Thread: Blog from CIR Senate Hearing

This blog comes from the Pro-illegal alien America's Voice, so bare in mind that their comments will be pro-amnesty.

LIVEBLOGGING TODAY, STARTING at 2PM EST: Senate Hearing on Immigration Reform
END OF LIVE BLOG - CHECK BACK FOR LINKS, PICS, VIDEO, AND ANALYSIS SOON.

5:30 PM: Schumer concludes the hearing saying that it's not going to be easy, but I think we're going to get something done. Thank you.

5:25 PM: Kobach: "I could only get behind an Amnesty where everyone goes home for 10 years." Kobach cites Republican 2008 election strategy that included a "secure-the-border-first" philosophy on immigration as proof that that's what the American people want. That worked really well.

5:24 PM: Henderson: "I would agree that legalization is a challenge, but that the public will embrace it. Greater challenge is to convince public that this process won't have to be repeated again and again." Henderson discusses issue of a secure form of ID that's viable and safe."

5:22 PM: Schumer: "Even though Kobach thinks so, it's not amnesty if you pay a fine and have to go through a system." Medina: "this ain't Ronald Reagan's amnesty, it's earned legalization where people have to learn English, etc., to become citizens."

5:20 PM: Schumer: what's our biggest stumbling block, politically, to passing immigration reform? Meissner; the idea that we're rewarding people being branded "lawbreakers."

5:18 PM: Meissner discusses with Schumer and Medina the likelihood that a commission will work.

5:15 PM: Kobach says that enforcement is going well, quotes the Center for Immigration Studies, one of the organizations in John Tanton's anti-immigrant network. Interesting that the U.S Immigration Reform PAC, also part of the John-Tanton network with the Federation for American Immigration Reform, gave $10,000 to Kobach during the 2003-2004 election cycle, according to CQ Moneyline. Easy to see where the Amnesty-only talk comes from. [UPDATED]

5:05 PM: Schumer: how frequently should immigration levels be adjusted since it could be politically problematic to have Congress adjusting constantly. Meissner: But if we don't we end up where we are. We have to adjust. Schumer: how will the commission be trusted, and do labor unions want no future flow? Medina: absolutely not, we just want oversight and a way people get here legally and aren't exploited.

5:02 PM: Biggest tension all day: Schumer smacks down Kobach testimony, saying that he just calls it "Amnesty, and that's that." Asks what the other panelists think about the formulated solutions by the diverse witnesses.

4:59 PM: Kobach talking about terrorism and Rumpelstiltskin (yes, Rumpelstiltskin). Need for biometrics.

4:55 PM: Professor Kris Kobach now testifying - the tone is so markedly different than the rest of the hearing. Describes comprehensive reform as "Amnesty," undocumented migrants as "illegal aliens" and so on. Says that USCIS is not able to handle what would be needed to legalize the 12 million undocumented men and women living in our nation. While correct that USCIS has been backlogged, interesting that there is solution to upgrade or update it from Kobach. Interesting that Kobach is now saying that USCIS are the only experts who can handle this project (as opposed to contractors, etc), after essentially calling the agency incompetent.

UPDATE: TEMPORARY RECESS FOR A VOTE

4:30 PM: Henderson: need better anti-discrimination laws, increased workplace standards, skills trainings, etc., for low-skilled workers. "Us vs. them wedge politics hurt everyone in the long run." Immigration restrictionists show little concern for African American community.

4:25 PM: LCCR's Wade Henderson argues that it is a "civil rights issue of profound significance." Motives count, and we must consider why most people came here, and whether people are law-abiling and wanting to play by the rules. These are incredibly challenging times, and Congress has a lot on its plate. Immigration reform in 2009 is also pressing - it makes sense economically as well as morally. The needs of low-wage workers has been neglected. Economic insecurity is keenly felt in the African American community, but that does not mean that African Americans oppose reform. We need policies that promote native-born opportunities and protect workers from being exploited and under-cutting all workers.

