Parties Wrestle for Control of Immigration Narrative Before Obama’s Address
For a week so steeped in budget drama — from dueling deals to stop sequestration to the Postal Service’s move to stamp out Saturday delivery — and national security, from drones to nominees to Benghazi testimony, immigration reform proponents continue a strong, quiet push from both sides of the aisle.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was sent to the border. White House, DHS, and Justice Department officials met today with law enforcement officials, including L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca and former NYPD/LAPD Chief Bill Bratton, “to discuss the need for common sense reform to fix our nation’s broken immigration system.” And Organizing for Action rolled out a lobbying email featuring the story of an illegal immigrant and encouraging others to share their stories at BarackObama.com — minimum 20 words required.
“Millions of undocumented immigrants like me live in fear of being deported permanently to a country we may have never even visited. Our entire lives could be erased,” read the email signed by Jose Magana, who says he got deferred action under the directive Obama ordered last year to circumvent Congress’ failure to pass a DREAM Act.
It’s paving the path to President Obama’s State of the Union speech next Tuesday, where he’ll have the stage to claim agreed principles achieved in bipartisan congressional negotiations as his own and spin immigration reform into a legacy issue. Senators involved in the talks took the wind out of Obama’s last immigration speech in Las Vegas when they announced their framework the day before his trip.
And Democrats won’t be the only ones angling to use immigration reform to their advantage as House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced that Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) would deliver the GOP response to the State of the Union — in English and Spanish.
“Marco’s own experience as the child of immigrants has always informed his belief in limited government and free enterprise, which is why he has helped lead the fight against out-of-control spending and job-destroying tax hikes that continue to hold our economy back and stifle opportunity for millions,” McConnell said.
Even Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) gave a nod to immigration reform in a speech at the American Enterprise Institute on Tuesday, perking the ears of media who framed his message as, in the words of the Los Angeles Times, “a kinder, gentler House Republican agenda.”
“While we are a nation that allows anyone to start anew, we are also a nation of laws, and that’s what makes tackling the issue of immigration reform so difficult,” Cantor said. But “one of the great founding principles of our country was that children would not be punished for the mistakes of their parents. It is time to provide an opportunity for legal residence and citizenship for those who were brought to this country as children and who know no other home.”
Caucus members were also doing their part to try to make immigration a winning issue for the Republican Party.
“I represent a conservative district and I approached this issue with them last week. Would you be open to a path to legal status, whether that be citizenship or something else, and I was shocked — meeting with some of the most conservative folks in my district,” Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) said on CNN. “And they said if you can secure the border, give us employment verification, and guarantee that we don’t have to go through this conversation again, we’ll be open to it.”
After a Republican conference meeting Tuesday, Boehner said he would “applaud my colleagues on both sides of the Capitol and in both parties who’ve worked together to try to solve one of the bigger issues that we’re dealing with in our country, and that’s the issue of immigration, of both legal immigration and illegal immigration.”
Conyers is right of course…we should always strive for semantic precision in such matters…which is why I call them “criminal wetbacks”
I prefer the term “queue-jumpers” or, if you want a phrase that sounds less foreign, “line-cutters.”
I call them “invading barbarians” but I have a historical bent and can actually see the way we’re going…
I prefer ILLEGAL ALIENS or “criminals” — because they break our laws with impunity. But then people say that I’m harsh.
John Conyers (D-Mich.)can call them what ever modified sweet term he wishes but to the illegal invaders he is still nothing but another Anglo MF.
OK, do amnsey. But, at the same time eleminate anchor babies. If you aren’t here legally your baby isn’t a citizen. I think the 14th Amendment allows Congress to address this issue. Even liberal Canada changed there laws to stop this abuse. If this doesn’t change there will be another amnstey in 20 years or so again.
Spot on! The anchor baby clause must be eliminated. What about all the illegals using welfare? If they are not working, they should be sent packing. And if they were in the “shadows” how can we check their work history? Build a fence all the way across the southern border.
Deport all illegal hispanic gang members.
But we all know none of this will get done. All the RINOs who pass this will get their picture taken with the WON and ensure that America becomes a one-party nation. What happens to the American culture when minorities especially hispanics outnumber white Americans? Just askin’?
On a different topic, I get sick to my stomach every time I see Lamar Alexander walking behind Dear Leader during his Inaugrural.
