For "Thunder on the Border," click the picture:
Posted on 03/24/2006 3:59:49 AM PST by texasgil
The Senate will return March 27 to debate proposals to add tens of millions of permanent foreign workers and their dependents over the next decade. The newest proposal by Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) (S. 2454) was touted as a more limited proposal than the giant amnesties being promoted in the Senate Judiciary Committee. But Sen. Frist's bill would allow 20 million more permanent immigrants to settle over the next 10 years. That compares to 25 million minimum additions under the McCain/Kennedy amnesty bill (S. 1033) and 30 million permanent foreign additions under the Specter amnesty bill (no bill number). Americans who desire a less congested and more worker-friendly future can press their Senators to support an effort to substitute a bill like the one that overwhelmingly passed the U.S. House in a bi-partisan vote in December.
(Excerpt) Read more at numbersusa.com ...
God bless you all!
Are you familiar with Diversity Visas? 50,000 green cards/an to poor immigrants from countries that are not well represented in the US. It brings Bengalis et al to my neighborhood. Imho, we could do without it.
I agree about the 'stupid'. But I can tell you that we the people at Numbers USA at least have them stirred up on the hill big time. Why let them just slide by without at least a fight? There is an election coming up and pressuring your officials and at least knowing where they stand before you go to the polls is being pro-active. We ARE the people ......
For "Thunder on the Border," click the picture:
Dear Mr. Raybbr:
Thank you for contacting me regarding immigration reform proposals being debated in Congress. This is a very important issue, and I am pleased to hear from you.
As you may know, I am an original cosponsor of the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act of 2005 (S. 1033), which was introduced by Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA). This legislation: (1) requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop and implement a national strategy for border security; (2) allows undocumented immigrants to apply for temporary status, then residency after six years, provided they remain employed, pay taxes, and demonstrate knowledge of English and U.S. civics; and (3) reduces backlogs in applications for available immigration visas by increasing the legal immigration level to reunite spouses and children. S. 1033 is very similar in spirit to President Bush's Fair and Secure Immigration Reform Initiative, which proposes to reorganize our immigration policy so that non-hostile undocumented immigrants are not punished as terrorists. While I agree with the Bush Administration's premise that most undocumented immigrants come here for the opportunity for a better life, S. 1033 is a superior alternative measure. Currently, S. 1033 is pending debate before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
In my view, S. 1033 recognizes that the vast majority of undocumented workers that currently reside in our country and those that would like to come to this country only seek to better their economic circumstances. I cosponsored this legislation because it seeks to implement a balanced, earned legalization policy that will improve our security for the long-term. Under this legislation, undocumented immigrants that have worked here for six or more years, paid taxes, and have contributed to their communities would be eligible to gain legal permanent resident status. It is also important to note that the proposal would remove those aliens who do not receive security clearance and those with violent criminal records. With this type of strategy, we can fulfill a long-term need in the work force by improving wages and working conditions, which will bring an end to an exploitive, underground labor market. Furthermore, immigrants are an integral part of our history, heritage, and culture as a nation; and it is imperative that we protect the rights of those here legally and those seeking to be here legally, even as we work to more fully secure our borders.
By advocating this kind of policy, I am attempting to treat aliens that have been living in the United States for several years fairly. In the past, I was highly critical of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) for its lackadaisical enforcement of our immigration laws. To correct this problem, in the original legislation authorizing DHS, which I introduced, I promoted disbanding INS and separating its functions into different agencies. Fortunately, under DHS legislation that passed Congress (P.L. 107-296), the Directorate of Border and Transportation Security at DHS is now responsible for INS's enforcement functions, as well as other entities that may play a role in border security. INS's naturalization and citizenship duties are now handled by the newly created Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services at DHS. The separation of these contradictory functions represents a huge step forward in stopping undocumented aliens from reaching our shores and making certain that those that we do invite into our nation have honorable intentions.
In December 2005, the House of Representatives passed an alternative version of comprehensive immigration reform, the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 (H.R. 4437), which was introduced by Representative James Sensenbrenner (R-WI). This legislation does not include any provisions that would allow undocumented workers that have been in the United States for five or more years to apply for U.S. citizenship. This legislation also mandates that the Secretary of DHS construct at least two layers of reinforced fencing along much of the nation's southwest international land border. As I stated earlier, I support a more balanced approach to solving our undocumented alien situation.
