Napolitano Ducks on Immigrant Legalization

By
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 at 12:23 pm

At the Senate Judiciary Committee’s oversight hearing this morning, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano carefully skirted repeated questions about her views of whether longtime undocumented immigrants living in the United States ought to get a chance at legalization.

Although Napolitano did say she supports the DREAM Act — which would provide some children of undocumented immigrants raised in the United States a path to legalization if they complete two years of college or military service — Napolitano carefully avoided questions about whether a comprehensive immigration reform bill should include broader opportunities for legalization of the 11 million or so undocumented immigrants living in the United States. Her refusal to offer an opinion on that highlights just how controversial and politically dicey that issue will be as a new proposal for comprehensive immigration reform gets hammered out over the next few months.

Napolitano’s refusal to sanction legalization seemed to please Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala), the new ranking Republican on the committee, who pressed the issue by saying that while “we need to fix our immigration system,” in his view, “the American people correctly are dubious of a plan that gives lawfulness now to people who came in illegally without confidence that the legal system is going to work in the future.” That “amnesty” would become “a magnet or a message abroad,” he said. “When the American people realize that the broken pipe is being fixed … we can have a far better discussion about how to deal fairly and humanely with people who have been here a long time.” That echoes a common argument from restrictionist quarters that strict border enforcement must precede any considerations of legalization.

Sen. Pat Leahy (D-Vt.), the Judiciary Committee chairman, presented a more sympathetic case for legalizing undocumented immigrants now “living in the shadows” and tried to elicit Napolitano’s support. She wasn’t biting. The secretary refused to say she supports legalization, saying only, in response to Leahy’s question about whether it makes sense to try to deport 11 million people, that “the sheer logistics of doing that are overwhelming.”

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Comments

39 Comments

BajaRat
Comment posted May 6, 2009 @ 10:57 am

Napolitano is a CFR hack and a loathsome, dangerous boob.

Illegal aliens are criminals and parasites, one and all. Their very presence here and practically everything they do on U. S. soil is illegal. They need to be ferreted out, rounded up like cattle, punished for their numerous crimes, then booted back to whence they snuck in from with such extreme prejudice that they will never, ever think of violating our sovereignty again. Enough is enough.

Watch The Obama Deception Here…. http://tinyurl.com/ObamaDeceptionHD


mike
Comment posted May 6, 2009 @ 11:31 am

Janet Napolitano is Mexico first USA never! She has aleady broken her oath of office by not deporting Illegal Aliens caught in a raid in Belhamn WA., insted isssuing SS number and or work permts to them.
She need to be tried for treason along with Nancy Pelosi and Luis Gutierrez!


Ali
Comment posted May 6, 2009 @ 11:42 am

We already have methods to allow illegal aliens with long, substantial ties to the U.S. to legalize. Those with American citizen spouses, children, and in some cases, other close relatives, can be sponsored by those relatives–eventually. It was even possible for employers to sponsor them up until the end of 245i in April 2001 (and there are still illegal aliens with petitions under this). Now, why should we legalize those who have come since 2001 or who didn't have employers who valued them enough to sponsor them, or who don't have U.S. citizen relatives? As it is, those illegal aliens with routes to legalize may do so over time, with effort and money, and by essentially going to the back of the line. This is particularly important given the fact that there is NO WAY we have a bureaucracy which can handle a mass amnesty without massive fraud and security risks, nor is there a way to provide social services for 20 million suddenly legalized illegal aliens and the relatives they could then sponsor.


FloridaMike
Comment posted May 6, 2009 @ 1:06 pm

For an American political party to skirt the laws to allow illegal foreign nationals to become part of their voter base is completely WACKED. I can't believe that they're wasting everybodies time on something so rediculous. There should be trials and people should hang.


Say What??
Comment posted May 6, 2009 @ 1:12 pm

God is with the weak every step of the way. HE will help those who need his assistance in a time of distress. Since CIR is the most logical way to ease the distress of many of the undocumented immigrants, HE will make it pass. God Bless America.

Oh yeah, all you sour pusses, don't insult Napolitano just because she is doing the right thing. Instead of whiling like little babies on this blog, go get a job and get a life.


christopher
Comment posted May 6, 2009 @ 1:54 pm

Kick all the H-1B visa holders to the curb as well. another crony capitalism corporate welfare program.