I’m waiting to see how many folks who have been here 20 years, working for cash, sending remittances back to Mexico, and not ending up with two pesos to rub together….are going to pay back taxes. Hell, I need a giggle — I want to see how they’ll compute back taxes.
Oh, and are they going to reimburse the government for all the food stamps they’ve used, while they’re at it?
I say once this country is ruined, hard working Americans flock across the border in drives and begin a systematic takeover of the northeast part of Mexico the way we flocked into Texas. They’ll never see it coming and their government doesn’t have the manpower or stamina to stop it.
We could carve out a nation on the gulf, reestablish the constitution in its entirety, close out any loopholes that have allowed this mess to permeate to begin with and create a capitalist powerhouse greater than the former free U.S.A. Ever could’ve. Voter ID laws, a ban on all socialist/communist sympathizers,and citizenship only to those born to either natural born citizens or naturalized citizens.
Matter of fact, Mexico has very stringent immigration laws, and they do enforce them. They don’t welcome foreigners meddling in their affairs, nor should they.
Hard-working, job-seeking Mexicans ARE leaving to go back to Mexico, because the US is no longer the land of opportunity.
The same is NOT true of the drug smugglers, the gang bangers, the poverty pimps, and other undesirables.
Funny you should mention that about Canada.
What a farce. Can’t wait for the photo-op when all the politicians get in front of the camera and pretend they just solved the immigration problem by granting amnesty.
“I hope no one uses the term illegal immigrants here,” Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) said at the outset of a Judiciary Committee hearing.”
Uh, sure, and I hope no one uses the term “lying sack of sh**” re, oh, I dunno, ANYTHING the Democrat president, or his minions, has to say about ANYTHING of particular importance to U.S. citizens.
Meanwhile, how about: unlawful, illicit, illegitimate, criminal, felonious; unlicensed, unauthorized, unsanctioned; fraudulent, corrupt; outlawed, banned, forbidden, prohibited, proscribed, taboo; contraband, black-market, bootleg; Law malfeasant; informal crooked, shady, sketchy …
How else might be describe individuals who cut in front of everyone else around the globe seeking to come to America? Surely there must be some essential qualifier that places Mexicans/Latin Americans above all others? Mmmm, no.
“I hope no one uses the term illegal immigrants here,” Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.)
Really a**hole?
Well I hope John Conyers gets SHOT…
In Dee-troit.
By an Illegal Immigrant.
“Hope and change Mutherf*cker, Hope and Change”
The more we pander the more come in the more we have to pander even more the more come in…
It’s a sinking ship. When are these morons going to understand that if I wanted to live in Quetzaltenango I’d move there?
And yes, surprise, it’s different, and not in a good way. These moronic Dems are handing off the country to the Third World and no one really knows why other than some scrambled vision of diversity and other PC nonsense.
And make sure we don’t call shop lifters shop lifters cuz it might impinge on their sensitivity over actually being shop lifters.
The “narrative” is split between people who want to sell our government to foreigners and people who hate Mexicans. There ought to be plenty of room for more sensible policies. For example:
1) Enforce existing laws without proposing anything new and extreme like forcing everyone to speak English. Go after the businesses that are hiring the illegals and the problem will dry up with the reduced demand.
2) Welcome lawful immigrants. Streamline the immigration process so it doesn’t take ten years and a small forest’s worth of paperwork to legally immigrate.
3) At the state and local level, encourage the teaching of US history and the workings of government. Let the citizen children of immigrants grow up as Americans.
Forget teaching history, to make these people Americans you need to do genetic engineering.
Excuse you? Hate mexicans? Where did that come from? I know of no one who ‘hates’ mexicans. I know plenty who hate those who break our laws and steal from citizens in the way of jobs and benefits. Those who are here illegally but yet can file a tax return for tax money they never paid to the tune of $26,000 average.
No, no one hates mexicans but they do hate those who break the law, break more laws while here illegally, and dare you to do anything about it.
If this is what a mexican is, then yes, I guess we do hate mexicans.
Would someone tell me, please, why the Republicans are going to the trouble of issuing statements? They’re just going to do as court eunuchs always do: snivel and whine briefly, then comply with Democratic [sic] party wishes.
Has anyone heard one Republican, one time, mention the interests of white Americans in any of this?
Didn’t you get the memo? We don’t have freedom of speech here any more.
There are some countries in the world that are not part of the EU, do not have much of a social safety net, and have enough white people that you won’t feel out of place. Pack your bags, get your tickets, and I may end up meeting you there someday!
