Thread: TX Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison Letter Re Border Security

I received this today and I'm going to include the last paragraph for now. I may add the rest latter. The first half talks about HR4437 and the actions the Senate took.

"I will continue to work to improve border security. In october 2005, I introduced S 1823, the illegal immigration Enforcement and Empowerment Act, which would grant state and local officals authority to arrest, detain and prosecute illegal aliens. the legislation would also create a Volunteer Border Marshal Progarm. In addition, I met with U. S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to discuss boarder immigration reform measures and the new provisions outlined in my bill. I also led Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) on a tour along the U. S. - Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley to highlight the need for more agents, technology and finding to secure our borders. As a member of the Senate Appropriations committee, I have worked hard to secure more than $322 million in additional sppropritions ove the past year for border security, including funding for 1,500 new Border Patrol agents, 50 U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigators, 168 detention officers, and almost 2,000 detention beds." Kay Bailey Hutchison, US Senator for Texas

Dixie

This is from Darrell Issa
Member of Congress California
Some of the numbers don't add up?


Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns about illegal immigration. I agree we must act quickly to provide the resources and enact policies needed to effectively stop people from illegally entering and remaining in our country. Unchecked illegal immigration poses a serious threat to our homeland security. In the post 9-11 world, it is essential that we control the flow of people and goods across our borders.



While much remains to be done, I am pleased that we are beginning to make progress in providing the necessary resources. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 4437, the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 with my support on December 16, 2005. Among its provisions are an end to "catch and release" of illegal aliens, broadening the border fence, and mandating employer screening of employees. Significantly, this legislation also includes a bill I authored, the Criminal Alien Accountability Act, H.R. 3150, which increases penalties on criminal aliens.



The Senate has begun considering immigration reform legislation, but has not yet reached a consensus. As the Senate weighs the importance of stronger enforcement against demands for a guest worker program, your views add valuable input to the debate. While it is likely that any bill the Senate adopts will allow for a guest worker program, I will continue to emphasize the need for an enforcement first policy.



Beyond the broader immigration reform debate, last year Congress passed and the President signed emergency legislation that included the Real ID Act to provide secure drivers licenses and granted the Secretary of Homeland Security the authority needed to complete the border fence in San Diego . Additionally, you will be pleased to learn the House of Representatives approved funding for 1,500 new Border Patrol agents, 568 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, and 3879 detention beds in the 2006 appropriations legislation and emergency legislation mentioned previously. Congress must continue to work to provide the resources and policies necessary to prevent illegal immigration.



Again, thank you for contacting my office. If I can be of further assistance on this or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact me in the future.

Hutchison knows how to tapdance pretty good, too! When I see a candidate who will just say it straight out one way or the other, then I'll believe it.

Hutchison has said she is againt amnesty but FOR a guest worker program. Apparently she doesn't understand that there is no difference.

I guess they are going to force people to become border patrol agents, huh?

We need soldiers on that border and we need them there now.

Sen Hutchison is NOT going to do anything to help this situation. She is going to do all she can to get the amnesty passed.

Don't be fooled by any doublespeak she might try to give. She has been a proponent of this insanity for many years.

The real sad and and I hate to call it criminal thing is - she and the President have seen what it has done to this state - and yet is determined to trash it more.

Some lawmakers should have known, but they might get a sliver of a pass if it hadn't reached their state yet - but it has been here for some time and the damage has been significant for quite some tiime.

I just me the guy in person who's going to try to push her out of that chair come November. he needs signatures to get on the ballot and we need to get him there. Real down to earth sort of guy with sound support for the cause. http://home.nctv.com/ourkeysdream/

BTW, this guy is on the border at the moment with the MinuteMen.

I may be dumb here, why do we need to pass new laws to make it allright to enforce our old laws?Is that logical?

nittygritty-- good point. It seems to me that even the laws we have in place could put a stop to a lot of what is happening. Enforcement is definitely a key factor. And what good does it do wasting time to pass new laws if they aren't going to enforce them anyway?

I received another letter from Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison yesterday. Here is one paragraph:

"I do support the development of a guest worker program which would allow foreign nationals to work in the United States on a seasonal or temporary basis in industries where labor is in critical demand. However, I beleive that granting legal status to those who entetred our country illegally would only encourage other to break our laws in the future."

Janus, I'm not sure where you are getting your ideas about KBH. Every thing I've seen from her and about her is in line with my beleives about immigration and the border. Are you confusing her with Kay Granger, TX House of Reps??? I know she is wishy washy. I hear a lot of people go off on Hutchison over something Granger did. Two Kays are a problem.

Dixie

Dixie, I view a guest worker status as amnesty in disguise. That is why I think Hutchison's message contradicts itself. Plus the fact that her voting record shows that she declines to vote on important issues and, in my opinion makes her a fence sitter.

JuniusJnr

nittygritty, Junius---
I've been perplexed about this all along also. The only problem I see are jellyfish that won't enforce the laws. If we had created a strong system to enforce back in 1986, we wouldn't be wading in all this crap now, to be blunt. Now, what's so difficult to understand about that? Pass the law, create system to enforce law, and JUST DO IT!