24AheadDotCom
Comment posted May 6, 2009 @ 1:55 pm

Good job by Daphne Eviatar: nearly everything she wrote or transcribed is little more than misleading boilerplate.

For just one of the many things Eviatar made a mistake on, the DREAM Act doesn't say anything about their parents' status(es). It's for those who are themselves illegal aliens, not matter what their parents are. It's also an explicitly anti-American bill that covers “children” as old as 35 and that would let those foreign citizens covered by it deprive U.S. citizens of college educations.

If you want to do something about that bill or the wider issue, go get video of you pressing someone like Leahy, Durbin, or the rest on the question here. One of the bill's supporters being relentlessly “cross-examined” over the impacts of the bill would have a serious impact on their politcal career and would send a strong message to the rest. If you can't do that, then at the very least encourage other people to do it.


bartlebee
Comment posted May 6, 2009 @ 2:29 pm

Say What?? said:
“God is with the weak every step of the way. HE will help those who need his assistance in a time of distress. Since CIR is the most logical way to ease the distress of many of the undocumented immigrants, HE will make it pass. God Bless America. “

Oh yeah, all you sour pusses, don't insult Napolitano just because she is doing the right thing. Instead of whiling like little babies on this blog, go get a job and get a life.”

It sounds like you have the intellect of a little baby. So, do you also believe in rewarding American lawbreakers? Or do you just want to reward foreign lawbreakers? Amnesties don't solve the problem of illegal immigration. We passed an amnesty in 1986 and the illegal immigration is 10 times worse today. And yet, fools like you want us to hand out another amnesty. At some point, we as a country have to learn from our mistakes. Handing out another amnesty would be a huge mistake.


MDA2009
Comment posted May 6, 2009 @ 3:06 pm

How is something like the DREAM Act anti-American?
If we go by what America “is” according to it's history, we are in fact doing what America was founded upon. “Send me your poor and blah blah…” The DREAM Act would give those individuals (like me) who did not have a say on whether to enter this country legally or illegally an opportunity to fix their status and get ahead in life. Most kids in my situation are Americans in every sense of the word. We have learned the language, we’ve assimilated, we’re proud to live here, we’ve grown up here. We are Americans, the only thing that divides us (DREAM Act beneficiaries) and you the American citizen, is a piece of paper. Does it make sense to segregate people based on a piece of paper, rather than by their character, values, morals and social norms? Granted, there are real criminals out there that don't deserve anything, from anyone. But they shouldn't have the power to ruin it for the rest of us who just want to get over this never ending nightmare.
I know a lot of people object to this bill, they call us criminals, border jumping scum, leaches and so on. But is it fair to judge someone based on the fact that their parents made a huge mistake by breaking the law? And the idea that we are prone to more criminal behavior, simply because that's the way we started our life here in the US, is totally ridiculous in my opinion. Most of us don't have a recollection of how we got here. Even if we did, we didn’t know at the moment that what we were being forced to do was a crime. So in reality most of us don't feel like criminals period. That is why they protest on the streets. (Something I don't quite agree with) They feel like they are being cheated by a broken system that doesn't allow for people like us to become legal, without first paying for a crime we didn't commit. And by this I mean, if we leave the country and try and do things the right way, we are faced with the threat of being barred from the country for up to ten years. Since we have lived here for most of our lives, where are we supposed to go? Stay with whom? … In a country that most of us don't know much about. So in reality there is no true incentive to do things your way (go back home and apply), if we feel like we’ll suffer for someone else's mistakes. And for the people that say, “Well you should blame your parents, not us.” What does that solve? How does that help? If they weren't able to help us become legal, how in the world does getting mad at them help at all? And we don’t blame you, the average American citizen, we blame the system.

With that said, I have to admit there are things I don't agree with on this bill.

1. The age cap should be lowered to something like 25-30.

2. The achievements should go beyond just two years of college. It should state that a degree be earned. I mean the allotted time for these conditional requirements to be met is 6 years. It doesn't take 6 years to earn an AA. As far as the military service goes, I would also say it should be more like 4 years of service in the Armed Forces. (I tried joining but was denied due to no SSN or legal status)

3. “Good moral character” Should be more specific in my opinion….

