Texas

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This is what the Texas senators have put out in Texas newspapers about their stance on the proposed shamnesty bill... 

Secure Borders and Immigration Reform Without Amnesty
by Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn

Published in a number of Texas newspapers the week of May 21, 2007

As your U.S. Senators, we have been heavily involved in the Congressional debate on immigration reform for several years. We have taken a leadership role on this issue because we represent a state that uniquely benefits from the contributions of legal immigrants, but is also uniquely vulnerable to the dangers of illegal immigration. Throughout, this process, our principles have been clear and consistent: We must secure our borders, and we cannot encourage illegal behavior through amnesty.

 

Last week, the Bush administration, along with a small group of Senators, announced a compromise immigration bill that would take a necessary first step in improving border security. We did not join in the announcement. While our efforts had a positive influence, we were not convinced the announced proposal guarantees repair of our current broken system. We are particularly concerned that we may be repeating the mistakes of the failed 1986 national amnesty.

 

As of late Friday, the actual text of the “grand compromise” had not yet been published. Major questions remain about details of the plan, and how it would work. , We believe the bill – which was negotiated privately – deserves a full public airing before it’s considered.

 

The bill promises some long-term positive changes, including significant border security measures, an end to chain migration, and a switch to green card distribution based on merit.

 

But many problems have not been satisfactorily addressed. For example, we must make certain that convicted criminals are not eligible for any legalization, and if these individuals attempt to stay here, that they are arrested and promptly deported.

 

We must ensure that only those who have played by the rules – and not those engaged in identity theft – receive Social Security benefits. This proposal would enable illegal immigrants to collect Social Security benefits for the time they were unlawfully in our country. At a time when we are already facing major shortfalls in our ability to pay benefits for future retirees, this represents an unfair burden on the American taxpayer. We must end the rampant document fraud that plagues our workplaces today, and do it in a way that is legally enforceable.

 

Some of our colleagues, sensing the fragile nature of the proposed compromise, want to rush it through the Congress immediately. This would be a major mistake. It is too important and too complicated to rush. The legislation requires extended Senate debate, with full opportunity for public input and criticism, and an open process for amendments to strengthen its provisions.

 

In 1986, the Congress approved a similar compromise plan that, in return for amnesty for most immigrants here illegally, promised an end to porous borders and disregard for our laws. Those promises were not honored. The amnesty legislation instead actually encouraged further disrespect for our laws, and led directly to the situation we face today.

 

As the bill reaches the Senate floor this week, our goal will be restoring the integrity of our borders, providing guest workers with opportunity, not amnesty, and preserving our social security for all who legally qualify. Our contributions to the debate will continue to be positive, and constructive.

 

Our country needs immigration reform. We must ensure that it’s done, and done correctly.

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Has anyone set up tables and/or gone door-to-door to get petitions signed? Do we still have time to do this? Brooks

Why in the hell are we incresing the number of border patrol agents puting up electronic surveilience and cameras and building a wall if we are going to give amnesty to everyone anyway. the hell with amnesty lets start a recall on all the backstabbing people like Kennedy. The bill is absolute amnesty and a disgrace. all the illegal and their children though born in the U S of A are NOT citizens. Being born in the U S of A of citizens makes you a citizen. being born of illegals means you are an illegal not a citizen. We do not have to worry about being invaded by a foreign country we have been invaded by our own representatives that want to give our country away.

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We need to do something. If those in DC make the wrong decision and give our country away it is our duty as citizens to fix the problem. I haven't heard of anyone acting yet but we need to do all we can to stop it.

1. Why is there no effort to determine how many illegal aliens we have in the US?

2. Why is there no legislation presented to increase the self-repatraition of the illegal aliens?

3. Why is there no legislation presented with the stated purpose to stop the entry of all illegal aliens?

4. Why is there nothing in the legislation on guest workers programs to restrict it to only allow workers without families? The cost of the program to monitor family members will be a huge burden to the US taxpayer.

