Thread: U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez Favors Stricter Border Patrols

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U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez Favors Stricter Border Patrols

May 12 2006 10:00PM

Lesley Clark

Florida's Republican Sen. Mel Martinez wouldn't mind seeing the U.S. Constitution amended so that foreign-born citizens could serve as president -- but not for himself.

Speaking Friday at the National Press Club in advance of a return to the immigration debate in the Senate, the Cuban-born Martinez said the ban on foreign-born citizens serving as president is the "one opportunity" that's missing for striving immigrants in the United States.

"In a country where we don't put any limits on people's opportunity, it's one opportunity that's foreclosed," Martinez said.

'NOTHING I CAN'T DO'

'I would love to be able to stand before you and say 'There's nothing I cannot do in this country.' "

Martinez -- the first Cuban-born U.S. senator -- noted the ban potentially has prevented some "brilliant people" from serving.

He offered as examples former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger -- "not electable, probably, but a brilliant guy," and Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California.

"I would like to think in the future, after a long tenure of residency, there would not be an impediment to the highest office in the land," Martinez said, adding, to laughter, "I'm not making an announcement today, I'm just saying what would be good for the country as a whole."

Supporters acknowledge the hurdles are daunting. Adopting constitutional amendments requires a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate, then approval by 38 legislatures.

FAVORS REFORM

Martinez, like President Bush, favors comprehensive immigration reform that would include a path to citizenship for some illegal aliens, along with better border enforcement.

"I want the symbol of America to continue to be the Statue of Liberty, not a big old fence at the border," he said.

But he suggested that Bush, by focusing first on a guest worker policy, had "got one step ahead of himself," and needs to offer immigration critics some concrete proposals for tightening border security in his address to the nation Monday.

Martinez, who arrived in the United States from Cuba legally in 1962, sought to portray the debate in personal terms.

"I remember when I began to dream in English," he said. "I think immigrants come to this country not to change America, not to make my native language the tongue of this country, but immigrants come to this country to be changed by America. To make contributions."


Martinez has criticized demonstrators at immigrant rallies for waving flags from other countries, and he told the audience Friday that the massive pro-immigration demonstrations have been counterproductive.

MINUTEMAN PROJECT

Across town, members of the Minuteman Project, an anti-immigration group whose members patrol the U.S.-Mexican border in search of illegal border-crossers, decried the Senate legislation -- which Martinez has championed.

Martinez -- noting he is "not prepared" to join the group -- said he understood their frustration about lack of border enforcement, and as long as they weren't breaking the law he suggested they were welcome to assist law enforcement.

But he criticized as unrealistic calls to deport the estimated 11 million to 12 million undocumented immigrants.

"How do you carry that off?" he said. "Send people with trucks to round people up?"

That might be a start

ditto, ditto, ditto. Herd 'em up and Move 'em out.