4. The main thing that I’d love to see changed is the “proof” of presence for more than five years. Fraud is a huge threat and without specific language on the bill as to what can be considered “proof,” there will be rampant fraud, no question about it. Documents should include official sealed school transcripts, original bank statements (straight from the bank if possible), medical records, witnesses (of importance, not just some “friend”), etc.

5. One more thing that should be included is a “fine” to pay for resources that will be needed in order to make this happen. (I would happily pay)

One last thing, people in my shoes WANT to get ahead, they strive to better themselves and most importantly we want to become productive members of society; and not be responsible for its demise. Sadly, people that feel like I do don’t flow in abundance and a bill like this (with some minor tweaks) would help tap into the most motivated and successful individuals that live in the shadows of this great country.

DREAM Act 2009


Bobby
Comment posted May 6, 2009 @ 4:42 pm

Please, Janet Napolitano wants amnesty.


Bobby
Comment posted May 6, 2009 @ 4:44 pm

As Governor of Arizona, Napolitano did NOTHING, NOTHING AT ALL, to stop the flow of illegal aliens. In fact, she fought against Arizonons tooth and nail to do so. P.S. This was her resume for Department of Homeland Security. The democrats were looking for someone who they could trust not to guard the border. What a joke.


BajaRat
Comment posted May 6, 2009 @ 5:28 pm

Say What?? spewed: “God is with the weak every step of the way. HE will help those who need his assistance in a time of distress. Since CIR is the most logical way to ease the distress of many of the undocumented immigrants, HE will make it pass. God Bless America.”
________________###

Maybe JC will let them into his pad to squat and filch, eh? Cap'n Kenya pulls another amnesty (CIR is code for amnesty, you know) he will have another civil war on his incompetent hands. Worthless NWO teleprompter reader.

As for the wretch of questionable morals in charge of DHS, in Arizona they don't call her “Crappy Nappy” for nothin'.


June
Comment posted May 6, 2009 @ 5:32 pm

Every time I see the sound bite of Obama saying “we're the United States, we sent a man to the moon – we can do anything! I beg to differ, Sir.

WE CAN'T…deport illegals, stop anymore from coming in, secure the border, stop handing out benefits, eliminate the “anchor baby” law, stop hiring them, stop giving them mortgages, ignoring the fact that they present false documents and names, forgiving them any crime because they are “poor,” stop giving medical care and educating their children. So, what say you, Mr. President?


EcoAZ
Comment posted May 6, 2009 @ 10:05 pm

It's a very healthy sign that those Washington morons are afraid of the issue. They should be. The great majority of the American people are not going to tolerate another amnesty bill shoved down their throats, without serious political casualties. That Congressional trash should be forewarned that their upcoming flim flam on immigration will not only backfire, but could be the Democratic Party's Katrina.

It will be a joy to see.


EcoAZ
Comment posted May 6, 2009 @ 10:07 pm

Oh. And about the question as to whether 12 million illegals can be deported? YES WE CAN!


donald cho
Comment posted May 6, 2009 @ 10:12 pm

I agree 100% Janet Napolitano is a disgrace as secretary of Homeland security. She is both, incompetent and a traitor to America like Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.


Edward
Comment posted May 6, 2009 @ 10:21 pm

Why shoudl we wnat to deport them? especially with the economic distress these are all honest hard-working people! We are all immigrants, and do not call them illegals! Illegal? is the war in Iraq that is illegal. these people were only in search of a better life for thei familes, and wanted to provide food and shelter. Biologically, Morally legalization makes sense!


Dave
Comment posted May 7, 2009 @ 4:56 am

By the way, the number of illegal aliens in the U.S. is more like 20 million (or more).


Napolitano Ducks on "Immigrant" Legalization - Illegal Immigration - City-Data Forum
Pingback posted May 7, 2009 @ 11:39 am

[...] to try to deport 11 million people, that


Napolitano Ducks on "Immigrant" Legalization - Illegal Immigration - City-Data Forum
Pingback posted May 7, 2009 @ 11:42 am

[...] to try to deport 11 million people, that


lance sjogren
Comment posted May 7, 2009 @ 11:16 am

“God is with the weak every step of the way. HE will help those who need his assistance in a time of distress. “

Like Bernie Madoff?


