Thread: Revolt!: Some Repubs suggest that Bush take a hike

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/10 ... _19_05.txt

Republicans send letter to Bush

By: WILLIAM FINN BENNETT - Staff Writer

A revolt appears to be occurring within Republican Party ranks over illegal immigration as President Bush calls for a temporary guest worker program, and Republicans say that the administration's first priority should be enforcing existing immigration laws, strengthening the borders and cracking down on those who employ undocumented immigrants.

Nearly one-third of the 231 Republican members of Congress, including several from North County and Southwest Riverside County and one Democrat have sent a letter to Bush, saying the government needs to enforce current immigration laws before enacting a guest worker program.

Among the 81 members who signed the Oct. 7 letter were three of San Diego County's five congressional representatives ---- Darrell Issa, R-Vista; Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Escondido; and Duncan Hunter, R-El Cajon ----- as well as Riverside County's U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona.

"We believe that there should be no new guest-worker program or any expansion of the number of lawful residents in our country until the Executive Branch better enforces current immigration laws," the letter states.

The letter goes on to say that undocumented workers know that once they enter the country and find a job, "they will likely be able to stay for the rest of their lives because the government has shown little interest in enforcing its own laws."

A local advocate for the human rights of undocumented migrants on Wednesday called the Republican letter one more sign of conservatives' misguided approach to a problem that will only be solved once the government realizes that enforcement is not the answer.

The letter, a copy of which was e-mailed to the North County Times Wednesday by Issa's office, came against a backdrop of growing disunity within the Republican Party over a number of issues. Bush and his advisers appear to be trapped between their business supporters ---- many of whom believe the economy needs a steady supply of low-cost foreign workers ---- and conservatives who are pressing for a crackdown on illegal immigration.

Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., one of the most vehement proponents for clamping down on illegal immigration, told the reporters this week that the administration is "kowtowing to big business."

"Slowly, the president's team is coming to realize that they have a political revolt on their hands," Tancredo said.

On Tuesday, Bush defended the idea of a temporary guest worker program just before signing a $32 billion homeland security bill, which includes large increases for patrolling borders. He touted the fact that the bill includes $82 million to improve and expand U.S. Border Patrol stations and $70 million to install and improve fencing, lighting, vehicle barriers and roads. He also said the bill includes $3.7 billion for immigration and customs enforcement so illegal immigrants can be found and returned home. The bill includes money to hire an additional 100 new immigration enforcement agents and 250 criminal investigators.

Issa spokesman Frederick Hill said Wednesday that Bush and other presidents before him have made promises to get the job done to adequately enforce immigration laws.

And while Bush's promises of increased funding are good news, "overall the biggest problem the administration has is a credibility problem with enforcing immigration laws already on the books," Hill said.

"We have heard these words before that real border security is going to happen and what Representative Issa and others are looking for is action," Hill added.

Republicans need to wake up to the fact that border enforcement alone hasn't worked and never will, said Christian Ramirez, San Diego office director for American Friends Service Committee, an organization that provides humanitarian aid to undocumented immigrants.

"Unless we address the root cause of immigration ---- willing workers who are being hired by U.S. citizens ---- the immigration problem will not be solved," Ramirez said.

"Last fiscal year, 460 people lost their lives (crossing the border) and we have had border patrol raids in communities, so enforcement has been the norm and hasn't stopped immigration at all," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact staff writer William Finn Bennett at (760) 740-5426, or wbennett@nctimes.com.

$32 BILLION for Homeland Security,, and $152 MILLION of it to --supposedly-- secure all of our Borders.
What could possibly be more important to the Security of our Homeland,,, than controlling our borders??
All the money spent so far was for what? Computer systems & airport security to watch all the germans, Brits, Chinese etc who come here to spend money & do business?
Hire more bore-a-crats?
Why would a terrorist go thru all that when they can walk right in --- or ride a Burro in.

I wish someone on here knew enough to let us know what $156 Million would buy on our borders.

A million $$ doesnt go too far when its the government spending it.

Any numbers on how many new Border Agents are to be hired?

Originally Posted by shotgun

$32 BILLION for Homeland Security,, and $152 MILLION of it to --supposedly-- secure all of our Borders.
What could possibly be more important to the Security of our Homeland,,, than controlling our borders??
All the money spent so far was for what? Computer systems & airport security to watch all the germans, Brits, Chinese etc who come here to spend money & do business?
Hire more bore-a-crats?
Why would a terrorist go thru all that when they can walk right in --- or ride a Burro in.

I wish someone on here knew enough to let us know what $156 Million would buy on our borders.

A million $$ doesnt go too far when its the government spending it.

Any numbers on how many new Border Agents are to be hired?

Welcome to the board Shotgun. I totally agree with you. This whole thing is a complete joke. Bush could secure the borders and end this insanity with a couple of well placed phone calls. He knows this and everyone else knows this. That's why I demand that this do nothing, horrific, horrible, idiotic, joke of a president be immediately impeached. Bush is so hostile when it comes to our nations security and sovereignty that I firmly believe that impeaching him would save many American lives.

As far as the BP agents go. Congress approved in the intelligence bill last winter that we were suppose to get 2,000 new agents every year for like the next 5 years which equals 10,000. Bush in his not so infinite wisdom appropriates funds for 210 with his excuse being that we don't need many addditions to the BP because we need the money for technology on the border. Great, but technology doesn't physically catch a single person. Then the Senate being the do nothings that they are tries to play good cop to Bush's bad cop and appropriates funds for 1,000. Ok where's the funding for the other 1,000? So you see this is nothing, but a shell game that they are playing to try to make it look like they are doing something when in fact they aren't doing a damn thing. Nothing, but half baked, half measures trying to put band aides on a system that is set up for failure.

Bush still has influence on half of the Republican party which are nothing, but cowards and that's why he has got to go. Replace this stooge with Tancredo and these followers would change their tune in a heartbeat.

IMPEACH JORGE BUSH!!!