5. Why are there no conditions in the guest workers program to insure the worker returns to his country-of-origin after contract completion?

6. Like the amnesty of 1986, this legislation is not intended to stop or control the illegal alien invasion.

mule skinner

This whole amnesty thing makes me ill. I emigrated to the U.S.A. with my parents when I was a teen. We did it the legal way!!! My parents had to apply, wait and wait, get checked out, have a sponsor, have a job secured upon arrival. It cost them a lot of money, time and effort. But, we are proud to be citizens of this country. We became citizens as soon as the law allowed. My parents were not rich at all, but we made it! Amnesty is a crock! I am an american, pay taxes and do my best to be a good American. Bring back the quota system. That is how we were able to emigrate after years of waiting. Lynne

 Here is another report that is from Senator Cornyn's  website as of this morning.  I am very proud of our Texas senators.  They are working hard for us. They both have vowed that they will not vote for any amnesty bill.  I believe that this is different from the one above.  If you find that it is repetitious and is posted on this site already let me know and I will delete it. 

Votes Against Motion To Proceed On Rushing Through Draft Bill

Votes against motion to proceed on rushing through draft bill

Monday, May 21, 2007

 

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Immigration and Border Security subcommittee, made the following statement today regarding his vote against rushing to a comprehensive immigration bill which has still not yet been formally introduced in the U.S. Senate:

 

"It was ridiculous to drop a voluminous document on the Senate in the middle of the night two days ago. Immigration reform is one of the most important issues facing our country today and we need to work together to get it right. We must take the time to review the hundreds of legislative pages in this proposal and give Texans and the American people the opportunity to let their voices be heard. They deserve to know that their interests are being represented as opposed to some special interest group."

 

--Sen. Cornyn inserted the following statement in the Senate Record on Monday--

 

"For over three months, I have engaged with a number of my colleagues and administration officials in an extraordinary series of meetings and discussions designed to reach bipartisan consensus for solutions to the many problems we face regarding our immigration system. I have done so in good faith and in keeping with my long held belief that we must have a comprehensive approach to immigration reform.

"I believe we should continue to try to move forward, generally, and that this problem is too important not to come up with an appropriate solution.

"That having been said – I am very concerned about the process that led to today. First, we have not undertaken the normal legislative process – bypassing the Senate Judiciary Committee – leading to a public perception of non-transparency and distrust. Second, most of the members of the Senate and their staff did not receive even a draft of the ‘final’ language until 2:00 AM on Saturday morning, just a little over 48 hours ago. Third, I am told that the bill will NOT go to Senate legislative counsel – a significant departure from the normal course and a departure that makes it more difficult for legislative counsel to draft amendments due to lack of familiarity with the text. Finally, I am told the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) cost estimate for the bill will not come out until Wednesday – only two days before the legislation may well receive a final vote depending on leadership decisions in the coming days.

"Moreover, I remain very concerned about the substance of the bill. For instance, my staff’s preliminary review indicates that there are potentially some very problematic provisions in the language. In addition, because of the ‘rush’ to produce language to meet the Monday deadline for a cloture vote, there are a number of technical drafting errors which also have a substantive effect and were being worked on as late as this afternoon.

"I have been open about my concerns with respect to interior enforcement – concerns that I still hold today. For example, the draft bill does not, to my knowledge, do enough to curb one of the core flaws that undermined the 1986 amnesty bill – that of unlimited judicial review. Indeed, just two weeks ago a judge ordered DHS to re-visit whether a class of aliens should get the 1986 amnesty. It appears that if this bill passes, these aliens whose only real claim to participate in our system, will be able to take advantage of the new visa holder because they were able to delay through litigation. There are no limits on the number of motions to re-open the administrative process or times an alien can appeal to an Article III court. If the American public is going to have confidence in this system, they need to be assured there will be limits.

