Thread: Frist, Hastert Want Immigration Law Without Felony Charges

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,191429,00.html

Tuesday , April 11, 2006

WASHINGTON — The two top Republicans in Congress, confronted with internal party divisions as well as large public demonstrations, said Tuesday they intend to pass immigration legislation that does not subject illegal aliens to prosecution as felons.
A written statement by House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee, did not say whether they would seek legislation subjecting illegal immigrants to misdemeanor prosecution or possibly a civil penalty such as a fine.
"It remains our intent to produce a strong border security bill that will not make unlawful presence in the United States a felony," the two men said. An estimated 11 million men, women and children are in the United States illegally.
The Republican-controlled House passed legislation late last year that is generally limited to border security measures. It makes illegal immigrants subject to felony prosecution.
Senate efforts to write a broader bill — covering border security, a guest worker program and a path to citizenship for many of the 11 million in the country illegally — are gridlocked with lawmakers on a two-week vacation.
Frist has said he intends to bring the issue back to the Senate floor, although he stopped short of a flat commitment and the prospects for passage of an election-year immigration bill are uncertain.
The late-afternoon statement by the top GOP leaders in both houses came after days of large street demonstrations by protesters opposed to criminal penalties for illegal immigrants.
Additionally, in a Washington Post-ABC News poll published during the day, only 20 percent of those questioned said they favored declaring illegal immigrants to be felons and barring them from work. More than 60 percent indicated support for the general approach envisioned in the leading Senate proposal. It includes a requirement that illegal immigrants be required to pay a fine and back taxes as part of a process of qualifying for eventual citizenship.
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D- Mass., dismissed the proposal by the GOP leadership, saying: "Actions speak louder than words, and there's no running away from the fact that the Republican House passed a bill, and Senator Frist offered one, that criminalizes immigrants."
"This debate shouldn't be about making criminals out of hardworking families ... but rather about strengthening our national security and enacting a law that reflects our best values and our humanity," Kennedy said.
The question of a penalty has dogged the debate for months and been the subject of intense political maneuvering.
GOP aides pointed out that Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, had tried during debate on the House floor to reduce the penalty to a misdemeanor.
The attempt failed on a vote of 257-164, with 65 Republicans and 191 Democrats opposed. Many of the Democrats, including members of the Hispanic Congressional Caucus, indicated at the time they favored no criminal penalties, and opposed the suggested change.
In their statement, Hastert and Frist said the Democrats who did so had demonstrated a "lack of compassion." In addition, they renewed the charge that Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid is seeking to "block action on immigration legislation."
Reid has denied the charges.
While they leveled their accusations at Reid, the GOP leadership has been struggling with internal divisions.
Several House Republican conservatives have vociferously denounce Senate proposals as amnesty for lawbreakers.
And while Frist indicated support last week for the leading Senate proposal, he was the only member of the GOP leadership to do so. Two other members of the group, Sens. Jon Kyl of Arizona and Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, voiced their opposition. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania opposes the measure, according to a spokesman.
Sen. Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina, who heads the party's senatorial campaign committee, declined this week through an aide to take a position on the bill.
A spokesman for Sen. Mitch McConnell, the second-ranking Republican, sidestepped a question by saying the Kentucky lawmaker favors a comprehensive approach.

This is not expectable, there has to be a criminal charge.

There has to be a felony charge so we can deport them!!

All of them.

No Guest Worker Program!

No Amnesty!

No CODDLING of law breakers sucking our nation into the Toilet Bowl of the Third World.

PERIOD.

It is a crime.

Make it one.

Then deport.



Hastert is becoming a HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT.

GRRRRRRR!!

Are their no American Men or Women in the US Congress besides Sensenbrenner and Tancredo?

Then lets get some in there!

THROW THE BUMS OUT!!

Globalist Pond Scum Bums, ye are!

A criminal charge is/will be Law enforcements biggest tool

Exactly, Charles, and this is a critical element of any new legislation.

Hopefully the House Members will stick to their guns.

I just sent a quick Fax to them

To: Senator(s)
Bill First
Dennis Hastert

Re: Illegal Immigration

Fr: Charles -----------

Sir(s),
I understand that you are dealing with a very sensitive subject and respect your efforts in resolving these problems.
I would like as an American Citizen to offer my two-cent worth.
I would like to see you put the people who put you in your position first in your considerations. I would suggest coming out of your gated community and look around at what this illegal invasion is doing to our communities. We are seeing 3rd world slums now in rural America. We are seeing MS13 criminals where once quit friendly homes and streets use to have kids playing in the yards with out fear.
As a 30 year Police Officer recently retired I have seen the changes in America during the past several years and Gentlemen if YOU do not do something to stop it there will be no America left for our children’s children.
As to your comments today not wanting criminal charges against those who enter our country ILLEAGALLY is preposterous. There must be a criminal charge for entering our country by sneaking across our borders with out following the proper procedures. Law Enforcement must have the tools to work with and you are going to deny one of the most important ones. We know Mexico would charge a person entering illegally with a felony. Do not let Mexico dictate to America.
Secure our borders and do it now. Build a fence, put more Border Patrol on the Border supported by our military. Then you can thank The Minuteman for doing the job our Federal Government will not do. We the middle class Americans can not stand the pressure this is putting on us, in loss of jobs and taxation for their medical care, their schooling and other (free to them) government hand outs that cost US the American people.
We must have enforcement against American employers who hire illegal immigrations. This will start reducing the flow of illegals into our country by reducing the jobs.
Stop being a bunch of knot heads and get to work. Think about the people who put you in office not the illegal invaders in the street. Those who put you in office could very well be the ones who remove you next election and put someone in who will listen to the American people. Hear the people you are hurting us.
Do Not let Mexico dictate to America, Close the border, make it a crime to enter illegally, No Amnesty, And charge the employers of illegals with a crime. And do it now.

Give it to them Charles!!

GO GO GO!!