4:20 PM: SEIU Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina shares his personal story of coming to the US in the 1950s, and frames the desires of immigrants and workers in our country. Speaks about the unified proposal of Change to Win and AFL-CIO to enact real immigration reform that re-focuses on our priorities not our prejudices. Says that the labor movement endorses a better way to bring in future workers that is based on sound policy instead of politics.

4:15 PM: Meissner concludes that immigration system must be more flexible, which could be achieved through a standing commission on labor needs. Congress needs a way to more systematically adjust immigration levels to promote economic growth and competitiveness in the future.

4:10 PM: Doris Meissner, a Senior Fellow of the Migration Policy Institute, speaks about the "pause" in immigration right now due to our economy - historic opportunity to enact needed reforms that will allow immigration to contribute to our recovery and our future as a nation. Says that key elements of reform include not just border enforcement but employer enforcement that works (which does not just mean E-Verify). Meissner argues for a phased legalization program that first does a background check (to weed out any criminal records) and then allows immigrants to earn citizenship. Past failure was tied to forgetting that immigration flows can change, and that we need to provide for that.

4:05 PM: Schumer introduces second panel, including SEIU's Eliseo Medina.

UPDATE: SCHUMER INTRODUCES PANEL 2

4:00 PM: Cornyn agrees with Manger that immigration enforcement shouldn't be "thrust as an unfunded mandate" on local police. He asks what should be done to arrest criminals with violent crimes who are in violation of immigration status. Mosely says "there's a big difference between someone undocumented who is committing violent crimes and someone who is contributing to the community and in no way threatening our public safety. Those committing crimes that harm community should be removed- no question." Cornyn: how good a job is ICE doing? Manger: much better than before.

3:55 PM: Mosely speaks to question of guest-worker program (will there be one?), from Sen. Cornyn. Greenspan sees benefit to guest worker program, but says that there should be limits on immigration, but far more leeway than anyone has talked about. Thinks our economy could absorb them very productively.

3:52 PM: Police chief Manger speaks of high cost of local police becoming ICE agents - says has higher priorities like dangerous criminals.

3:50 PM: Greenspan questioned about whether legal immigration is good for economy. Greenspan- yes, absolutely. Immigration raises wages of native-born, except for very, very few cases.

3:45 PM: Shumer asks Hunter: how many of your colleagues would agree with your views on immigration, and will they be speaking out on reform? Hunter: Yes, the more they hear these stories of people caught in a very bad system. Also, there's less appetite for the extremism of the immigration pundits, want to work out the problem. "There's a new day in this country," and leaders will be working prayerfully toward a solution. Shumer: If you look at the polling data, most Americans want a solution. I think the time is right. That's why I chose to chair this Subcommittee.

3:42 PM: Even if we did have the resources to round up and deport the 12 million undocumented in our society - which we don't - 8.1 million jobs would be lost by removing the undocumented from the workforce. 1.76 trillion in annual spending. Moseley: Immigrants are net contributors to our economy. Less rhetoric, more solutions. [UPDATE: for more info on the economy, check out our latest fact page.]

3:37 PM: Jeff Moseley, President and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, talks about effects of "enforcement only" approach on business. Says that there must be a balance "between securing our borders and securing our prosperity." Says that there should be a pathway to citizenship for those hear, but also a viable employee verification system that works.

3:35 PM: Hunter: Each person is valuable, and our nation should prioritize the family. "It is a better justice when laws yield correction and the redemption of bad circumstances." Amen.

3:30 PM: Broken system hurts all, produces brokennes in our nation - doesn't compare to the damange being done to individuals and families. Speaks of the great temptation of wrong-doers to exploit undocumented workers. Speaks of the dehumanizing elements of debate - "talk show hosts who increase their fame and fortune by picturing those without the proper papers only as conniving and dangerous parasites instead of persons made in the image of God." Hunter shares stories that "don't live up to the ideals of our country."

3:25 PM: Hearing resumes with Senior Pastor of Northland Church, Joel Hunter, one of our nation's premier Evangelical pastors and a member of President Obama's faith council. Hunter: "we all started off as strangers and aliens" under God. Says that our Scripture commands us to speak up for those who can't speak up for themselves.

