Obama urges Congress to pass immigration reform

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Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 7:33 pm | More from The Florida Independent

As a state-level immigration enforcement measure failed in the Florida legislature, the measure’s opponents, from members of the business community to scholars and activists, repeatedly argued that a true fix can only come at the federal level — which is what President Barack Obama called for in a speech made today in El Paso, Texas. #


Immigration reform floundered at the federal level during the Bush years. Obama pledged to do something about it during his first year it office, but it didn’t happen. Advocates moved to supporting more piecemeal efforts, such as the DREAM Act, but that also failed in the Senate amid Republican oppostion. #


With today’s speech (the full text, as prepared, can be found here), Obama sought to put the onus on Congress. Reform has stalled amid calls to first secure the border, which Obama said his administration is already doing. #


Obama said the Border Patrol has more than doubled in size since 2004, to 20,000 agents — a buildup begun under George W. Bush and continued by the current administration. There are also more unmanned drones patrolling border regions. A border “fence is now basically complete.” #


His administration is working with Mexico to crack down on crime and smuggling in the border territory, which he said has helped make towns like El Paso among the safest in the nation. They’ve continued cracking down on employers and deporting illegal immigrants, with a focus on criminals, whose removal has increased by 70 percent. #


Now, “the most significant step we can take now to secure the borders is to fix the system as a whole.” The question, Obama said, is whether Congress (Republicans in particular) can muster the political will to do so. #


Republicans have offered two main lines of response. The first, which Obama tried to preempt with today’s rhetoric, is that stronger enforcement is still needed, as Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., told the St. Petersburg Times. #


“They’ll say we need to triple the border patrol. Or quadruple the border patrol,” Obama said. “They’ll say we need a higher fence to support reform. Maybe they’ll say we need a moat. Or alligators in the moat. #


“They’ll never be satisfied. And I understand that. That’s politics.” #


Senate candidate Adam Hasner summed up the second argument against Obama’s proposals on Twitter not long after the speech: “President Obama is more interested in exploiting our broken immigration system for electoral gain than he is in fixing it.” #


At The Washington Post, Chris Cillizza writes that Obama’s speech “is rightly understood — and analyzed — as a political document rather than a policy one.” It will help him build a coaltion for the 2012 elections, but “will almost certainly land with a dull thud in a Congress wary of taking on an issue so fraught with political pitfalls.” #


With the president’s renewed push and the patchwork of attempts to ramp up enforcement at the state level, including the one that recently failed in Florida, what will it take to force Congress to act? #

Comments

5 Comments

Anonymous
Comment posted May 11, 2011 @ 12:08 am

1986 IMMIGRATION AMNESTY COST TAXPAYERS 78 BILLION. HOW MUCH TODAY’S AMNESTY?

After listening to Senator Lamar Smith (R-TX) today and with the backing of the huge populace of the TEA PARTY membership, President Obama has little chance if any at all, at passing immigration Reform? Polls show that nearly 70% of Americans oppose amnesty for all illegal aliens and that generations of legal Hispanics are less likely to reelect President Obama if he supports amnesty that is detrimental to their jobs. In the years following the 1986 Immigration Control and Reform bill, the cost afterwords to taxpayers 78 Billion dollars, according to the (CIS) Center for Immigration Studies. Somebody needs to ask the question, “What will the cost be 35 years later? Twice that amount? Whatever that amount, its more than the US can afford?

After the 1986 amnesty, illegal immigration increased significantly. The US Census Bureau 2000 data indicate that 700,000 to 800,000 illegal aliens have settled in the U.S. each year, with between 13 to 20 million illegal aliens now currently living in the United States The amnesty of 1986 was supposed to be a accepted just “One time” with no more in the future, but it was a failure with considerable fraud attached to it.

Yet since 1986, Congress passed a total of 7 amnesties for illegal aliens, which includes the 1986 Amnesty. 2. Including Section 245(i) The Amnesty of 1994 as a temporary progressive amnesty for 578,000 illegal aliens; 3. Section 245(i) The Extension Amnesty of 1997, which was an extension of the progressive amnesty created in 1994; 4. The Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) Amnesty of 1997; 5. The Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act Amnesty (HRIFA) of 1998, an amnesty for 125,000 illegal’s. 6. The Late Amnesty of 2000, was an amnesty for approximately 400,000 illegal aliens claiming they should have been amnestied under the 1986 IRCA amnesty; 6. The LIFE Act Amnesty of 2000 was a restoration of the progressive Section of 245(i) amnesty to an estimated 900,000 illegal aliens.

