Thread: White House to Begin Push on Immigration Overhaul in 2010

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New York Times
White House to Begin Push on Immigration Overhaul in 2010
By JULIA PRESTON
Published: November 13, 2009

The Obama administration will insist on measures to give legal status to an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants as it pushes early next year for legislation to overhaul the immigration system, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said on Friday.

In an address at the Center for American Progress, a liberal policy group in Washington, Ms. Napolitano sought to dispel any notion that the administration — with health care, energy and other major issues crowding its agenda — might postpone the most contentious piece of an immigration overhaul until after midterm elections next November.

Laying out the administration’s bottom line, she said it will argue for a “three-legged stoolâ€

estimated 12 million illegal immigrants

they are out of their collective minds. America, that number ranges any where from 25 - 40 Million and will jump to over 100 Million when they are allowed to bring family members to this country.. you better get mobilized, motivated and QUICK

Yes we are in for the fight of our life, culture, and out right soverignty, Janet is fooling herself if she believes we believe her lies!

And we are not going to to let them make all these law breakers legal so they can pounce on every social program provided by the American taxpayer.

And the flow will just keep comming!

Originally Posted by SOSADFORUS

Janet is fooling herself if she believes we believe her lies!

You're right of course SOSAD. We know that Obama and Napolitano have gutted immigration enforcement: weakened 287(g), stopped workplace raids, stalled and stopped construction of the real border fence, stalled E-Verify, and stopped the "no match" letters etc. Let's get the word out about the Orwellian doubletalk from this administration.

Populist.have not seen you around for awhile

Under the administration’s plan, illegal immigrants would have to register, pay fines and all taxes they owe, pass a criminal background check and learn English

And? so they will stay in the shadows! Think they will come out to pay fines and be added to the list to start paying taxes(property and income)and learn the English language..........I DOUBT IT!

The administration would only drop those features after they give them amnesty.......

Ms. Napolitano has been leading the administration’s efforts to gather support for the immigration overhaul, meeting in recent weeks with business leaders, faith groups, law-enforcement officials and other groups to gauge their support for the effort.

Next time Janet, check with the American taxpayer and see how much support you get.

Washington Post
November 13, 2009
Napolitano forecasts immigration overhaul in 2010
Updated 3:08 p.m.
By Spencer S. Hsu

The Obama administration expects Congress to begin moving to overhaul the nation's immigration laws early next year, while improved border security and a drop in migration caused by the economic downturn make passage "far more attainable" than in 2007, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Friday.

"When Congress is ready to act, we will be ready to support them," said Napolitano, President Obama's "point-person" on immigration policy issues. "The first part of 2010, we will see legislation beginning to move," she said.

Napolitano's speech, delivered Friday morning at the liberal-leaning Center for American Progress, was aimed at Latino advocates who have bridled at her rhetorical emphasis on enforcement in her first 10 months in office, and expressed skepticism that Obama would fulfill a campaign pledge to push for a "comprehensive" package.

Napolitano reaffirmed Obama's support for a "tough but fair" path for legal status for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants, and improved flows for immigrant families and workers.

"We will never have fully effective law enforcement or national security as long as so many millions remain in the shadows," Napolitano said.

At the same time, Napolitano sought to reframe the debate from past years, saying lawmakers' earlier demands that the government improve "enforcement first" have been met, and arguing that the time to work on immigration issues is when a sluggish economy is dampening illegal migration, not when rapid job growth is fueling it.

In recent years, the U.S. government has erected more than 600 miles of fencing and pedestrian barriers on the 2,000 mile border with Mexico, and more than doubled the ranks of the U.S. Border Patrol, to 20,000 officers, Napolitano said. Meanwhile, due to a shrinking job market and increased enforcement, Border Patrol arrests last year were less than half the 2005 level of 1.2 million.

"These are major differences that should change the immigration conversation ... We have gotten Congress' message," Napolitano said. "Trust me: I know a major shift when I see one, and what I have seen makes reform far more attainable this time around."

The address was coordinated with the White House as it prepares for upcoming battles after health care legislation. It contained few new specifics, although Napolitano for the first time addressed many of the principles that Senate Democrats and her predecessors in the Bush administration previously embraced, such as toughening enforcement against smugglers and unscrupulous employers, streamlining visa policies, and requiring illegal immigrants to register, pay fines, pass criminal background checks, pay taxes and learn English.

Republican critics say changing laws to allow more foreign-born workers is foolhardy at a time when U.S. unemployment is nearing 10 percent.

"It is ironic that a poor economy is their justification for amnesty," said Rep. Lamar Smith, (R-Tex.), ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee. "How can they claim that enforcement is "done" when there are more than 400 open miles of border with Mexico, hundreds of thousands of criminal and fugitive aliens and millions of illegal immigrants taking American jobs?"

Immigrant advocates said they were pleased the administration is approaching "the moment of truth" for a debate, but said they were still watching to see it and Congress commit real political capital. Congressional watchers also say the issue faces a crowded calender in the Senate, which is set to take up health care and climate legislation, before election-season politics take precedence by mid-year.

"The president and his administration need to make it clear that immigration reform is a priority and must be acted upon during this Congress," said John Wester, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and bishop of the diocese of Salt Lake City. "Hopefully this is the beginning of a campaign by the administration to get legislation moving."

Posted at 2:45 PM ET on Nov 13, 2009

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/200 ... grati.html

I saw this posted on Hot Air by Ed Morrissey:

JWF half-jokes about the incongruity of threatening Americans with prison time for not buying health insurance while looking to give amnesty to illegal aliens, but that’s about as foolish a political combination as could possibly be imagined. Are Democrats really more interested in enforcing criminal penalties for unconstitutional mandates to buy insurance than they are in enforcing legitimate immigration laws? Because that’s what Napolitano suggests in her political prognostication.

http://hotair.com/archives/2009/11/13/n ... on-debate/

This was Napolitano's prepared remarks at Ctr. for American Progress today.
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-177937.html
Keep hurl bucket handy.

Originally Posted by Populist

I saw this posted on Hot Air by Ed Morrissey:

JWF half-jokes about the incongruity of threatening Americans with prison time for not buying health insurance while looking to give amnesty to illegal aliens, but that’s about as foolish a political combination as could possibly be imagined. Are Democrats really more interested in enforcing criminal penalties for unconstitutional mandates to buy insurance than they are in enforcing legitimate immigration laws? Because that’s what Napolitano suggests in her political prognostication.

http://hotair.com/archives/2009/11/13/n ... on-debate/

Ya kind of odd they have room in the jails for Americans who do not buy insurance but no room for illegal alien lawbreakers who cross our border illegally....BS!