UPDATE: SENATORS ADJURN TO VOTE NOW- HEARING WILL RESUME AT APPROX 3:30 PM

2:50 PM: Manger: Securing borders a top priority. Let's find a way to bring people in legally instead of illegally. And let's not turn local police into ICE agents. It's imperative that we pass comprehensive reform.

2:45 PM: Montgomery County MD Chief of Police Thomas Manger speaks about importance of reform to law enforcement. Manger: targeting of immigrants by criminals. Hard to work with a population that is in the shadows, afraid to speak to police. Talks about how not passing reform has led to increase in hate crimes, ID theft, and unscrupulous employers. Illegal immigration has affected "our budgets, our workloads, and community trust." Has polarized communities, and created a wide range of local policies, including the 287-g program, which has undermined trust in local police and added high costs for local departments.

2:40 PM: Greenspan says that unauthorized immigrants have contributed greatly to our economy. Described estimated costs of illegal immigration as relatively small, but that they affect those workers with high-school diplomas or lower. Says that 2/5's of the science PHD's in our workforce are born abroad - 40% of patents issued to foreign-born. H-1B visas are too few to meet the need, with future economy dealing with retirement of skilled baby boomers. Can't shut out the very people who are enabling us to compete globally. Argues that skilled immigrants would help by forming new households at a time when housing market is ailing. [UPDATE: Greenspan has before touted the economic benefits of skilled immigration to the US.]

2:33 PM: Schumer introduces first witness: Alan Greenspan.

2:30 PM: Kyl upset that E-Verify hasn't been re-authorized (LINK to flaws with E-Verify). Kyl is going on about crime in Arizona, blaming crime in state on illegal immigration, even though crime rates among foreign-born and immigrant residents has been shown to be lower than native-born (UPDATED LINK). Quotes Sen. McCain and says that we have to secure the border first before passing reform. (Doesn't that go against what he said first, that we can't do this piecemeal?)

2:27 PM: Sen. Kyl (R-AZ) - we can't do this piecemeal. Kyl talks about "chain migration" which many hardliners use instead of "family-based immigration," which has traditionally been the cornerstone of American immigration.

2:25 PM: DIFI says CA Ag industry is estimated to lose billions on agriculture. Farmers can't find workers, and farms are going fallow- farmers are standing in breadlines, etc.

2:21 PM: Feinstein talks about shift of farmwork to Mexico - DiFi: We stand to lose 5-9 billion dollars in agriculture as US farms close and downsize production.

2:20 PM: Sen. Feinstein (D-CA) agrees with much of Schumer and Cornyn's statements on immigration. Says past debate has been extremely harmful, as has "not moving" on immigration. DiFi talks about importance of Agjobs (legislation that would allow for seasonal farmworkers to come legally).

2:19 PM: Schumer: we agree (Shumer and Cornyn) on 90% of the issue!

2:18 PM: Need a fair and firm solution that creates order and allows high-skilled immigrants to stay and create jobs in the US, instead of in foreign lands, where they will compete with US companies. Cornyn speaks of immigrants serving in the US army, and how they should receive expedited citizenship.

2:16 PM: Sen. Cornyn discouraged by President's "working groups" on immigration, but wants to begin the work of reform.

2:13 PM: Sen John Cornyn (R-TX) agrees with much of Shumer's introduction, but brings up what he considers the broken elements of our system. The 'illegal immigrant' who comes here without papers becomes easily exploited. All down the line the biggest victim of the status quo is the immigrant living in the shadows in violation of our immigration laws. Interesting tension between Cornyn trying to humanize the debate and simultaneously sound "tough." Says employer shouldn't operate as a police officer. Says temporary worker program is essential, and speaks of 2005 act he co-sponsored.

2:07 PM: Sen. Schumer describes how many say that it is impossible to enact a real immigration reform, but that the majority of Americans want solutions on the issue (a recent poll shows that 48% support the President's plan for reform), and support a real reform that is both tough and fair. Shumer says that we must live up to our country's legacy, our history of welcoming immigrants. Says that there are very high stakes on whether and how we move forward on immigration, introduces the diverse and distinguished panel of witnesses.

