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Senate Judiciary Picks Up Immigration Again
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ShareFebruary 28, 2007 3:38 PM
ABC News' Theresa Cook reports: Secretaries Michael Chertoff of Homeland Security and Carlos Gutierrez of Commerce testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Comprehensive Immigration Reform -- an issue members of Congress have agreed is urgent, even though they have yet to agree on legislation addressing it. Gutierrez said he and Chertoff are looking to future legislation to meet three goals.
"The first is national security. Two is economic growth. And the third is American unity," said Gutierrez.
Today's hearing rehashed a lot of questions still left over from previous sessions, "I think we've just had a review about what the word 'amnesty' means," noted Sen. Ted Kennedy, "and also what is in the legislation." And ranking committee member Sen. Arlen Specter asked the Secretaries to help move past issue, saying, "I would appreciate it if both of you would think through this amnesty issue and find the best arguments we have, or what else can be done, to eliminate this argument. Because it is an impediment in dealing with the 11 million undocumented immigrants."
Though the immigration issue is far from simple, both Chertoff and Gutierrez cautioned complex reform, "Whatever system is put in place cannot have so many different variables that it becomes difficult to adjudicate," said Chertoff. "Whatever the answer to that is you have to multiply by 11 million." Gutierrez agreed, saying, "simplicity, I think, is going to be our best friend here."
The Senate will soon start grappling again with issues -- such as how to create incentive for illegal immigrants to report themselves to authorities and how to improve public perception of government plans for immigration reform. Senators Ted Kennedy and John McCain, the main sponsors of last year's Senate bill, are working with members of the House to draft new legislation to be introduced during the current session.
February 28, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (1)
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I have a simple solution. Being America, we can pretty much do what we want.
I propose that we install microchips inside everyone in the world.
That way, should any "immigrants" try to sneakily enter and remain in our glorious country, we will know where they are, we can hunt them down, and we can "take care" of "the problem".
My gal pal Hil is down with this, I'm sure.
I also propose that all the scoffers of my plan come up with a better one.
Posted by: GeorgeMBush | Feb 28, 2007 4:10:50 PM
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