I agree. The term should be illegal aliens. Foreign nationals in violation of US sovereignty and Federal Law.
As a retired INS agent I would just like to say that Conyers is a blithering idiot.
Make that “treasonous blithering idiot”.
Here’s a thought experiment, Mr Conyers. I’m going to come over to your house and let myself in. I will circumvent any security you may have and just live in one of the rooms of your lovely home. I will do as I please in there.
I will deal drugs out of the window. I will eat your food. I will use your bathroom and not clean up after myself. I will leave my other refuse and trash all over your house.
Then, when you call the authorities, I will scream that you’re a racist and DEMAND that you can’t make me leave because I have as much right to live there as you do. You will argue that you paid for the home, the upkeep, the furnishings and insurance I will cross my arms, sneer at you and say, “So what? I didn’t cross your threshold, your threshold crossed ME.” in keeping with a popular La Raza tune that sucks out loud.
Then, I will get your neighbors and some of your friends to hear my story and get sympathy for myself and let them do the work for me by making you hear about it 24/7/365. They will harp on you and berate you and call you names about how selfish you are and how insensitive and how much you hate hobos. Hobos who are just trying to eke out a meager living in the world, who have no place else to go.
I will find a female hobo and have kids with her and then claim that since our child was born in your house, that it is OUR house because otherwise the child would have no place to call home. Now, who would deny that?
See how simple it is. And when you call me “trespasser”, “home-invader” or similar, I will have your friends demand that you not refer to us in that manner because it’s insensitive and rude.
My god, Conyers, you really are a flaming idiot.
“Undocumented potential Democrat voters.”
I’d love to hear Rubio lay it out in Spanish: “the Democrats want to give you something you have never earned — a boost in priority ahead of a PhD from Manila who has been working toward his green card for three years. And in return, they want you to be their slaves, and your children to be their slaves, and your children’s children’s children. They do that because they despise you and think you’re too stupid to notice.”
“Republicans believe in fairness and opportunity. Many of them have worked beside you in all walks of life — from the cities to the fields, from the mountains to the seas. They value work and not gifts from the government, and they have seen what you have brought to this land. But they also know that it is not right to outright give you what the citizens have earned, and what legal immigrants have worked towards for so long.”
“Further, Republicans know that the time to sit down to supper with someone is not when their cousin has kicked in the back door — angry, unproductive words are likely to be spoken by both sides. We have real problems with drugs and crime coming from the cartels, drivers without insurance or licenses, welfare fraud and just not being good neighbors….and we don’t want to hear, ‘well, that will stop if you just give us the keys to your house’.”
“So be sure to look at the deal and not just the gain. Many things are just not worth the price being asked for them. If you take the poisoned fruit of amnesty, you will be known to all as slaves; but if you want to be our companions into the future, stand as honorable men and be treated likewise.”
Please email that to his people. So far he hasn’t been all that inspiring in this matter.
“I’d love to hear Rubio lay it out in Spanish”
Isn’t that the slap in the face on top of the insult? IF these illegal aliens wanted to be citizens, they would of at least learned English by now. Truth is, most illegal aliens don’t WANT to be a citizen. They are here to make their big money, send it home, and retire in mexico in comfort.
I’m SICK of hearing our government bow to the mexicans and speak in their language.
Time for that to stop. Then they WOULD have to learn our language of English wouldn’t they?
I’m as much against illegal immigration as anybody! However, I must point out that the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico recognizes Spanish and English as official languages; Spanish is the dominant first language. In addition, some US States formerly were under Spanish colonial rule and therefore have a historical connection to the Spanish language.
There is nothing wrong with communicating with people in Spanish. There is something wrong with going to a country that is not the land of your birth and not being willing to learn the language.
“I’d love to hear Rubio lay it out in Spanish: “the Democrats want to give you something you have never earned”
But that is clearly what exactly they want – something they have never earned.
Yes – and they think they are owed it because they are poor. I’ve heard them say so.
God–what a bunch of cr*p. The advocates of the immigration criminal class have fed us lies and lies for years. If we are going to have an amnesty, which all of these plans are in one form or another, lets push the lies back in their faces.
(1)As part of this reform the government will tale steps to secure the border. Fine. In the meantime give them residency cards and prohibit them from becoming citizens until the “fence” is completed across the border. No fence, no citizenship –ever. And yes, eliminate anchor babies by making it so that automatic citizenship is restricted to those who parents are American citizens.
