 |
 |
|
|
Senator DeMint placed an Op-Ed on National Review Online this weekend addressing his concerns with the immigration bill being debated in the Senate.
It will only take a moment. If Congress passes the current immigration bill being debated in the Senate, President Bush will sign the legislation, and in so doing, offer immediate amnesty to over 12 million illegal immigrants who currently reside in our country. Bill supporters call it “probationary status,” but the effect will be to give law breakers legal status and thus access to Social Security, Medicare, some welfare services, and our court systems. And just like that, the main purpose of this immigration bill will have been realized. The piece goes on to list four improvements that must be made to the bill:
First, we must prove to Americans that national security is our top priority. We should amend the bill to give the triggers teeth by forcing the administration to prove in public hearings that our borders have indeed been secured and Congress should have to vote to approve the certification. We must also close various loopholes that give rejected Z-visa applicants judicial review and that grant amnesty to terrorists, gang members, and sex offenders.
Second, we must reject amnesty. Americans are pro-immigrant and believe in legal immigration. They want people to come here, respect our laws, embrace our values, and become American citizens. But we must reject amnesty if we ever expect that to happen. And that is why eliminating the amnesty provisions in this bill is the most compassionate, pro-immigrant thing we can do. Illegal immigrants should have to return home and get right with the law before being granted legal status.
|
|
|
|
|
The immigration reform debate hits is fourth day today and still the amendment process remains controversial. As was noted yesterday, there is an effort afoot to limit the amount and type of amendments offered to this bill.
In four days of debate, we have only had two roll call votes and both have been on Democrat amendments.
Today, the Associated Press runs a story about this process. The AP notes that the debate is being controlled by the small group of Senators who brokered the deal which produced the immigration reform bill. It is in this group of Senators where the decisions regarding who gets to offer what amendment and when are decided.
|
|
|
|
|
As the Senate debates the massive in scope immigration reform bill, a disturbing fact is emerging: Senators may be blocked from offering critical amendments to improve this flawed bill.
Yesterday on the Senate floor Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had the following to say about the amendment process on this bill:
The only thing I will announce--I told both managers and I think Senator McConnell agrees with this, and if not, it is something we need to do for an orderly process here--is that we do an amendment at a time. The last time on this bill, we wound up with 30, 40 amendments pending. I am saying we are not going to do that this time
Translation: “This year when we debate the immigration bill, leadership will allow far less amendments than 30.”
According to early reports circulating around the Senate, it looks like the number will be around 20. That means each side gets 10 chances to amend this bill. It also means that the fiercest critics of this bill on the left and right will be given very limited opportunity to amend the bill because their leadership may reserve at least half of the 10 amendments for the bill’s supporters. That leaves conservative critics with less than a handful of amendments.
|
|
|
|
|
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley lists 15 Amnesty Flaws in the immigration reform proposal. Grassley voted for the 1986 amnesty legislation and points out that it did not work.
Elsewhere, the Heritage Foundation has listed the top ten problems with the so-called "Z" Visa provision.
|
|
|
|
|
Enacting responsible immigration reform starts by putting politics aside and legislating on principle. Anything short of this is unacceptable.
Senator DeMint makes this point today in his Real Clear Politics column. DeMint applies a four-pronged test to immigration reform legislation. Responsible immigration reform legislation will address the following four principles:
First, national security must be our number one priority. This requires improvements in border security and workplace enforcement.
Second, immigration must be a net gain for our country, not a net loss. This requires attracting those with the skills and enterprise, creating a responsible temporary guest worker program, and putting responsible limits on the burdens immigrants place on American taxpayers.
Third, we must not grant amnesty. Illegal immigrants cannot be given legal permanent residency or citizenship without first returning to their home country and getting right with the law.
Fourth, we must strengthen assimilation, which has always been the strength of America. The traditional American melting pot immigration process is not what it once was. We must again teach immigrants what it truly means to be an American citizen, and that includes speaking our common language. Read the whole column here.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Senators Jim DeMint and Jeff Sessions are joined by former Attorney General Ed Meese at a press conference about immigration reform. |
Next week the Senate will turn its attention to the hot button immigration reform issue. In advance of that debate, conservatives are drawing attention to the bedrock principles which must be the basis for any serious reform package.
Today Senator DeMint was joined by Senator Jeff Sessions and former Reagan Attorney General Ed Meese (now of the Heritage Foundation) to unveil a new Heritage paper laying out the Essential Requirements for Immigration Reform.
As Reagan's Attorney General Meese saw first hand how the 1986 amnesty laws passed by Congress did not work. The '86 laws sent the wrong message and created incentive for more illegal immigration. DeMint, Meese and Sessions today expressed their concern that Congress may be on the brink of making the same mistake again.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