This does not include the estimated 1.5 million clandestine legal immigrants that arrive here under special visas. Any amnesty for illegal aliens forgives their act of illegal immigration and unconditionally pardons other related illegal acts such as driving and working using false documents. President Obama has little chance of the passage of another amnesty, Promoting an amnesty to foreign nationals only attracts more illegal immigration into the United States. Sen. John Cornyn, (R-TX), said yesterday the president has failed to secure the border and thus failed to build consent to pass reform legislation. An amnesty for illegal aliens forgives their act of illegal immigration and implicitly forgives other related illegal acts such as driving and working using false documents.

Taxpayer must take their Politicians to task whether federal or State, by calling their offices as soon as possible at Senate—202-224–3121/ House—202-225–3121 or locate these lawmakers in your phone directory blue pages. The TEA PARTY will nurture new candidates for the 2012 Election. The TEA PARTY will give no leeway to any form of Immigration Reform—AMNESTY. The TEA PARTY is determined stop the drain of taxpayers’ money, which includes unfair taxes to support the instant citizenship of babies, through entering America illegally to foster welfare advantage. The TEA PARTY will rescind Chain Migration, which is a very large billion dollar expenditure, if sponsors don’t honor financial support for immediate family members. Legislators have a duty to mandate E-Verify, Secure Communities and 287G and make it impossible for illegal foreigners to get employment, or even get a handhold in America.

The TEA PARTY will dismantle Sanctuary City policies, the educational dream Act and unseat all pro-illegal immigrant Lawmakers, Governors, Mayors and those involved in this travesty. The second revolution has begun by THE TEA PARTY that will condemn any more free giveaways to illegal aliens. The American People are the Tea Party, comprising of every legal nationality and race. You should join this splinter party from the wilting RINO Republicans, who with Democrats are eroding this countries greatness. Highly skilled workers should be given immediate special entry visas, who have positions in reputable companies; these top of the cream individuals, will cost taxpayers nothing. Currently however, some plausible 20 million foreign aliens are indigent and replaced by American-legal resident low educated, minimum wage labor who should receive absolute priority.
YOU! THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OUT THERE ARE THE TEA PARTY AND UNITED, WE HAVE ALL THE POWER AGAINST BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS. WE WILL STOP THE INCESSANT SPENDING. THEY WILL CUT GOVERNMENT AND RID OURSELVES OF ALL THE FEDERAL AGENCIES, WHICH SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED BY THE 50 STATES. WE WILL CUT THE 14.5 TRILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT. WE WILL DRILL FOR OIL IN AMERICA AND ESCAPE FOREIGN EXPENSES. WE WILL RENEGOTIATE THE UNFAIR TRADE TREATIES WITH CHINA, AND OTHER FOREIGN COUNTIES. CUT ALL TAX SUBSIDIES FOR OIL, ETHANOL AND THOUSANDS MORE INDUSTRIAL ENTITIES. WE WILL BUILD THE REAL BORDER FENCE.

Attn: Donate to Arizona’s border fence, by just typing in to Google: Arizona Governor Brewer. There must be further mandatory oversight of one election process, as there was rampant fraud in 3 States and the administration is unconcerned about future voting by illegal aliens.


Britanicus Plus Plus
Comment posted May 11, 2011 @ 6:38 pm

It’s saddening to see so much hatred spew out of a single person. As soon as people hear the word illegal, they think of the most vile, depraved, scourge of society. The truth of the matter is that being undocumented is a civil offense and not a felony as some would have you believe.

With all your sources, dates, and names, one would think you’d also be well informed. This immigration reform’s target is those who came into this country as children, who were brought here by their parents, and whose only real crime has been to obey said parents. You say highly skilled workers should be received with a giant hug and a pat on the back. Most of these children are as eager to pursue a career and further push the limits of human knowledge as you are to spread your xenophobic views. And some determined individuals have even found ways to obtain a higher education, which should merit your applause.