"In addition, I would note that the New York Times wrote that the 1986 amnesty bill produced the largest immigration fraud in the history of the United States. President Clinton’s INS General Counsel testified that statutory restrictions on law enforcement’s ability to use the information contained in amnesty applications impeded their ability to detect the fraud. To my knowledge, this bill continues to require confidentiality in certain cases where the application is denied.

"In the end, as much as I believe we should continue to work together to reach consensus on the critical issue of immigration reform – a matter of national import but that is particularly important to my home State of Texas – I cannot in good conscience agree to proceed to legislation which we anticipate replacing with language we received at 2:00 AM on Saturday – without appropriate committee review – the text of which is hundreds of pages in length, the provisions of which are as complicated as any legislation we will take up and the impact of which will be felt (for better or worse) for generations to come."

--Additional Information--

COLUMN (Cornyn and Hutchison): Secure Borders and Immigration Reform without Amnesty (5/21/07)

http:/www.cornyn.senate.gov/index.asp?f=record&lid=1&rid=237449

STATEMENT: Sen. Cornyn Statement on Immigration Reform Announcement (5/17/07)

http://cornyn.senate.gov/index.asp?f=...

ARTICLE: Texas Senators Leaning Against Bill (5/21/07, Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

http://www.star-telegram.com/news/v-p...

 

Sen. Cornyn serves on the Armed Services, Judiciary and Budget Committees. In addition, he is Vice Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference and the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee’s Immigration, Border Security and Refugees subcommittee and the Armed Services Committee’s Airland subcommittee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge.

Since they have bought us a little time to discuss this bill, this might be a good time for all of us to write our senators and provide some input to the discussion.  It is inevitable that we will have a guest worker program, and I am not against that at all, but there are some provisions that I would like to ask of them. 

I will ask them to require that the employers of  the guest workers provide health insurance for them, and that to include the farm workers.  It will not be fair to the legal citizens if our hospital districts raise our taxes to pay for their medical bills. 

Furthermore, the employers must pay school tax to pay for the education of these  children, and also to pay for their food stamps, and the other amenities that they think is free.   I know that someone said long ago that education is free, but whoever it was that made that statement was not very well educated.  Nothing is free.  Someone has to pay the bill.  The only thing in this life that is free is the Grace of God.  And in my 74 years, I have never been able to figure out how to sponge off of my neighbors.

And while we are making our wants and wishes known to them, let us remember to thank then for being mindful of their constituency, and for all their hard work.  I do feel like our Texas senators are doing their very best, and if we do fail, and they eventually raise the Mexican flag over  Washington, DC and all our state capitols, we will at least have a clear conscience knowing that we have done all that we can do.

 

 

PLEASE watch a video clip called Immigration by the Numbers. It's the last one on the list at http://www.numbersusa.com/about/tvand.... It shows very clearly what is happening in America and how urgent it is for us to do the right thing NOW to protect the future of our sons, daughters, nephews, nieces, grandchildren...etc.. (Can I BEG you all to watch it????) Then we need to make calls, send faxes and emails, GO SEE our senators and congressmen to ENSURE we stop the foreign invasion. This current legislation, or anything similar, will signal the end of the middle class in America.

I fully intend to call our Texas reps. this morning and register a very valid complaint against this abomimal mess they are trying to force down our throats. The click inWashington has gotten so imbedded with there status quo that they feel they can do anything they want and if you don't approve--- Tough S---!!!!!!! I really believe we need to enact time limits on these  cliff hangers and at the same time let them pay into Social Security and remove there plush retirement( did you know they don't even pay into s.s.) and then we will see things start to get straightened around. Who ever said the job was going to be for a lfe time anyway. If you will note as time goes on that the ones who are being reelected time after time are the ones with the largest war chest full of tax payers money. We need new blood and common sense direction from the white house. Not a bag full of lies and trickery like we have been handed for the last seven years. This country will go for a long, long time paying for this mess we are in. And you know who is going to pay the major part don't you?? Just look at your drivers license or other identification because we the working middle class and the many young boys who have lost there lives in this unjustified war , and will have given there all are thegreatest losers and we tax paying middle class are are going to have to pay for many, many years to come. Kind of makes a person a little sick just to know we have such arrogant Reps. in Washington. At least in the majority. I'm also sure there are some very good people working aganst this bill and I want to thank these individuals for ther diligence and dedication to what is right and there fight against the bad odds that are also in the Washington arena.

