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Quiz: Talking Tuff on Illegal Immigration
December 21, 2007 10:06 AM
Former White House advisers -- Matthew Dowd who worked for President Bush, and Lanny Davis who worked for President Clinton -- talked with us about how Rudy Giuliani is handling his health care crisis. Read more about that HERE.
Yesterday here in Iowa a woman whose daughter had been killed by an illegal immigrant driving drunk asked a presidential candidate about the issue.
The candidate's response was quite interesting, complete with a push that rounding up 12-to-14 million illegals and deporting them "sounds good" but would be difficult to implement.
"Here's what I would do," said the candidate, "I think we've got to fix our borders. I've been voting for that and saying that for several years. We have to have a tougher border security program, we have to have more technology and personnel along the boarder. We have to know who is coming into our country and keep track of them and keep out people who shouldn't be coming in."
The candidate continued: "Secondly, people would not come to this county if they didn't think there would be a job waiting for them. So our employers have to have much tougher penalties and sanctions if they employ people who are here illegally. Because the only way we will convince people not to come is if they know it will be very, very hard to get a job and I think we've got to increase the fines and the sanctions so that it really does cost employers a lot if they hire people who don't have the proper documentation.
"Thirdly, you know, there are lots of problems that communities like Tipton have to end up paying for because the federal government has failed --education costs and health care costs and law enforcement costs. So I think the federal government, its their failure, for the costs of illegal immigration.
"Number four, when I'm president I'm going to see what I can do to get all of those countries to our South, all the leaders to create more jobs for their people – people would not leave their families, they would not leave their villages if they thought they had a decent shot at a better life...
"But finally -- and this is the big problem everybody gets all tangled up with -- what do we do with the people who are already here? We have estimates from 12-to-14 million people who are here illegally...
"Now, some people say, 'OK round everybody up and deport them.' That sounds really good. I hear that on TV, I hear it on the radio. But let me ask you how that actually works. You see, I don't want to tell you something that sounds good and then have you wake up later and say, 'Wait a minute --nobody said it was going to cost that much or be that hard.'
"The best estimates I have are that if we even tried to round up 12-to-14 million people it would cost at least 200 billion dollars, it would take tens of thousands of new federal law enforcement officials. It would take a convoy of 200,000 buses stretching 1,700 miles and it would take a lot of invasion of your privacy rights. Because if we were serious about rounding everybody up and they would have to knock on every door of every business and every home throughout Iowa and throughout America. I think Americans would stand for that for about a nanosecond."
Continued the candidate: "I think we have to tell these folks to come out of the shadows and register every single one of them. If they committed a crime in the country they came from or in this country we have to deport them immediately, no questions asked, no legal process – you put them on a plane you send 'em back to where they came from. "
But, the candidate continued, "if they have been here working, if they have not gotten into trouble, then I think we have to be really hard and say, 'Look you came here illegally and here's what you have to do if you expect to stay. …You have to pay back taxes and I mean all back taxes,...you have to pay a fine, you have to try to learn English, and you have to wait in line, and you may have to wait in line for 10, 12, 15 years. You have to stay out of trouble. You have to be productive. And at the end of that period you could be eligible to be a citizen."
So take a guess? Who was this candidate? Answer will be posted later today.
-- jpt
December 21, 2007 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (20)
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Since super-Tuesday Barack support ahve give more than $ 7 Mio. Barack is the right candidate. Please check his records then do you vote. I am sure you will vote for him.
Posted by: Mamadou | Feb 7, 2008 9:15:24 AM
First better control of the border to avoid additional illegal immigration
2. Find a reasonable solution for those who are here. Just sending them all home is by the way the wrong plan
3. Better control the employers who are paying these peoples very very low wage. In these business are the winner and the immigrants the losers
4. Be human and help those who never make any criminal problem
5. All those who are criminal should be treat as Criminal. But not just send them back without prove. So give them lawyers. If their are guilty then make sure their are sent back home and make sure they get their jail in the country they come from
6. Those who are here and ready to pay the tax back, and good and integrated citizen, offer them to put them legal so they contribute to the development of the country.
