going to just pick up and go home. We don't have the manpower to round them up and throw them out. We don't have the military capacity to patrol the border. You're all dreaming.

The only practical solution is to document these people and get them on the books somewhere. Maybe then we can get into their pockets and help them start paying their way.

[VU4G10]

    It's for the Chi-i-ildren

[TheAngryClam]

...would only allow liberals an opportunity to regain power.

Because what we have now is oh-so-conservative.

[Kuksool]

For starters, Congress should pass Tom Tancredo's proposal to deny federal funding for transportation to states that grant driver's licenses to illegals. Also, local communities that have illegal immigration sanctuary laws and accept the Mexican Matricular Consular card as a valid form of ID should be denied federal funds in Homeland Security. Overall, no federal funds for states that pander to illegals. The military needs to be patrolling at our borders as well.

[Dane]

And your solution is?

[ought-six]

"What is your solution."

Oh, I have a solution. But it is very un-PC, and the powers-that-be won't like it much.

[Dane]

For starters, Congress should pass Tom Tancredo's proposal to deny federal funding for transportation to states that grant driver's licenses to illegals. Also, local communities that have illegal immigration sanctuary laws and accept the Mexican Matricular Consular card as a valid form of ID should be denied federal funds in Homeland Security. Overall, no federal funds for states that pander to illegals. The military needs to be patrolling at our borders as well

And for the ones working and relatively law abiding(I know they came here illegally in the first place), do you advocate seizing their assets?

[TheAngryClam]

Actually, we do have the manpower, just not the will.

Check into "Operation Wetback," if you have a chance. That was done with far less sophisticated technology than we have available today.

[ought-six]

"And your solution to the illegals already here and the problem in the future is?"

Round them up, deport them, and close the borders (militarily, if need be).

[TheAngryClam]

I do. Seize their assets, and put them on the first bus or boat back to wherever they came from.

Another suggestion: a 95% tax on all money transfers overseas that are sent by people who cannot provide a valid U.S. passport or foreign passport with current visa.

[ServesURight]

And your solution is?

Why do you keep defending unpopular decisions by the Bush administration?

[Dane]

Round them up, deport them, and close the borders (militarily, if need be)

Due you have an extra 2,000,000 army troops to do the job? BTW, I am surmising that you would seize their assets also.

[Kuksool]

The illegals already here should be made to gather all their earnings and assets and leave. Criminal invaders should not be rewarded.

[Dane]

Why do you keep defending unpopular decisions by the Bush administration?

I am asking for alternative solutions.

[TheAngryClam]

Land mines and a border wall are much easier than a picket line of soldiers.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

And your solution is?

I'll vote for Dean!!

Go Dean go!!!