Thread: Cornyn focuses on border - Senator says border wall not par

Cornyn focuses on border
Senator says border wall not part of security plan
By Louie Gilot / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 08/07/2007 12:00:00 AM MDT

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U.S. Sen. John Cornyn spoke Monday during a visit to El Paso. Cornyn gave a legislative update to about 100 people gathered at the offices of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce. (Photos by Rudy Gutierrez / El Paso Times)

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U.S. Sen. John Cornyn addressed a variety of issues, including immigration reform, the case of two former El Paso Border Patrol agents sentenced to prison and the expansion of Fort Bliss during a visit to El Paso on Monday. (Rudy Gutierrez / El Paso Times)Border security must come first, before other aspects of immigration reform, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Monday in El Paso.

Cornyn, who is running for re-election in 2008, gave a legislative update to about 100 business leaders and local officials at the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce.

The senator spoke about his support of the war in Iraq, the need for a bigger U.S. Army and Congress' low approval ratings, but the meeting quickly focused on border security.

"Fixing immigration is the single most important domestic challenge. But we've done it before. In 1986, amnesty came but enforcement didn't," Cornyn said. "We need to at least double the size of the Border Patrol. There are 10,000 Border Patrol agents. There are 40,000 police officers in New York City, but one fourth of that along a 2,000-mile border."
Such a stand is not overwhelmingly popular on the border where a daily cross-border back-and-forth is essential to business interests.

Indeed, the only room-wide applause during Cornyn's speech came after he said that increasing border security "would not entail a 2,000-mile wall on the border."

Martin Yung, president of JDW Insurance, said he liked hearing that.

"It's an issue that is vital to this community. I don't think walls work. I'm glad to hear that he is not for walls," Yung said.

Last month, Cornyn voted for a $3 billion measure to build 700 miles of fence and 300 miles of vehicle barriers and to beef up the Border Patrol.

Cornyn, who had spoken against border fencing in the past, said in an interview Monday that he had not changed his mind, but that "in some places, urban areas where it's simply possible to come across and get lost in the city, some fencing is possible."
Outside the offices of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce in Downtown El Paso on Monday, a group of about 30 immigrants' rights advocates picketed.

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Lina Arroyo, foreground, and other members of La Mujer Obrera tied themselves in plastic chains during a protest Monday outside the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce offices where U.S. Sen. John Cornyn spoke.

"We're here because Sen. Cornyn has been one of the strongest advocates against a comprehensive immigration reform that includes legalization (of undocumented immigrants). His approach has been enforcement only," said Ruben Garcia, director of the Annunciation House, an immigrant shelter. "It is ironic that he is talking to the Chamber of Commerce when chambers of commerce around the country have been in favor of a reform."

Cornyn and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, both voted against the immigration reform bill in June.

In response to the protesters, Cornyn said he had been "an advocate for reform," but that the protracted bill that finally died in late June had been deeply flawed and lacked popular support.

"That bill collapsed under its own weight," Cornyn said. "It was just a lack of trust from the American people that we were going to be able to deliver, especially on border security and interior enforcement."

He also said the Congress needs to rebuild the public's confidence with border security measures first.

"We're sort of in a credibility-building mode with border security," he said.

Cornyn said he recently co-sponsored an amendment to require the consultation of local, border entities before building border fences.

The senator also said he supported the DREAM Act, a bill that would allow the legalization of undocumented immigrant teenagers headed for college.

Cornyn also spoke, briefly, about the war in Iraq, now in its fourth year.

"We can't leave," Cornyn said. "There is too much talk about leaving Iraq and not enough talk about the consequences of leaving Iraq."

Among those consequences, Cornyn said Iran's and Hezbollah's influence would expand, a civil war would cost many Iraqi lives and a regional conflict would break out between Sunni-majority countries such as Saudi Arabia and Shiite-majority countries such as Iran.

A recent Senate vote by Cornyn came into question Monday.

Tigua Gov. Art Senclair asked the senator why he voted "no" on the ethics reform bill last week.

The bill, making legislators disclose more information about earmarks and about the money they receive from lobbyists, passed anyway.

Cornyn said Monday that he felt the ethics bill fell short because it left a "gaping hole" when it came to the recording of earmarks.

Senclair said he was satisfied with the answer.

"If there's anything he can add to make things more transparent, I'm all for it," Senclair said.

Louie Gilot may be reached at lgilot@elpasotimes.com; 546-6131.

http://origin.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_6 ... id=5205055

Indeed, the only room-wide applause during Cornyn's speech came after he said that increasing border security "would not entail a 2,000-mile wall on the border."

I'm glad the COC didn't like what he was saying and that he had the guts to stand in front of them and tell them what they didn't want to hear.

The senator also said he supported the DREAM Act, a bill that would allow the legalization of undocumented immigrant teenagers headed for college.

I need to call his office about this.

Dixie

Related article:

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ic&t=76646

Unless we have a double wall fence for at least 854 continuous miles, we'd better have the national guard and/or military out there. The drones and infra red cameras are a bit of a technie joke. In other words, they can see them remotely coming across but without personnel in the immediate vicinity, they won't get caught.

Hi Dixie and MW.

John Cornyn is a lot of smoke and mirrors.

In between the lines...

John Cornyn is 100%,

Pro-Amnesty
Pro-India
Pro-Mexico
Pro-Anchor babies

Anti-US Middle Class!

How can you reason with him when he won't listen? Answer: You gotta go through Ratan Tata, and you know damn well that won't work.

"It's an issue that is vital to this community. I don't think walls work. I'm glad to hear that he is not for walls," Yung said.

Another shining example of how our government picks and chooses which laws to enforce. How quickly many of them forgotten that the Secure Fence Act, signed by boosh in Sept '06 is NOW A LAW. They don't have the option of saying whether or not the fence will be built.

Well, you do have to feel a little sorry for people like Cronyn. He must be having a really hard time trying to figure out just how to say the right thing to get re-elected.

The fence is important, BP are important - but they will not send one illegal home. Only employer enforcement will do that. He can safely misdirect your attention to the fence and new agents because he knows it will be at least after his re election before any of that can be done.

We have been hearing how they are going to get 'tough' on the employers. People, if that were the case, we would be talking about millions and millions of jobs and billions and billions of dollars for the illegal employers. Those corporations are not going to sit still for that - not no way - not no how.

This is flim-flam - of the worst kind.

nntrixie wrote:

The fence is important, BP are important - but they will not send one illegal home. Only employer enforcement will do that. He can safely misdirect your attention to the fence and new agents because he knows it will be at least after his re election before any of that can be done.

I agree that tougher employer sanctions and enforcement is necessary. However, once we put them out (or they leave), we need to make sure they don't just prance back in any old time they want. Moreover, we need to make sure the tide is slowed so more don't pour in while we're attempting to send those already here home.

They don't all come for legitimate jobs - some come to do us evil, sell drugs, particpate in illegal enterprises, etc. Also, our open borders are an invite to potential terrorist. I say fence the border now, every darn square inch of it!