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There is hope for America with RON PAUL. Hi grassroots support is exploding while the media is slamming him. Hmmmmmm....does that tell you something? Ron Paul has a diverse audience of supporters-- from libertarians, republicans, Reagan democrats, progressives etc. Most if not all of his constituency are rural families that consistently elect him to Congress. Ron has never voted for a tax raise. Ron refused his congressional pension and consistently reurns the balance of his congressional budget, annually. Ron is for limited government, under a constitutional framework--the very definition of republicanism. And of course, he is against illegal immigration and the North American Union. If you go to his website - not his campaign site but the government one (http://www.house.gov/paul/) and click on Legislative Information you can read his speeches, straight talk, press releases. One way to plug into the grassroots movement is through http://ronpaul.meetup.com/. There are Ron Paul groups sprining up all over the country.

We all need to spend every dime we can afford to fax and phone our Senators and Congressmen and Women to voice our OUTRAGE of the Amnesty Bill!

I agree with vskike that we need to put Term Limits on everyone!  I also believe that we should MAKE them pay into Social Security too!  Do you know of anyone that can make $165,000 per year for just a few years, not pay a dime to Social Security, and then get 100% of their salary as retirement pay for the rest of their lives?  I don't, but I sure would like to get some of that action.

I am a Federal Employee, Air Traffic Controller at the 7th busiest Approach Control (Houston International - we have 26 airports that we handle every airplane in to for 8500 square miles).  I work 6 days per week, 10 hours per day and when I retire after 20 years, I will get 33.34% of my pay for retirement!  I pay into SS and I pay lots of taxes, and I think they all need to do the same.

We still have a Middle Class in America, but not for long!  If this bill passes, the BURDEN on the middle class will be so great that it will continue to disappear and in 10 years or so, there will only be poverty class and upper class rich americans.  This will be a "THIRD WORLD COUNTRY" just like Mexico!

We need to change the Anchor Baby law to read, "Only children born in the U.S. of legal immigrants or citizens are Citizens"  If you are born to an illegal alien, then you are NOT a citizen!  This law should have been changed 100 years ago.  It was only written to allow the Slaves children to become citizens, and since we don't have slavery anymore and haven't had in hundreds of years, why is this law still there?

I am ready for a Revolution!  I think that if this bill passes, that there will be a revolution within 10 years or so, maybe we need one to wake up the Idiots in Washington!

If they don't vote the way I vote, then they won't get my vote!

You're absolutely right....with this legislation we'd have 5-10 years left of America as we know it. CALL, FAX, EMAIL and if you can GO SEE your senators and congressmen! We have every right to be OUTRAGED because they are selling out America. Illegal immigration has nothing to do with "compassion" and "family values." It has everything to do with corruption and dismantling the middle class in America. It has to do with corrupt corporations and individuals who hire illegals and thereby create the underground economy that supports uncontrolled illegal immigration. It's this corruption that needs to "come out of the shadows," NOT illegals! This is about our leaders allowing a foreign invasion!!!!!!!!

