Congressman pushes tough immigration policy
http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/2005 ... 0066/?rs=2
Congressman pushes tough immigration policy
Jesse Fanciulli, (Bio) fanciulli@greeleytrib.com
May 3, 2005
U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo's views on immigration have alienated him from a White House occupied by members of his own party and made him a whipping boy for those who favor liberal immigration policies.
In a Greeley ballroom Monday night, Tancredo's views earned him three standing ovations.
Tancredo, a Republican who represents Congressional District 6, basically the counties south of Denver, gave a rousing illegal-immigration policy speech to about 70 people who attended a $13-a-plate dinner hosted by the Greeley Republican Women.
He took a risk on the subject: Tancredo's proposed immigration policies are much tougher than President Bush's.
"I hope I'm in the right place, speaking to the right group of people," Tancredo said.
He was.
But beyond the walls of the banquet hall, Tancredo has plenty of detractors.
Latino activist Jorge Amaya of Greeley said Tancredo has a lot of silent supporters, but Amaya said he is one who likes the Bush plan better. Bush's immigration policy would raise limits on legal immigration and offer temporary work permits to undocumented workers.
Amaya said America could use Bush's policy as an enticement for Mexico to crack down on corruption and legal roadblocks that discourage foreign business investment south of the border. That could result in fewer illegal immigrants coming to America because more job and business opportunities would exist in their own country, Amaya said.
Statewide, Amaya said, Latino leaders are on board with Bush's proposed immigration plan. Although some Latinos might secretly support Tancredo, too, they question his motives.
"There's a great deal of distrust on both sides and Tom Tancredo's trying to capitalize on that," Amaya said.
Tancredo's commitment to a tough national policy on illegal immigration was forged long before he was elected to Congress.
As a former teacher and leader of the Independence Institute, a Golden-based conservative think tank, Tancredo said he commissioned a report on the impact of immigration.
The Compassion or Compulsion report showed that Colorado taxpayers end up paying more than $115 million a year to provide welfare, education, incarceration and Medicaid benefits to immigrants.
Tancredo saw that as a huge hit to taxpayers, but he wondered why so many politicians seemed reluctant to talk about it. Once Tancredo became a politician himself, he was not shy about speaking out on illegal immigration and on Monday he had an arsenal of facts to support his position, including:
* An estimated $100 billion leaves the country each year as foreign workers send money they earn here home.
* Illegal aliens represent about 17 percent of the prison population.
* The United Stated loses an estimated $140 billion in tax revenue because undocumented workers are paid under the table or underreport their income.
Greeley residents who attended Tancredo's speech said they could relate to his immigration policy.
Janet West, 57, agreed that Tancredo's strict policy on immigration is better than Bush's -- and she's ready for her politicians to stand up in support of tougher immigration laws.
"I am sick of them beating around the bush," West said.
About Bush's immigration policy
Last year, President Bush proposed a temporary worker program that would allow undocumented workers to legally work in the United States. Statements issued by the White House insist that the president does not support amnesty for people who come to America illegally. However, undocumented workers who are currently working in the United States would be eligible to apply for temporary work permits. The permits would allow foreigners to work for a certain period of time before returning to their home country. Once the time period expires, permit-holders could apply for an extension. Bush is also proposing to increase the limit on legal immigrants.
Tom Tancredo, on the other hand, wants to toughen illegal immigration laws and enforcement, assign troops to patrol the borders with Mexico and Canada and sharply curb legal immigration quotas.
