Pro-amnesty congressional leaders continue to echo President Obama’s calls for comprehensive immigration reform legislation that includes amnesty for illegal aliens. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), who has previously said he will refuse to consider an immigration bill that lacks a pathway to citizenship, last week issued an official list of his top ten policy objectives for the new session of Congress. (Las Vegas Sun, Jan. 18, 2013; see also Roll Call, Jan. 22, 2013) “Comprehensive Immigration Reform” ranked number one. (Roll Call, Jan. 22, 2013)
Sen. Rubio (R-FL) also continued his campaign for amnesty last week during an appearance on the Mark Levin radio show. (See Mark Levin Recording, Jan. 23, 2013) As described, his proposal—like Harry Reid’s and previous amnesty bills in the past—includes a pathway to citizenship for the roughly 11 million illegal aliens in the United States. (Id.; see also FAIR Legislative Update , Jan. 22, 2013)
Not surprisingly, pro-amnesty Congressional leaders in the Republican-controlled House have also aligned themselves with Sens. Harry Reid and Marco Rubio. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) told a group last week that “we’re going to have to deal with [immigration]” and expressed support for the “Gang of Eight,” a bipartisan group of Senators in charge of drafting immigration reform legislation including a pathway to citizenship. (The Hill, Jan. 26, 2013) “I think they basically have an agreement,” Boehner said. (Id.) “I don’t know all the pitfalls in it, but it’s in my view, the right group of members….My theory was, if these folks could work this out, it’d be a big step in the right direction.” (Id.)
During an interview last week, former Vice Presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) mentioned immigration as an issue where Republicans and Democrats can work together. (Wall Street Journal, Jan. 23, 2013) “I’ve long believed in immigration reform,” Rep. Ryan said, “and I think there are other Republicans who do so as well.” (Id.) The week prior, Rep. Ryan voiced his support for the “principles [Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has] outlined.” (Huffington Post, Jan. 14, 2013)
Off Capitol Hill, more Republican leaders are jumping on the amnesty bandwagon, voicing support for proposals like that of Sen. Rubio. Last weekend, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Congress to “get comprehensive immigration reform back on the agenda” on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” (National Review, Jan. 20, 2013) Rice, who specifically named Rubio as a Republican leader on the issue, insisted that comprehensive immigration reform would give the Republican Party the “broad appeal” that it needed. (Id.; see also FOX News, Jan. 21, 2013)
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush also weighed in with an Op-Ed in the Wall Street Journal, supporting amnesty and advocating for the DREAM Act. “The U.S. must find a fair way to deal with its 11 million illegal immigrants,” he wrote. “Crossing the border illegally must have consequences. At the same time, we must recognize that children who were brought here illegally have committed no crime and in most instances know no other country.” (Wall Street Journal, Jan. 24, 2013)
Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) has indicated his committee will begin hearings on immigration legislation in February. (Sen. Leahy Press Release, Jan. 16, 2013)
5 Comments
I believe every human being should have there own freedom and not be called an alien unless they are from outer space
The best way to address any problem is to solve it, since the blanket amnesty of 1986 there has been an additional six more none solved the problem they are still violating our border and visa laws. The simple solution would be put as many of our soldiers that are currently serving in Japan, Germany or Korea as needed on the border. This would not be at a higher cost as they are already being paid. Enact a strong E-Verifying law and put it in all work places, schools colleges and government service offices, this would lead to Attrition through Enforcement. How simple can it be.
Hey Percy
I’d vote for you, if you ran for office 🙂
Don’t forget about deportation. This is also an important tool that needs to be used since there will always be those that get past the border or overstay their visas. Estimates are that to deport all 11 million of these foreign invaders we would need as much as $280 Billion. So what? Cost estimates that NOT to are higher if they are given amnesty! And the Fed is printing up $85 Billion a month and giving it to the Wall Street Bankers–buying their toxic mortgage backed securities to stimulate job growth. What a joke. These bankers are putting the money in their pocket. Better if the Fed gave that money to Homeland Security for three months—about $250 Billion for deportations. Think of the jobs it would create. Not only for those hired to deport these people, but the jobs that would be freed up once they are gone that they were occupying. But, oh right, Obama and the rest of the politicians and cheap labor lobby businessmen would lose votes and money if that happened so it will be a cold day in hell before we see that. Better so sell our country out in continued treasonous actions and screw over the legal hard working average American citizen….
Have You Noticed the Proliferation of Not Only Payday Loan Shark Businesses
But simultaneously attached Western Union services too.
The cheaper insourced workers [our lower paid replacements from abroad] send the American loot out of this country in huge barrells to their motherlands….little good it does America for churning our local businesses increasing money supplies for investing in local real estate too.
How much of these MASSIVE laundered funds didn’t get taxed too is anyones’ guess; the money and the recipients can all be undocumented….along with the drug money profits mixed in.
I’ve heard low-balled estimates on this money transferring [launderring] from banksters and don’t believe a single word…..
And making ’em citizens won’t change this pattern either….it will just make it worse as they come out of the shadows more….