Thomas Sowell BioThe Amnesty Fraud By Thomas Sowell May 22, 2007 ......The big talking point of those who want to legalize the illegal immigrants currently in the United States is to say that it is "unrealistic" to round up and deport 12 million people. Back in 1986 it was "unrealistic" to round up and deport the 3 million illegal immigrants in the United States then. So they were given amnesty -- honestly labeled, back then -- which is precisely why there are now 12 million illegal immigrants. As a result of the current amnesty bill -- not honestly labeled, this time -- will it be "unrealistic" to round up and deport 40 million or 50 million illegal immigrants in the future? If the current immigration bill is as "realistic" as its advocates claim, why is it being rushed through the Senate faster than a local zoning ordinance could be passed? We are, after all, talking about a major and irreversible change in the American population, the American culture, and the American political balance. Why is there no time to talk about it? Are its advocates afraid that the voting public might discover what a fraud it is? The biggest fraud is denying that this is an amnesty bill. Its advocates' argument is that illegal immigrants will have to meet certain requirements to become citizens. But amnesty is not about how you become a citizen. The word is from the same root as "amnesia." It means you forget or overlook some crime, as if it never happened. All this elaborate talk about the steps illegal immigrants must go through to become citizens is a distraction from the crime they committed when they crossed the border illegally. Instead, all attention is focused on what to do to accommodate those who committed this crime. It is a question that would be recognized as an insult to our intelligence on any other issue. READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE AT http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/tsow...

We do not have to round up any illegal aliens. According to US laws, without proper documentation it is against the law to be in the US and it is also against the law to aid and assist illegal aliens. Legislation needs to be passed to require all "illegal aliens" to register with the DHS. If they ever want to be allowed to stay in the US they will then be required to self-repatriate themselves back to their country-of-origin. Once they arrive back in their country-of-origin they will be allowed to apply for "legal entry" into the US. If they stay in the US without registering, when apprehended by either state or federal law enforcement officers they will be classified as an "illegal immigrant," deported and they will never be allowed to legally enter the US. The golden door will be closed for them forever. This program will not only clear out the illegal aliens but it will also send the message that legal entry is the only way to stay in the US, we enforce our laws.

Additional any "guest workers program" should only allow single, unaccomlanied workers into the US, no family members. Part of their salary should be held in escrow until they return to their country-of-origin and if any of their family members are apprehended in the US as illegal aliens, the workers contract would be cancelled, escrow forfeited and worker deported. Guest workers will have no association with either the US Social Security System or Medicare System.

Take away all the "golden incentives" and the illegal invasion will dry up.

mule skinner 

 

 

Please realize one major reason for the illegal immigration insanity is this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Am...

Each one of us are to blame for this mess & total disregard for the taxpayer's wishes by our elected officials. WE VOTED EACH ONE OF THEM IN.  Unfortunately, so many voters know so little about the background of their representatives. Nancy Pelosi made it well known that she was against inforcing the law pertaining to arresting employers that hired illegal aliens. Now she is very powerful & will have the support of the majority of democrats. Remember, our reps are loyal to the money source that pays their way,namely special interest groups & the party machine. MONEY BUYS VOTES!!

 Really, This reform vote is nothing more than a vote getter for the democratic party. What party will the illegals support once they gain the right to vote? You can bet it will not be the republican party. The support that Bush is offering does not make sense & thank heavens that to date, our Texas reps have not supported his platform.

I lived in Saudi Arabia where they rely heavily on "guest workers". It is a very effective program that allows SINGLE INDIVIDUALs to enter the country on a work visa. The employer holds their documentation, houses & feeds them, restricts their travel & is held responsible for their exit out of the country. It WORKS!! & we need to do the same. Very simple solution!! 

Here is the response I got from the Hutchinson camp in regards to my Email urging her to fight these amnesty measures:

 Dear Mr. Peoples:

Thank you for contacting me regarding illegal immigration in the United States. I welcome your thoughts and comments on this issue.

Congress substantially revised our nation's immigration laws in 1996, including the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, expanding the Border Patrol, imposing significant penalties on immigrant smugglers, and establishing expedited deportation procedures. In the wake of the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, we have been forced to reexamine our immigration laws and policies in order to eliminate vulnerabilities in our national security while continuing to meet the intent of the Constitution and the demands of international commerce.