(2)There are only 11 million immigration criminals in the country. Of course, other people claim there are more. Cap the number eligible for this at 11 million.
(3)Immigration criminals don’t use social services like welfare and food stamps. Fine, like I really believe this. Set it up so that anyone here has to show ID (including fingerprints) to get AFDC, food stamps, section 8 housing and the like. If they do, deport them and make them ineligible to even visit the US in the future.
(4) Immigration criminals are, except for a tiny minority, and aside from the immigration laws, very law abiding and responsible people. Fine again. Since it will only affect a tiny, tiny minority, make it so that any of them convicted of a crime potentially punishable by jail time will mean instant deportation with no chance of citizenship or residence.
(5)Immigration criminals truly want to be part of this country rather than just take economic advantage of it. Good. Require that they take the same tests that legal immigrants have to take to become citizens, which I believe includes (or used to) a minimum proficiency in the English language and a knowledge of the US government. If they don’t know this now they can learn during the probationary period. If they don’t bother they aren’t serious about it, they just want the goodies. We don’t need such people.
(6)Immigration criminals are more of an asset to the economy than they are a burden. Fine again. At the end of the probationary period they have to provide copies of all federal income tax returns they filed during the probationary period. Lets see that they are really complying with the law and paying their taxes. And this should include proof that they have complied with the health insurance mandate once it comes into effect.
Of course, if any legislators propose this the advocates for the immigration criminals will squeal in a chorus that will shatter glass around the world.
I never use the term “illegal immigrant.” The proper term is “illegal alien.”
here in washington state we hire illegals all of the time. we would rather have mexicans working for us then black americans anyways because americans charge to much money and we can get labor for cheap so mite as well change the immgration laws.
Organized crime, kidnapping, sex trafficking of minors, identity theft, voter fraud, and long list of etceteras, including, illegal arms trade, is what those who support illegal aliens are doing.
Children of illegal aliens “are” eligible for food stamps and other entitlements, not to mention, they’ve bankrupted hospitals throughout the country using emergency rooms as their primary care at the taxpayer’s expense. They are rewarded for being here, above the law, and giving them in-state tuition, is just another slap in the face for citizens in this country. They are racist to the core, and once they’re in Human Resources, it’s over for any race other beside their’s, skirting discrimination laws with the ruse, “bi-lingual a must”.
Is it any wonder why cities throughout the country have turned into hell holes of third world violence form illegal alien gang activity, when breaching our borders, a national security issue, is treated with impunity? Representatives in The Federal Government, State Governments, local municipalities, law enforcement, and our courts, who are acting criminally in aiding and abetting them, need to be dragged to the nearest tree and hanged.
“Millions of undocumented immigrants like me live in fear of being deported” which is exactly how it should be, except… he should be so “fearful” that he leaves, himself, thus retaining control of his preparations, arrangements for the move, timing, arranging a new job, etc.
Real reform would require also reducing student, exchange, visitor, guest-work and permanent resident visas, because all have been excessive and worsening since at least 1965.
Multiple “paths to citizenship” for illegal aliens already exist.
The trouble with Rubio’s proposals is that he wants the borders even more porous, the standards for getting visas even lower, when they’re already far too low.
DHS should be actively seeking, arresting, and removing the visa over-stayers.
DoD should be actively defending against the barbarian invaders.
– why don’t you want to be deported. All the protesting illegal aliens here keep yelling what a great country it is and how they want to have the USA become just like it. Even the Mexican government agrees.
Eric Cantor is full of it with his claim that “one of the great founding principles of our country was that children would not be punished for the mistakes of their parents.” What is the black/Hispanic favoritism/white discrimination of affirmative action but exactly the same practice of penalizing children for the actions of not even parents, but of several generations removed.
What is more contemptible than a Republican hypocrite…a Democrat hypocrite; both parties insisting out of one side of their mouths, that we are all the “children of immigrants,” while two seconds later out of the other side of their mouths, they insist that we have all magically turned into the “children of slaves and slavers.” Their agenda based, revolving “identities” (stereotypes) depend solely upon churning up whatever ethnic hostility politicians think will get them elected. But the most disgusting part of stereotype driven politics is its success, with a majority of voters actually believing that their immutably unalterable identities trot along in lockstep accord whatever stereotypes are broadcast by media backed political scum buying votes with socially disruptive ethnic favoritism…precisely as they’ve always done.