There are several immigration reform proposals that have been introduced for consideration by the Senate. I look forward to examining each of these proposals and including the best aspects of each bill in a comprehensive measure so that Congress can approve immigration reform legislation this year. The public well-being is my top immigration priority, both for those that were born here and those that have contributed to the well-being of our nation. I hope that I have adequately explained why I support the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act of 2005, and you may be assured that I will continue to monitor developments on this issue closely on behalf of you and other Connecticut citizens who have written to convey their concerns.
My official Senate web site is designed to be an on-line office that provides access to constituent services, Connecticut-specific information, and an abundance of information about what I am working on in the Senate on behalf of Connecticut and the nation. I am also pleased to let you know that I have launched an email news update service through my web site. You can sign up for that service by visiting http://lieberman.senate.gov and clicking on the "Subscribe Email News Updates" button at the bottom of the home page. I hope these are informative and useful.
Thank you again for letting me know your views and concerns. Please contact me if you have any additional questions or comments about our work in Congress.
Sincerely, Joseph I. Lieberman UNITED STATES SENATOR
These bastards don't care anymore. They are entrenched and there are enough stupid, politically lazy Americans to keep them in power.
Freepers always say that they are opposed only to illegal immigrants. Yet, they are opposed to Frist's legislation to increase legal immigrants.
Another good example of deceit and mis-info.
No real secret here...these illegal/HB 1 visa Republicans are bought and paid for by corporations who would sell their grandmother for the gold in her teeth. They have no loyalty to this country or its people but live here because they can pay the government to let them make money here. The few patriots in the GOP will not be able to stop the business lobby, and they will pass a guest worker program. Then, real conservatives will not go vote in November, and the Democrats will win the Senate. Will that solve the illegal issue? No, because Hellery and Co. will let them all vote as Democrats to help her get elected in '08. What a disaster these illegals and their scofflaw employers are for our country!
You are 100% right, many in the GOP, including most of the fat cat donors, worship at the altar of the dollar.
They would sell this country out for a dollar if they could.
Immigrants who come here:
1. With a job;
2. With two financial sponsors who sign a personal guaranty,
3. Understand and can speak some English; and
4. Have ZERO criminal record
Should be welcome.
Short of that, keep em out.
I am opposed to both illegal immigrants and increasing the amount of legal immigrants. The current rules are sufficient for legal immigration. We do not need to increase the number of legal immigrants as that too will fail to assimilate a mass of people.
There are simply only so many people that can be properly assimilated into a culture at one time without destroying the culture.
ping
I don't have a problem with increasing the number of legal immigrants we take in along with eliminating a lot of the red tape they have to go through. They could fill the jobs currently being "filled" by illegals. I'm for permanent workers, not guest workers. Pick a country and stay there, none of this going back and forth crap with expiring visas and time limits, etc.
I'm not surprised any in the least by what this bunch of corrupted politician's do anymore in this branch of government!!!
Of course I do not know for sure, but sometimes it looks like the destruction of American culture is the exact reason why they do this.
TERM LIMITS NOW!....
The Republicans put Teddy Kennedy in charge of immigration reform....?????
What?...when it all goes to hell they can blame the Dems??
Yes, but after they pay a fine, they will be sent home after 6 years. [Nod, nod, wink, wink]
[Officials won't send illegals home now. What makes anyone with 2 functioning brain cells think officials will be enforce that provision in six years (and a dozen more family members per illegal)?]
Vote them out. Every last damn one of them.
That is a strawman argument which you like to set up and then kick down. I think you are perfectly aware that you are engaging in a disingenuous debate tactic.
There is nothing inconsistent about being in favor of legal immigration in general and being in disagreement with the numbers of people who are being allowed to immigrate legally.
To follow your logic to its obvious conclusion, you are suggesting that if Frist were proposing that America should be open to unlimited immigration by the 6 billion people in the world that are poorer than Mexicans, as long as they come in legally, we should be supportive of accepting them all because it would be legal. I doubt you will find many freepers who buy into that concept.
Personally, I favor legal immigration and recognize that a certain level is good but believe that current levels of legal immigration are about 5 times higher then what is in the best interest of taxpayers. I further believe that we are letting in the wrong people legally. I think we should eliminate the Visa lottery entirely, limit family reunification to strictly spouse and minor children and reduce the numbers of unskilled workers who are allowed to come because even if they work hard, they earn little and inevitably burden taxpayers. But I recognize that others have different opinions.
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