7. Doing so you will make sure that native Citizen get a good job with high salary
8. Doing so you will make sure the children of these immigrants have good education and don't fall to be supported by all of you. They are US Citizen and we have to make sure they get good education
9. Give the Border patrol more money and equipment, increase the number of Border control
10. USA is a wealthily and human, so help those who are not criminal and need help.
This is what I would like to say
Posted by: Mamadou | Feb 7, 2008 8:53:14 AM
Who's the candidate--??--I would say its NOT Sen. Obama..Sen. Obabam is most times alot about TITLES-and-very little about the story..this one tells a story--so I think its Gov.Huckabee..considering the very big numbers/12-14 million illegal aliens..I think what you ave is a problem in the High Society of "mashing" all the DNA into the FRUITCAKE that serves nicely w/wine..if you consider that Jesus was too turn water too wine..<<--maybe back again..I think you find the truth about family..if you consider tha Richard Nixon was infusing a Melting Pot I quess you have the worst of all philosophies..what could be worse of all the latest actions in the regulations have nothing about a problem basic to the Non-Illegal person in this country..at the level of employment America is a sham--it contains all kinds of bad business..you have a "stage show" more than a workplace..I think the poor education that prevails there is the simple truth about DOCUMENTATION(if)you consider a High School Diploma in all your exploits to make the master race.
Posted by: Mark S. M. | Dec 23, 2007 6:26:25 AM
Pie in the sky. Can you imagine how many federal workers, not to mention time and money, it would cost to document then legalize all these "hard-working, law-abiding" illegals? Anyone remember the passport fiasco?
Let's get real. Almost all of those "hard-working, law-abiding" illegals have broken tax laws in order to work here, maybe even stealing YOUR identity! That would land a U.S. citizen in jail. But we should forgive the illegals who commit these crimes? Hogwash, Hillary!
Posted by: franks | Dec 21, 2007 3:48:43 PM
drivlin, you are suggesting we re- legislate new laws so its easier to make a potential terrorist or career criminal a citizen. that ,lad is typical american lunk headedness at its finest,congrats...
so what you are really saying is ; "its too hard for illegal aliens to become legal. so lets change the laws so they can do it easier...
NAAAAAAAAAAAA...
Wrong.
the immigration laws as set forth in the constitution should be followed to the letter and any amendments or changes/modifications to those laws should be approached with extreme caution .
just because the founding fathers could not anticipate many of the current problems today, we as a nation should not quickly and mindlessly trash heart and soul american constitutional principles just to suit some real or perceived narrow social or economic interest(s).
Posted by: bah | Dec 21, 2007 3:46:09 PM
immigration into this nation should be very very very hard, look at switzerland.
why let unknowns in unless you are sure they are good for the country? that kind of attitude is simplistically idealistic and really just stupid.
if you apply for legal resident status in many countries,switzerland included, you have to be rich or an intellectual before they even look at your application. you still might not get in,even if you are either or both of the above. as a nation they have decided and legislated that they dont need or want any NEW trouble or troublemakers as citizens ,that is their school of thought and they toss you out in a second if youre not a legal resident ,no matter if you are/were/are going to be / a good productive worker or not. there a person who wants to be naturalized has to seriously prove their own worthiness before they get to be a citizen and it should be the same here.
switzerland as a nation seems to be doing ok as well, especially considering how small they are. they are one of the smartest nations iq wise ,per capita,and overall quite wealthy too. they dont have much of an immigration problem either.
this current immigration "problem " in the usa though is silliness really, its an easily solvable situation ,the real and intrinsic problem is that there are a lot of important rich people who like to have their precious illegal aliens to work long hour and crappy jobs for peanuts and those same money grubbing fatcats hold large sway over our elected officials and THAT is the real problem in a nutshell folks...
Posted by: bah | Dec 21, 2007 2:14:42 PM
When Mrs. Clinton said: "If they [immigrants] committed a crime in the country they came from or in this country we have to deport them immediately, no questions asked, no legal process – you put them on a plane you send 'em back to where they came from." She is tapping emotion...
Which is one reason I'm glad we have a Constitution that at leasts provides for a trial, a lawyer, and day in court. Perhaps that is what she really meant and that the "no legal process" part was hyperbole, but that was the one part of her comments that gave me pause.
Posted by: AndiMedi | Dec 21, 2007 2:03:55 PM
During an NPR story yesterday morning on a protest for and against day-laborers in Phoenix, a local Minuteman- type shouted "Get legal or get out."
Despite the knuckle-dragging source of this phrase, this is a brilliant summation of what our policy should be...a system that encourages legality for those here so that they are 100% tax and law compliant, a strong kick out for the rest, and visas so people could come legally with vetting, rights and responsibilities for those coming in the future.
