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Tom Ridge's Immigration Remarks Draw Fire
newsmax.com ^ | Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003 | NewsMax.com Wires

Posted on 12/11/2003 9:08:56 AM PST by 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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS: aliens; amnesty; dhs; hr2899; illegalimmigration; immigrationstatus; jeffflake; natinalsecurity; republicanturncoats; tomridge
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To: VU4G10
One thing about Ashcroft, I think he wants to enforce immigration laws but it's not going to happen with pander bears like Tom Ridge around. Those types are more interested in their own personal careers than doing what's right for the country.
41 posted on 12/11/2003 10:11:29 AM PST by Reaganwuzthebest
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To: Kuksool
The illegals already here should be made to gather all their earnings and assets and leave. Criminal invaders should not be rewarded.

And if they have had a child here, that child is a US citizen. Do the parents have to leave and the child stays here.

42 posted on 12/11/2003 10:13:02 AM PST by Dane
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To: Digger
Well, the Dems would rather kill you and take all of your possessions to distribute to the poor, while the Repbublicrats just want to increment you out of your possessions to give to the poor.

Other than that, increasingly I see no difference.
43 posted on 12/11/2003 10:13:04 AM PST by Leatherneck_MT (Those who do not accept peaceful change make a violent bloody revolution inevitable.)
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To: Dane
Have 747's at every airport. When they are filled with illegals ship them the heck out of here! These 747's should be run round the clock. I am sick of being told that I have to pay for these people.
44 posted on 12/11/2003 10:16:00 AM PST by chris1
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To: Dane
Sent them all back. Make California's Prop. 187 into federal law.
45 posted on 12/11/2003 10:16:50 AM PST by Kuksool (Real Homeland Security Means Deporting All Illegals)
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To: Dane
"Relatively" law abiding? They are criminals, and every day they stay in this country they compound their criminality. They showed they had contempt for this country when they broke our laws, and they continue to show contempt for our country each day they stay here. And you want to REWARD that????

You know, I can readily identify with the American Indians, especially the true nativists like Crazy Horse, who saw their country and their people being crushed by an invading (and to them, illegal and alien) horde that had nothing but contempt for their way of life. Just like this massive invasion of illegals from Mexico and the "hispanic" countries. We should fight this invasion with every fiber of our being, like Crazy Horse and others did in their time (although they waited too long), while we STILL have the numbers. When it gets to the point where we are outnumbered (and believe me, it will come to that, and soon, unless something is done about this NOW), we will have but one choice, just like the one Crazy Horse was finally faced with.
46 posted on 12/11/2003 10:17:01 AM PST by ought-six
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To: TheAngryClam
Land mines and a border wall are much easier than a picket line of soldiers

1500 miles at a minimum of $1,000,000 a mile, that's 1.5 billion for starters, without any maintenance costs. Also what about the Canadian border. They could catch a plane there and sneak over the northern border.

Just a question, would trying to make Mexico's economy better be an option to you?

47 posted on 12/11/2003 10:17:05 AM PST by Dane
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To: ought-six
"Relatively" law abiding?

Yes those who snuck over the border, but are working menial jobs.

Those who don't commit violent crimes.

48 posted on 12/11/2003 10:19:08 AM PST by Dane
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To: Dane
"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."

For one thing, we wouldn't need 2,000,000 army troops, but 2,000,000 land mines would be nice. And yes, I would seize their assets.

49 posted on 12/11/2003 10:19:26 AM PST by ought-six
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To: VU4G10
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.

Well Ridge has been preoccupied with other priorites since 9/11.
Keeping those NAFTA trucks rollin' across the border gotta come first, ya know.
Fresh produce, like Hepatitis A tainted green onions are highly perishable.
Can't interfere with the delivery schedule to our nation's restaurants and supermarkets. It'd be bad for "free" trade.

50 posted on 12/11/2003 10:19:43 AM PST by Willie Green (Go Pat Go!!!)
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To: Kuksool
187 IS BACK!

http://www.save187.com

51 posted on 12/11/2003 10:20:09 AM PST by VU4G10 (Have You Forgotten?)
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To: Reagan Man
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.

What is it about the term "illegal" Ridge and others don't seem to grasp? Speaking as a former Canadian, now U.S. citizen, honorably discharged from the Marine Corps (number of years ago) who took the citizenship test, and was sworn in as a U.S. citizen. Every step in the process was legal and above board ... granting illegal aliens amnesty & eventually citizenship serves only to diminish the meaning of U.S. citizenship for all, both those born here and those of us who chose to become U.S. citizens legally.

52 posted on 12/11/2003 10:20:33 AM PST by BluH2o
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To: VU4G10
GWB used Ridge to put up a trial balloon, and it was popped accordingly.

Get the message, Prez?

53 posted on 12/11/2003 10:21:36 AM PST by Mr. Mojo
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To: Dane
"Yes those who snuck over the border, but are working menial jobs. Those who don't commit violent crimes."

I see, you are okay with "Criminal-lite". Unfortunately, we don't know of their violent crimes until AFTER they commit them. According to your logic, it was okay for the September 11 terrorists to stay in this country, since they only over-stayed their visas (somewhat akin to "sneaking across the border").
54 posted on 12/11/2003 10:23:31 AM PST by ought-six
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To: TheDon
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.

If we desire to turn ourselves into a 3rd world hellhole with a non-existent American culture, you're right.

55 posted on 12/11/2003 10:23:40 AM PST by Mr. Mojo
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To: BluH2o
What is it about the term "illegal" Ridge and others don't seem to grasp?

Those "others" are GWB and his administration. Do you think our Homeland "Security" chief would say something this controversial without the full backing of the President?

56 posted on 12/11/2003 10:25:34 AM PST by Mr. Mojo
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To: martin_fierro
At this rate, we might as well just annex Mexico.

See my post #55.

57 posted on 12/11/2003 10:27:30 AM PST by Mr. Mojo
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To: ought-six
I see, you are okay with "Criminal-lite". Unfortunately, we don't know of their violent crimes until AFTER they commit them. According to your logic, it was okay for the September 11 terrorists to stay in this country, since they only over-stayed their visas (somewhat akin to "sneaking across the border").

Were the islamofascists that overstayed their visas cleaning your toilet or making your bed at a hotel or motel. No they were plotting the attacks, just like Timothy McVeigh was plotting an attack.

You know who I was talking about. The ones who snuck over the border but in their daily lives are hard working and otherwise law abiding.

58 posted on 12/11/2003 10:29:26 AM PST by Dane
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To: Mr. Mojo
As we aren't enforcing immigration laws, that decision has already been made.
59 posted on 12/11/2003 10:30:06 AM PST by TheDon
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To: TheDon
Apparently so.
60 posted on 12/11/2003 10:30:30 AM PST by Mr. Mojo
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