TOPICS
TOPICS
Controversial language likely to be cut from immigration bill
During rallies Monday in more than 60 cites across the country, immigrant advocates blasted a House-passed bill -- but the provisions in that legislation attracting the most ire are all but certain not to become law.
Immigrant advocates are particularly angered by language in the House bill that would make it a felony to be in the United States illegally. Even the author of the House bill has said the language will not survive in its current form if the Senate passes a bill, and the House bill goes to conference.
"The chairman has repeatedly said he would make sure that it is changed to a misdemeanor," said a spokesman for House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis. That still may not settle the issue, since Democrats and some Republicans have argued that illegal presence -- such as when someone overstays a visa -- should not trigger criminal penalties, even as a misdemeanor.
The Senate Judiciary Committee's bill does not change the status of the violation for "illegal presence" from its current civil penalty, although a proposal by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., would have made it a misdemeanor.
Another provision in the House-passed bill that has sparked anger would make it a felony to aid illegal immigrants. Meant to clamp down on human smugglers, the provision also could apply to individuals providing humanitarian assistance to illegal immigrants.
Sensenbrenner has said he would consider changing the language or the implementation of the bill if it became law to ensure that individuals offering humanitarian aid are not targeted. Still, some senators want more assurance, and the Senate committee bill includes language that would exempt such aid. Many House Republicans would be willing to go along with a stronger codified exemption, aides said.
"I don't think that would be the thing that would hold up a conference," one House GOP aide said. "We used language suggested by the Department of Justice," the Sensenbrenner spokesman said. "But if someone else has ideas for how to fill that loophole, certainly the chairman and everyone else working on this is open to that."
Although the Senate left for Congress' two-week Easter recess without passing an immigration bill -- even though the chamber came tantalizingly close to doing so late last week -- the Senate bills' sponsors insist the effort to pass a massive immigration bill this year is not dead.
COMMENTS
- Not surprising, given the gutless and spineless nature of politicians these days. Actually, many ICE agents (although many of them, particularly the legacy Customs agents, would be ashamed to admit that's who they are) are somewhat relieved by the Congress' ambivalence, because if Congress is ambivalent, ICE agents can be ambivalent, too, and keep a low profile, instead of mindlessly enforcing yet another set of laws designed to weaken, not strengthen, immigration and nationality law. What's truly amazing is that laws that legacy Customs used to enforce more vigorously than ICE does today -- drugs, money, weapons, etc. -- have been toughened over the years, not weakened. It is truly amazing how Congress can seek to weaken laws aimed at people illegally in the country, especially when you consider that crime and national security are rooted in the intent of people, not inanimate objects like drugs, money or guns. Meanwhile, the U.S. Marshals are hiring 1811 laterals until May 10; it can only be left to wonder how much more ICE is going to bleed in the next 30 days, while the youngest, most physically fit, best and brightest jump ship to an agency within the Justice Department (think FBI, DEA and ATFE, folks) that has a proud history, a focused mission, funding and, most of all respect (not to mention no talk of "pay for performance" or pay banding). If many ICE agents weren't 40-something with busted knees, etc., many would go and be proud to be called a deputy U.S. marshal. Most painful of all is to be in the middle -- too young to retire, and too old and beat up for anyone else to want you. GovExec.com reader Posted April 12, 2006 4:51 PM
- The Mexican government has actively encouraged illegal migration to the United States. It has vigorously fought all U.S. measures to curb illegal immigration. Mexico also has been pushing hard for U.S. amnesty -- unlimited guest worker visas and U.S. citizenship -- and other benefits for millions of illegal Mexican migrants. If the United States grants amnesty to only 6 million illegal Mexican migrants, once naturalized, they can vote in our future elections. In recent years, our elections were very close. Is Mexico using migration to influence our future elections? Although many Mexican Americans are patriotic and most Mexican migrants have no political agenda, many newcomers could be mobilized by Mexico to vote according to Mexico's interests. Indeed, in recent weeks, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators marched in many parts of United States. Many of the protesters were waving Mexican flags. Their demands on immigration are identical to Mexico's. Americans should be aware that 6 million amnestied migrants could add tens of millions of people (and many future voters) to the United States, through births here and through immigration of extended families. Children born in the United States, even of guest workers, are American citizens and can vote at 18. If current population growth trend in the United States continues, within just a few decades the majority of people in the United States could very well be of Mexican descent. Sincerely, Yeh Ling-Ling Executive Director Diversity Alliance for a Sustainable America 1904 Franklin Street, Suite 517 Oakland, CA 94612 Phone: (510) 835-5017 www.diversityalliance.org Yeh Ling-Ling Posted April 11, 2006 6:59 PM
- I was hired by the former Customs Service in the mid-1980s to assist in the so-called “Drug War.” Congress, to its credit, passed legislation favorable to the law enforcement community during this time frame. Today, we still are barely holding our own against the cartels and other criminal organizations some 20 years later. Comparatively, in the case of illegal immigration, Congress, and this nation as a whole, do not possess the political will or courage to confront this issue with favorable legislation and funding. One of the basic elements of government is to protect its people. Is any one surprised that we are crafting a strategy for failure? Joe Customs - 1789 Posted April 11, 2006 10:47 PM
