Thread: Homeland Security chief promotes immigration reform in Mexic

Published: 02.16.2007
Homeland Security chief promotes immigration reform in Mexico visit
JULIE WATSON
The Associated Press

MEXICO CITY - U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Friday that immigration reform would let U.S. law enforcement focus on catching criminals instead of "future housekeepers and landscapers."

But he said Americans are unlikely to back any such reform until added security along the Mexican border convinces them that they're safe.

In his first official visit to Mexico, Chertoff told foreign reporters that the 6,000 National Guard troops who have been providing logistical support to the Border Patrol along the 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometer) line in May have dramatically deterred people from crossing. Arrests are down, while less people have been seen gathering to cross on the Mexican side, he said.

But security alone is not enough to permanently stop illegal border jumpers, Chertoff warned, adding that he expects flows to go up again as smugglers regroup.

"Every time a Border Patrol officer is transporting a load of future housekeepers and landscapers to some place to be returned, he's not looking for drug dealers or drug loads," Chertoff said.

"So to me, total immigration reform that addresses economic migrants is actually an enforcement enabler because it lets us focus more on the people that we don't want in the country under any circumstances, namely the criminals and the dangerous folks."

Officials from Mexico's Foreign Relations Department and President Felipe Calderon's office said they had no immediate comment on Chertoff's remarks.

Mexico has been pushing for years for a U.S. immigration accord. U.S. President George W. Bush has proposed a guest-worker program that would allow Mexicans living abroad to seek temporary work visas, but Congress has refused to back it.

U.S. lawmakers instead have supported building more border walls and beefing up security.

Chertoff said, however, that border officials say it may not be necessary to build all 700 miles (1,130 kilometers) of border fences as proposed in legislation Bush signed into law last year.

Instead, border enforcement authorities would like the flexibility to build walls where needed but other areas may be better monitored by ground sensors and other technology.

"We're asking Congress' leaders to give us flexibility to build tactical infrastructure that makes sense in the right place, in the right sequence, as opposed to just a mandate that we lay down, you know, 700 miles (1,130 kilometers) of fence from California ... through most of Arizona."

Next week, Chertoff plans to head to the Arizona border to see the first 28 miles (45 kilometers) of ground sensors being installed as part of a border-wide strategy.

Chertoff said National Guard troops will be phased out when the U.S. Border Patrol reaches its goal of hiring 18,319 agents, which the agency is on target to do by the end of 2008.

Chertoff commended Calderon for extraditing to the U.S. four Mexican drug lords in January and leading a federal crackdown designed to retake smuggling strongholds from drug traffickers.

The arrests of several key drug leaders under former President Vicente Fox led to bloody turf battles in which drug gangs beheaded their enemies and openly defied authorities.

Chertoff said he discussed with Mexico's top security officials how to better coordinate efforts to combat border violence and increase the exchange of information on drug and human traffickers on both sides.

They also discussed strategies in stemming the tide of illegal migrants from Central and South America who pass through Mexico on their way to the U.S.

Chertoff also said the U.S. and Mexico need to ensure that their energy infrastructure is protected after an Internet threat by a Saudi Arabian terrorist faction affiliated with al-Qaida urged attacks against oil installations in countries that export petroleum to the U.S. - namely Mexico, Canada and Venezuela.

Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula said in its monthly online magazine that "cutting oil supplies to the United States, or at least curtailing it, would contribute to the ending of the American occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan." The group said it was making the statements as part of Osama bin Laden's declared policy.

Chertoff said the threat was not specific but reflects that terrorism "is not just an American problem."

"It is a problem of all civilized countries."

Mexico and the United States need to pinpoint vulnerabilities in their energy sectors and develop strategies to respond to natural disasters and terrorist attacks.

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/42215.php

Chertoff needs to GO.

Even when we try and get rid of the criminals they are still screaming to stop the deportations. We don't need 20 million housekeepers and landscapers.

Come on Smirnoff do your job, build the fence and stop the flow of criminal aliens.

"Every time a Border Patrol officer is transporting a load of future housekeepers and landscapers to some place to be returned, he's not looking for drug dealers or drug loads," Chertoff said.

Why would they want to go looking for drug dealers or drug lords? They might get into a scuffle, have to fire their weapon in self defense and then get convicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison, while the drug smuggler gets immunity and sues for millions of dollars. This clown Cherk-off is a total buffoon, he sides with illegal aliens everytime he opens his mouth and betrays the American people at every turn.

Hey, Mr. Cherk-off, is it not ILLEGAL to enter this country ILLEGALLY? Is it not ILLEGAL to be a housekeeper or landscaper with out proper documentation allowing them to work here legally? Is it not ILLEGAL to use fake, forged or stolen documents and stolen identities to work here? Just what part of ILLEGAL do you not understand?

Chertoff said:

MEXICO CITY - U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Friday that immigration reform would let U.S. law enforcement focus on catching criminals instead of "future housekeepers and landscapers."

"Future housekeepers and landscapers" -he said this twice!
America deserves to have a Homeland Security chief that takes his/her job seriously to promote safe borders and the arrest of illegal immigrants. What is wrong with this RAT, BESIDES BEING HIDEOUISLY UGLY? I guess he is just as ugly on the inside. I just want to scream!

Let me see, the federal government has had twenty years to stop drug smugglers and illegal aliens from crossing the border. Nothing has happened. We tried amnesty with promises to american and yet nothing has happened.

How about just telling the america people the real reason. PROFITS for the elites.

"Every time a Border Patrol officer is transporting a load of future housekeepers and landscapers to some place to be returned, he's not looking for drug dealers or drug loads," Chertoff said.

Maybe if he would stop and actually think that if they enforced the laws that are already in place that there wouldn't be anyone but drug smugglers trying to cross the border. Sounds like Chertoff is worried about his supply of slave labor....

reptile09 wrorte:

Just what part of ILLEGAL do you not understand?

Evidently he and Bush have their own special definition for Illegal.

JadedBaztard wrote:

Chertoff needs to GO.

What good would getting rid of Secretary Chertoff do? Bush would just turn around and hire someone else to speak for him. Chertoff is just another one of Bush's talking heads.

I've always been told the only way to kill a snake is to cut off its head - Secretary Chertoff is not the head, Bush is. Unfortunately, we're stuck with the snake's head for two more years which means we also have to contend with the body and tail because they work at the pleasure of the president.

I feel your pain, JadedBaztard, but unfortunately getting rid of Chertoff is not going to ease your anguish.