Since 2001, Congress has addressed many immigration and border security concerns in the USA PATRIOT Act, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, and the REAL ID Act of 2005. Key provisions have included a systematic plan to monitor the southern border with unmanned aerial vehicles, authorization for an increase in the number of personnel devoted to enforcing immigration laws, and requirements that all applicants for state-issued identification and drivers' licenses prove their lawful presence in the United States.

In October 2005, I introduced S. 1823, the Illegal Immigration Enforcement and Empowerment Act, which would grant state and local officials expanded authority to arrest, detain and prosecute illegal aliens. The legislation would have created a Volunteer Border Marshal Program. In addition, I met with U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to discuss broad immigration reform measures and the new provisions outlined in my bill. I also led Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) on a tour along the U.S.-Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley to highlight the need for more agents, technology and funding to secure our borders. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have worked hard to secure more than $322 million in additional appropriations over the past year for border security, including funding for 1,500 new Border Patrol agents (bringing the total number to 14,819 Border Patrol agents), 50 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigators, 168 detention officers, and almost 2,000 detention beds. To this date, we have ended catch and release and accelerated the deportation process. I strongly supported provisions for an additional $1.9 billion in immediate funding for border security to cover the first 1,000 of 6,000 new Border Patrol agents who will be deployed to the border in the next two years. These funds, as provided in the Fiscal Year 2006 Emergency Supplemental appropriations bill, will assist with the temporary deployment of up to 6,000 National Guard troops aiding the Border Patrol with surveillance and logistics. Though S. 1823 was not considered by the full Senate prior to the adjournment of the 109th Congress, I understand that more needs to be done.

The United States has one of the most open immigration policies in the world, and I am aware of the important contributions our immigrants make to our nation. Temporary work visas play an important role in ensuring U.S. companies have the workers they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. However, U.S. immigration policy must ensure American workers have every opportunity to compete for available jobs. In the areas of our economy where voids of talent and skills exist, we need to invest the resources necessary to fill those gaps. For example, I believe we need to increase our country's skills in the areas of math and science, and in 2006 I cosponsored an amendment to the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2006 to assist in this effort by increasing our funding for Advanced Placement courses.

I support the development of a guest worker program that would allow foreign nationals to work in the United States in industries where labor is in critical demand. For this reason, I have been joined by Representative Mike Pence (R-IN) in proposing a new visa category. Our proposal would create the Secure Borders, Good Neighbors and Secure Authorized Foreign Employees (SAFE) Visa program. The program would grant visas to authorized nationals of NAFTA or CAFTA-DR countries who receive employment offers in job areas in the United States that have been certified by the Secretary of Labor as having a shortage of workers. The Good Neighbor SAFE Visa is a positive step in the right direction. This plan puts border security first and addresses those who knowingly hire illegal workers, but it also recognizes the need for a temporary worker program that operates without amnesty and harnesses the power of the private sector to avoid creating a huge new government bureaucracy.

I believe that granting citizenship or lawful permanent residence status to those who entered our country illegally would only encourage others to break our laws in the future. For these reasons, I opposed amnesty provisions set forth in the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. I voted against S. 2611 because I believe that any legislation addressing immigration must first address the safety and security needs of the United States. In a world where terrorists continue to seek to harm Americans, we must protect our citizens. We have every right to know who is in our country, who has crossed our borders, and the purpose and the length of the visit. We are negligent if we do not know these things.

The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 was passed by the Senate on May 25, 2006, by a 62 to 36 vote. Though S. 2611 passed the Senate, it was not considered by the House of Representatives prior to the adjournment of the 109th Congress. I will keep your views in mind as the Senate continues to consider this important issue in the 110th Congress.

I appreciate hearing from you and hope you will not hesitate to keep in touch on any issue of concern to you.


Sincerely,
Kay Bailey Hutchison