In a time of economic recession, it seems counter-productive, and quite frankly anti-American, to push away people who genuinely wish to improve society. You worry about how much your burden will be as a taxpayer, which is a valid concern, but you neglected to mention that undocumented families have been and will be paying their portion of these taxes. If your intention was to come off as a real penny pincher when it comes to paying taxes, then might I suggest more lucrative areas where your parsimony might truly shine, such as, say, reducing military spending to save $191 billion by 2015 and $349 billion by 2030.

Well, that’s all for now, because I have things to do. By the way, illegal aliens can’t vote.


Britanicus Plus Plus
Comment posted May 11, 2011 @ 6:38 pm

It’s saddening to see so much hatred spew out of a single person. As soon as people hear the word illegal, they think of the most vile, depraved, scourge of society. The truth of the matter is that being undocumented is a civil offense and not a felony as some would have you believe.

With all your sources, dates, and names, one would think you’d also be well informed. This immigration reform’s target is those who came into this country as children, who were brought here by their parents, and whose only real crime has been to obey said parents. You say highly skilled workers should be received with a giant hug and a pat on the back. Most of these children are as eager to pursue a career and further push the limits of human knowledge as you are to spread your xenophobic views. And some determined individuals have even found ways to obtain a higher education, which should merit your applause.

In a time of economic recession, it seems counter-productive, and quite frankly anti-American, to push away people who genuinely wish to improve society. You worry about how much your burden will be as a taxpayer, which is a valid concern, but you neglected to mention that undocumented families have been and will be paying their portion of these taxes. If your intention was to come off as a real penny pincher when it comes to paying taxes, then might I suggest more lucrative areas where your parsimony might truly shine, such as, say, reducing military spending to save $191 billion by 2015 and $349 billion by 2030.

Well, that’s all for now, because I have things to do. By the way, illegal aliens can’t vote.


Britanicus Plus Plus
Comment posted May 11, 2011 @ 6:38 pm

It’s saddening to see so much hatred spew out of a single person. As soon as people hear the word illegal, they think of the most vile, depraved, scourge of society. The truth of the matter is that being undocumented is a civil offense and not a felony as some would have you believe.

With all your sources, dates, and names, one would think you’d also be well informed. This immigration reform’s target is those who came into this country as children, who were brought here by their parents, and whose only real crime has been to obey said parents. You say highly skilled workers should be received with a giant hug and a pat on the back. Most of these children are as eager to pursue a career and further push the limits of human knowledge as you are to spread your xenophobic views. And some determined individuals have even found ways to obtain a higher education, which should merit your applause.

In a time of economic recession, it seems counter-productive, and quite frankly anti-American, to push away people who genuinely wish to improve society. You worry about how much your burden will be as a taxpayer, which is a valid concern, but you neglected to mention that undocumented families have been and will be paying their portion of these taxes. If your intention was to come off as a real penny pincher when it comes to paying taxes, then might I suggest more lucrative areas where your parsimony might truly shine, such as, say, reducing military spending to save $191 billion by 2015 and $349 billion by 2030.

Well, that’s all for now, because I have things to do. By the way, illegal aliens can’t vote.


Britanicus Plus Plus
Comment posted May 11, 2011 @ 6:38 pm

It’s saddening to see so much hatred spew out of a single person. As soon as people hear the word illegal, they think of the most vile, depraved, scourge of society. The truth of the matter is that being undocumented is a civil offense and not a felony as some would have you believe.

With all your sources, dates, and names, one would think you’d also be well informed. This immigration reform’s target is those who came into this country as children, who were brought here by their parents, and whose only real crime has been to obey said parents. You say highly skilled workers should be received with a giant hug and a pat on the back. Most of these children are as eager to pursue a career and further push the limits of human knowledge as you are to spread your xenophobic views. And some determined individuals have even found ways to obtain a higher education, which should merit your applause.

In a time of economic recession, it seems counter-productive, and quite frankly anti-American, to push away people who genuinely wish to improve society. You worry about how much your burden will be as a taxpayer, which is a valid concern, but you neglected to mention that undocumented families have been and will be paying their portion of these taxes. If your intention was to come off as a real penny pincher when it comes to paying taxes, then might I suggest more lucrative areas where your parsimony might truly shine, such as, say, reducing military spending to save $191 billion by 2015 and $349 billion by 2030.

Well, that’s all for now, because I have things to do. By the way, illegal aliens can’t vote.


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