So far, we only have the kick, not the way to "get legal," nor the way for many to come legally in the first place (it is difficult for everyone and impossible for most to come legally).
If we can get the hardliners who decry legal status for anyone here already and have so choked off legal immigration that it is no longer an option for many who would choose it if it were an option, we can start to solve America's immigration problem.
It will take time, but I think if we make the goal of eliminating future immigration paramount (rather than the current obsession with getting those here illegally out), we can make progress towards security, fairness towards tax-payers, rights and protecions for American workers (including immigrants), and a level playing field for employers who want to play by rules.
Posted by: drivlin | Dec 21, 2007 1:52:24 PM
we have a federally funded program (thats taxpayer dollars folks...) that mandates a certain large number of illegal aliens be allowed into the usa yearly ,for 9 monthy at a time. one problem with that stupid legislation (among others) is , many of them stay and then they work continuously illegally ,taking jobs they were never supposed to have and also many times they safehouse and protect more illegals. what a wonderful law!!
its called the "guest worker" program and it was lobbied into the lawbooks by big business under your friend, the b movie actor, r.reagan. ( ahh what a winner the old gipper was...NOT!) so that the money grubbers and fatcats could have an endless cheap menial labor pool.
this is one program that ,if mentioned as part of the immigration problem by any and all current politicians running for the oval office, and just about 99% of any politicians , will be defended to the death as being totally innocent of causing any problems and additionally ,claimed to be intrinsically necessary to a solid economical state of the union .
yeah i agree,what a load of b/s.
call or write your representatives and tell them to vote to repeal that terrible law immediately,but fat chance anything will happen . it is the biggest problem and issues in illegal immigration ,but is never mentioned as one ,mainly because the politicians are paid off by big business to keep or expand the current guest worker program.
why would they vote against something that makes them and their fatcat buddies richer? their feigned indifference to the aforementioned situation and tacit acceptance of the status quo shows what a bunch of lying traitors to the constitution they are indeed and truly they are servants to only one filthy god ...the almighty dollar!!
we taxpayers need to take this country back from the big business/big money interests and until we do, nothing will ever change.
the problem is, i personally dont see any electable candidates worth voting for, they are all total crapola and liars to boot and will say or do anything to get elected so they can corrupt and misuse their self serving bureaucratic powers even more.
Posted by: bah | Dec 21, 2007 1:31:45 PM
Dr. Cole, some states, counties and cities have passed laws which PROHIBIT local law enforcement from enforcing federal laws. And the courts continue to rule that states, counties and cities CANNOT enforce federal law. So unless the federal government acts the problem of illegal immigration is never going away. AND you also have a Democratic Party that wants to keep the illegal aliens here so they can eventually vote -- either illegally or eventually becoming citizens so they can legally vote -- in mass for the Democrats to ensure Democratic majorities.
Posted by: James Danley | Dec 21, 2007 1:13:07 PM
It sounds like Hillary, and I applaud her reasoned approach.
Posted by: cahcap | Dec 21, 2007 1:03:51 PM
Criminals did NOT build America; Citizens and LEGAL immigrants built it. Illegal Aliens and Immigration is NOT the same thing. 80% of the American people want an end to anarchy! This is NOT a Democrat, Republican, Independent issue. It's an American Issue.
Illegal aliens are criminals, those who hire them are criminals and those who aid-and-abet them are criminals.
Illegal aliens in America have NO rights. We are required by law to arrest and prosecute, deport them. (Title 8 U.S. Code) To report illegal aliens call the DHS National Hotline 1 866 DHS 2ICE. (1-866-347-2523)
No, matter your political party affiliation, and setting aside your thoughts on issues. We all need to remember what it is to be an American Citizen. We need to make sure our elected representatives obey their Oath of Office and keep their Oath of Allegiance.
Posted by: Dr Coles | Dec 21, 2007 12:50:30 PM
The solution to immigration doesn't have to include rounding up illegal aliens. If the jobs aren't available; if free education isn't given to them; and if the other free services (with the exception of emergency medical care) aren't provided, the illegal aliens will just go home on their own. Crack down hard on employers who hire illegal aliens; non-violent prisoners should be used to harvest the crops; proof of citizenship or proof of legal residency should be required for enrolling in public schools; and all non-emergency medical services should require a valid identification. Illegal aliens have already begun leaving Arizona in droves (presumably to neighboring states instead of out of the country) due to the new law scheduled to take effect in January. The new Arizona law says any business that knowingly hires a worker who is in the country illegally will have its business license suspended. For a second offense, the business' license could be revoked. THAT IS THE ANSWER! (NOTE: Lawsuits have already been filed, it is not certain whether the law will stand.)
