By BETH FOUHY
AP Political Writer
March 22, 2006, 2:51 PM EST
NEW YORK -- Invoking Biblical themes, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton joined immigration advocates Wednesday to vow and block legislation seeking to criminalize undocumented immigrants.
Clinton, a potential 2008 presidential candidate and relative latecomer to the immigration debate, made her remarks as the Senate prepares to take up the matter next week.
Clinton renewed her pledge to oppose a bill passed in December by the House that would make unlawful presence in the United States _ currently a civil offense _ a felony. The Senate is set to consider a version of that legislation, as well as several other bills seeking to address the seemingly intractable issue of immigration reform.
Surrounded by a multicultural coalition of New York immigration advocates, Clinton blasted the House bill as "mean-spirited" and said it flew in the face of Republicans' stated support for faith and values.
SOURCE
Clinton vows to block bill criminalizing illegal immigrants
Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by poncho, Mar 25, 2006.
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"Criminalize" "illegal"
By definition, aren't illegal aliens already criminals? -
Our elected officials in the Senate are going to consider it and other similar bills soon. They ought to enforce the laws on the books now. I'm opposed to felonizing this issue.
But I disagree that it "flies in the face of Republicans' stated support for faith and values." And just who is she to point that finger? -
It's a sad day when illegals can come into this country and influence politics and have their way with our elected officials.American citizens are finding themselves with less of a voice in the way that this country is being run while undocumented/illegal aliens get to make up the rules.
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Since our government, going back for several administrations now, has totally messed up on immigration policy...let's grant them amnesty. Provided we at the same time pass a law making English the official language so taxpayers don't have to printed government manual in several different languages...and then pass into law that none of them can receive welfare benefits for the next three generations.
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Woudln't it be easier just to make Mexico the 51st state? That way, the money made by the illegals would at least stay within the U.S.
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The simplest way to put a stop to practically all illegal immigration is to strengthen and enforce the laws that make it illegal for a U.S. company to hire an illegal alien.
If the jobs aren't available for them, then most of those breaking the law won't be coming across the border.
We also need to ban illegal aliens from receiving any government services. -
((wow))Um, It IS illegal to hire aliens without a work permit.
I dont think we should ban anyone from receiving medical care or help. That just isnt too Christian of us.
Bro Reed, Ive been saying that for years. -
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Our law enforcement of of illegal immigration have been eroding for years . At some point you have to hold the line. You can't pass an amnesty law requiring that English be spoken , It won't work. ESL classes are available in most states already some use it and some don't.
Welfare benefits? The best way to handle welfare is to do away with it forever, there will always be loopholes on that one.
Make it the the 51st state? There is too much corruption in Mexico why do we want to add more to our own?
KenH is right, strenghten our current laws and enforce them.
DHS is doing a very poor job of handling the illegal immigration problem. Homeland Security should be investigated it should have it's corruption rooted out. -
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Everyone agrees that illegal immigrants are a problem. Everyone understands that our border with Mexico is like a sift. What leader was elected for the purpose of being in control of the border? The governor of Texas? The governor of Arizona? The governor of California? No! No! No! None of the above qualify. We elected a president(you know,the rich boy, a reformed drunk) and he and he alone has the authority to close the border. So that is our present condition. We are led by a man who's incapable of making the proper decision and so chaos is the result.
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Illegals are a pointer to a more dangerous problem...
Open Borders...
If the poorly funded illegals can get across the border and into the northern states...
What's stopping AlQueda?
I am absolutely not against having immigration or temporay work permits...
I just want to be sure that whoever is coming across our borders are friendly to the American Way of Life...
I am not sure Amnesty is the Correct Course...
There are Hundreds of Thousands of Law Abiding Mexicans waiting across the border to come in Legally...
No, kick *all* the illegals out and let them get in line, too.
Bolster the screening process... So, we can clear the Legals in quicker...
Make a first offence a misdemeanor...
Make the 2nd offense a Felony and permanently barred from *ever* re-entering the US...
Change the format and paper for the Workers Permits so that they can not be Forged any more easily than our currency...
There is a major industry in Forged Documents...
And, lest anyone forget there have been some rather heinous crimes committed by illegals...
This is NOT a victimless crime...
And, I agree that we should Codify American English as **THE** National Language...
Mike Sr. -
And that other thing? Enforcing the laws? Speak to your Congress person. They are the ones who continue to gut the INS. I suppose you were all for that whole Elian Gonzalez quagmire where the Attorney General thought she needed to a house clearing team to go in and get a 6 year old? And you didnt want us to go into Iraq....LOL! -
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2) No, I was against the Elian Gonzalez quagmire. -
If the illegals aren't here in the first place then State and Local Governments won't have the dilema of to care or not to care...
Properly Documented Workers will pay taxes and their employers will also pay the right taxes.
Mike Sr. -
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Call your Senators today & voice your opinion. Or send an email with just AGAINST GUEST WORKER AMNESTY PROGRAM in the subject line.
Here's a link to all their DC phone numbers:
http://www.teamamericapac.org/senatenumbers.htm
Or you can go on your Senators' web sites and call locally to their staff to tell them you are against any amnesty or guest worker program.
Believe me, their staffs are manning the phones today (as they do when there is any bill about to be decided upon), marking tics on the pros & cons columns.
I just called my Senators' offices and also told them the INS ought to be at those protests rounding up all the Mexican flag carriers since they probably are here illegally.
I also said English needs to be made our National Language. In Nashville public schools alone, services are provided for 78 languages at taxpayer expense. Ridiculous.
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