2:05 PM: Crowd has quieted down, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee are filing in. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) gives a tribute to Senator Kennedy's leadership on immigration reform. "Can we achieve significant immigration reform this session, and if so, what would this look like?"

2:00 PM: The room is filling up over here, and witnesses are taking their seats. Check back soon for live updates, photos, and video from today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on immigration reform.

One of the last things Schumer said was " THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD WILL BE OPEN FOR SEVEN DAYS." This is really important. It is the chance to send some authoritative reports and testimony to support Kobach and contradict the simpleton comments of Greenspan, Medina, et al.

Greenspan says that unauthorized immigrants have contributed greatly to our economy. Described estimated costs of illegal immigration as relatively small

What planet is Greenspan living on?

Medina: "this ain't Ronald Reagan's amnesty, it's earned legalization where people have to learn English, etc., to become citizens"

More lies from the open borders crowd. Of course this is just another version of the supposed one-time 1986 IRCA amnesty. This is Edwin Meese discussing the 1986 amnesty:

"the legislation stipulated several conditions: immigrants had to pay application fees, learn to speak English, understand American civics, pass a medical exam and register for military selective service"

I like some of the common sense comments that Sen. Kyl made.

We have to keep calling Cornyn who made it clear during his reelection campaign that to regain our trust the border has to be secured, and after this, talk about "comprehensive" blah blah.

Immigration restrictionists show little concern for African American community.

This observation is clearly reversed. The OBL is bringing in competitors to Blacks.

Sen. Schumer describes how many say that it is impossible to enact a real immigration reform, but that the majority of Americans want solutions on the issue (a recent poll shows that 48% support the President's plan for reform

Bull. Actually, most Americans oppose CIR amnesty. This is from a December Rasmussen Reports poll:

Seventy-four percent (74%) of U.S. voters continue to believe the federal government is not doing enough to secure the country’s borders...Sixty-three percent (63%) of voters say gaining control of the border is more important than legalizing the status of undocumented workers in the country

Call and send this to the Immigration, Refugees and Border Security subcommittee if you have the chance:

http://judiciary.senate.gov/about/subco ... ration.cfm

Originally Posted by Captainron

One of the last things Schumer said was " THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD WILL BE OPEN FOR SEVEN DAYS." This is really important. It is the chance to send some authoritative reports and testimony to support Kobach and contradict the simpleton comments of Greenspan, Medina, et al.

I agree Capt.Ron, absolutely.

Now, just so that everyone can stay focused on the same page, offering the most compelling and indisputable of facts as possible, can you see your way to suggesting some guidelines as to the main points we might want to stress and where to find the information?

Kris Kobach was the only truthful one. The rest of the panel have made money with the illegals.

What about the the damaged displaced Americans workers?

"WE THE PEOPLE" MUST STAND STRONGER THAN EVER

Related Post Wink
Thursday---Senate Subcommittee on CIR
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-154992.html

Does anyone get the sic feeling that it really doesn't matter what the pro-American Anti-Amnesty people present that the Government is going to push Amnesty through the same way that they pushed through the Stimulus Bill, the Bank Bail Out's, Universal Health Care and the recent un-Constitutional Hate crimes act?

The American people have told them that they don't want Amnesty two times in a serious legal arena but it seems the Government believes that three times is a charm. I think that with or with-out our co-operation and consent the Gov't is going to give the invaders Amnesty.

I hope and pray that I am wrong.

"ELE Said"
Does anyone get the sic feeling that it really doesn't matter what the pro-American Anti-Amnesty people present that the Government is going to push Amnesty through the same way that they pushed through the Stimulus Bill, the Bank Bail Out's, Universal Health Care and the recent un-Constitutional Hate crimes act?

I get the sick feeling it`s all about getting reelected. They want them here because the Dems want total Power of the U.S. Don`t the Hispanics vote Democrat. They want to turn the U.S. into a one party system. It`s all about money, power, and getting reelected. Also I feel they already believe that Mexico is already a part of the U.S. Why won`t they shut down the boarder from the swine flue????????