Posted by: James Danley | Dec 21, 2007 12:43:50 PM
whoever this candidate is, they are just anther republican lackey linchpin in the "make cheap labor readily available for the american businessman" salespitch.
the legal american worker is sick of that b/s and they all know better. get these illegal workers/people out of this country at ANY cost and put the employers who attract and hire them in jail for 7 -10 years,felony time.
whats so hard about that? as one poster already noted,we have spent much much more on a misadventure of a war than would be needed to implement the plan of the candidate above.
the main problem with the candidate ,like most, is that he plainly doesnt want the illegal immigrants to go home or anywhere else ,because who will mow his yard or clean his toilet then???
or vote for him?
sad...
institute some hard tough immigration laws and enforce them, it will take some time but this country and the economy will eventually start to slowly regulate themselves once the cheap labor pool is gone.
Posted by: bah | Dec 21, 2007 12:14:40 PM
Pay back taxes? Plus interest and fines? To what Social Security number?
If I didn't pay my taxes for 5,8, 15 years, how much jail time could I expect?
Posted by: Jeigh | Dec 21, 2007 12:08:57 PM
i think its pretty clear that the overwhelming majority of american citzens are sick and tired of the myriad problems the illegal aliens bring with them .
they are only allowed to be here for patently and tacitly illegal cheap labor, plain and simple.
condoning of such practices will be done by persons such as rep. virgina fox n.c.,who just this week put forth a resolution praising the n.c christmas tree industry as being a unseen force in the american economy and providing "thousands" of jobs to north carolinians. truth is,they are just providing jobs to illegal aliens who cant drive safely and who run over and kill innocent legal citizen,just so THEY
can have more $$. sad really....
ms fox and her husband are christmas tree growers themselves and not surprisingly she is totally in favor of more immigrants,expanding the guest worker program to the maximum, allowing tree farmers,like herself, to make greater profits (when the same tree farmers are already subsidized by taxpayer dollars) .
if this isnt a blatant conflict of interest and abuse of power i dont know what is, and it happens everywhere.
these politicians need to understand we are TIRED of illegal immigrants and we DONT want excuses and we SEE that you are courting the immigrant vote ,and sidestepping the real issue.
the fact is that few to none of the christmas tree growers in n.c. hire any local people. they import immigrants ,illegal or not, and THAT is who is getting the jobs that local people deserve . the problem is that the tree farmers are too cheap too pay a good wage so taht anyone will work for them ,and why should they? they have a almost limitless pool of immigrants (funded by taxpayer dollars ,ie; guest worker program) that they can pay a fraction of what they would have to pay an american citizen,and they can rake in even more profits.
just who in the founding fathers who signed the constution signed on to the guest worker program ? this program is a travesty and is completely the reason the problem is what is is today, it must be done away with immediately.write your congressperson and house representatives,an tell them you are sick of the bs, do something about this unfair guest worker bill that allows illegal immigrants to come in this country in the first place,they whole thing is despicable and deplorable.
please dont vote for politicians who are soft on illegal immigrants and that allow illegal immigrants and money grubbing businesses to get richer at the legal american workers' expense,its up to you! DEMAND RESULTS!!!THIS IS OUR COUNTRY!!!TAKE IT BACK!!!
Posted by: bah | Dec 21, 2007 11:56:33 AM
This points to the heart of the problem why HC is unelectable. When people know who said it, her statements are discredited by half the country. There are too many Hillary haters for her to be effective, even with sound policy.
Posted by: ohiogal | Dec 21, 2007 11:55:42 AM
So then, if this reasonable process comes from HC I will have to eat crow instead of Christmas goose
Posted by: flyover | Dec 21, 2007 11:50:16 AM
SOUNDS REALISTIC AND ACHIEVABLE BUT WHAT IF PERSON BEEN PAID ALL TAXES SINCE DAY ONE HAS NOT HAD ANY RUN INS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EXCEPTIONALLY WELL IN ENGLISH WHAT WOULD HE DO?
Posted by: AUGGDOUG | Dec 21, 2007 11:14:27 AM
"The best estimates I have are that if we even tried to round up 12-to-14 million people it would cost at least 200 billion dollars..."
Have we already spent a lot of more than that in Iraq?
Posted by: JL | Dec 21, 2007 10:23:59 AM
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