Napolitano Ducks on "Immigrant" Legalization - Illegal Immigration - City-Data Forum
Pingback posted May 7, 2009 @ 1:52 pm

[...] to try to deport 11 million people, that


ristovristo
Comment posted May 7, 2009 @ 1:02 pm

ilegals aliens30 milion. usa citizens dont have job.stop ilegals like evry cantry in all world.


Susan B
Comment posted May 7, 2009 @ 1:17 pm

Edward said: “Why shoudl we wnat to deport them? especially with the economic distress these are all honest hard-working people! We are all immigrants, and do not call them illegals! Illegal? is the war in Iraq that is illegal. these people were only in search of a better life for thei familes, and wanted to provide food and shelter. Biologically, Morally legalization makes sense!”

We want to deport them because they're illegal alien lawbreakers. Duh! And it's because of our economic disaster, which has cost millions of Americans their jobs, that we need to provide jobs for these out of work Americans. Americans should not have to compete with millions of illegal alien lawbreakers for jobs.

By the way, we are NOT all immigrants. Americans who were born in the United States were never immigrants as they didn't come here from another country. We call illegal aliens that because they are aliens (foreigners) who are illegally in this country. Understand? It doesn't matter if people are searching for a better life for themselves and their families, they still need to obey our laws. Amnesties don't solve the problem of illegal immigration. The 1986 amnesty made the illegal immigration problem 10 times worse today. No More Amnesties!


MDA2009
Comment posted May 7, 2009 @ 3:39 pm

Even if illegals didn't exist in the US there would always be a percentage of people unemployed. Usually sits around 5% give or take.

*To get some facts straight, illegals did not cause the economics crisis we're experiencing.
*When all was good and the economy was running strong, rarely was there talks about how illegals affect our country.
*What people refer to when saying “we are all immigrants” is that your ancestor immigrated here, whether legally or illegally makes no difference. Because you well know that this land was taken by force, torture, mass murder and rape. Which in my opinion (and i think MOST people would agree) is a greater crime than 'jumping the border.'
*FYI, you should care why people decide to move here, didn't your ancestors move here for the same reasons, while avoiding to act like civil human beings? If i recall correctly, the main reason thrown out there is that they came for religious freedoms. Last time i checked, most organized religions don't advocate rape, murder, torture, theft, slavery, etc. Yet all these things were done in the name of a “better life through the search of religious freedom.” Very oxymoronic in my opinion…..


peace09
Comment posted May 7, 2009 @ 4:49 pm

Economic disaster is due to sending companies overseas to hire cheaper labor like in India aka outsourcing. Economic disaster is the result of media influence on wall street. Having greedy people as CEO in companies such as AIG, Banks, ect…dipping into investments, luring rich people to invest more and in return loose their investments. ECT… Economic disaster…is the result of companies firing or laying of personel who have been with the company for years, have great 401K plan, benefits package, but are fired, so the company can hire mediocre employees for $less than the benefits, ect.
Economic disaster has minimal to do with undocumented immigrants (notice not using the term illegal aliens). IN FACT! most undocumented citizens work in industry that you would never think of. The steak you had for dinner last night…yeah, that was slaughtered by someone who may be working illegal here who got paid $5 / hr. While you bought the steak for $20. legalizing those who are here makes sense.


Topics about Dreams » Archive » The Washington Independent » Napolitano Ducks on Immigrant …
Pingback posted May 7, 2009 @ 9:05 pm

[...] Daphne Eviatar placed an interesting blog post on The Washington Independent » Napolitano Ducks on Immigrant …Here’s a brief overviewSadly, people that feel like I do don’t flow in abundance and a bill like this (with some minor tweaks) would help tap into the most motivated and successful individuals that live in the shadows of this great country. DREAM Act 2009 … [...]


Will
Comment posted May 7, 2009 @ 10:58 pm

I think is now the time to organize all these immigrants. They are here and they must speak English, have background checked and be tax payers and after that with the border secure, nobody can enter without papers should get a job anywhere (a new system to verify employment should be in place) and finally everybody are going to be in peace and happy! Then, the politicians can focus in others important themas. Thanks!


jvilla
Comment posted May 20, 2009 @ 10:16 pm

why would we need to legalize 20 million illegal aliens, when there are 10 milion americans without a job starting with my son. somebody in washington is stupid or incoherent to the fact. what the hell if we legalize they will bring in another 20 million that will be on food stamps forever and medicaid, wic, free school lunch, bring in all the kids in the families they left behind on both sides. their aging parents ready to be on medicaid like my mother in law that came from venezuela and was on free health plan for 5 years till she died. hello people wake up and smell the starbucks! wake up NO MORE AUTOMATIC CITIZENSHIP, NO MORE WIC , MEDICAID OR FOOD STAMPS! if you aid and abett they will never leave!


No Salary to H1B on Bench
Comment posted May 24, 2009 @ 10:43 am

No Salary to H1B on Bench

I have heard many companies don't pay their employees on L1/H1B/EAD when they are not on project.

In my opinion the best way to stop L1/H1B/Employment Authorization Document (EAD) violation, is to ask all the companies that are doing H1B/EAD/L1 visa to submit every month the details of salary of their L1/H1B/EAD employees and their taxes paid to IRS. Also list of all the employees, which are on unpaid vacation.

By doing this all these companies either pay their employees or will send them to their countries back.

This will create level playing field between all the employees seeking Job.


No Salary to H1B on Bench
Comment posted May 24, 2009 @ 10:44 am

No Salary to H1B on Bench

I have heard many companies don't pay their employees on L1/H1B/EAD when they are not on project.

In my opinion the best way to stop L1/H1B/Employment Authorization Document (EAD) violation, is to ask all the companies that are doing H1B/EAD/L1 visa to submit every month the details of salary of their L1/H1B/EAD employees and their taxes paid to IRS. Also list of all the employees, which are on unpaid vacation.

By doing this all these companies either pay their employees or will send them to their countries back.

This will create level playing field between all the employees seeking Job.


No Salary to H1B on Bench
Comment posted May 24, 2009 @ 5:43 pm

No Salary to H1B on Bench

I have heard many companies don't pay their employees on L1/H1B/EAD when they are not on project.

In my opinion the best way to stop L1/H1B/Employment Authorization Document (EAD) violation, is to ask all the companies that are doing H1B/EAD/L1 visa to submit every month the details of salary of their L1/H1B/EAD employees and their taxes paid to IRS. Also list of all the employees, which are on unpaid vacation.

By doing this all these companies either pay their employees or will send them to their countries back.

This will create level playing field between all the employees seeking Job.


No Salary to H1B on Bench
Comment posted May 24, 2009 @ 5:44 pm

No Salary to H1B on Bench

I have heard many companies don't pay their employees on L1/H1B/EAD when they are not on project.

In my opinion the best way to stop L1/H1B/Employment Authorization Document (EAD) violation, is to ask all the companies that are doing H1B/EAD/L1 visa to submit every month the details of salary of their L1/H1B/EAD employees and their taxes paid to IRS. Also list of all the employees, which are on unpaid vacation.

By doing this all these companies either pay their employees or will send them to their countries back.

This will create level playing field between all the employees seeking Job.


Scott
Comment posted March 2, 2010 @ 8:05 pm

Napolitano says that to deport 10.8M (her numbers) illegal aliens “the sheer logistics of doing that are overwhelming.”

Well Aunt Janet, you want to know what is REALLY overwhelming, making 25 million of them instant citizens. That is overwhelming.


Scott
Comment posted March 3, 2010 @ 1:05 am

Napolitano says that to deport 10.8M (her numbers) illegal aliens “the sheer logistics of doing that are overwhelming.”

Well Aunt Janet, you want to know what is REALLY overwhelming, making 25 million of them instant citizens. That is overwhelming.


louis vuitton
Comment posted July 6, 2010 @ 9:17 am

Well Aunt Janet, you want to know what is REALLY overwhelming, making 25 million of them instant citizens. That is overwhelming.


miu miu
Comment posted July 6, 2010 @ 9:17 am

I have heard many companies don't pay their employees on L1/H1B/EAD when they are not on project.


Scott
Comment posted July 6, 2010 @ 4:42 pm

Napolitano says to try to deport 11 million people, that “the sheer logistics of doing that are overwhelming.” Well there is actually over 20M here and the sheer logistics of that is ALREADY OVERWHELMING.

Aren't we tired of a few people in DC deciding for us what do, how about what the citizens want? What a concept.


discount louis vuitton
Comment posted August 4, 2010 @ 5:18 am

well… totally on scott's side on this. show us some real democracy!!!!


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