Thread: No felon left behind

No felon left behind: Attempts by Congress to solve immigation problems disappoint
By: Cole Shooter
Posted: 6/12/07
The latest attempt by Congress to help alleviate immigration problems in the United States is an absolute disappointment. Making matters worse are Senate Democrats working to quickly push through a bill that fails to tighten border security and helps legalize illegal immigrants over those who have waited in line as our laws dictate they must.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., plans to close debate on the bill by the end of the week in a mad dash to push Senate Bill 1348 through as quickly as possible to avoid debate over the terribly flawed legislation and prevent its possible modification. The Senate already passed an amendment requiring employers to recruit American workers before they utilize the guest-worker program. It rejected a measure to make permanent-residency status much more difficult to acquire as an illegal alien.

More amendments and challenges await the bill before it is sent to President George W. Bush for his signature, but senators defeated one of the most important amendments by a 46 to 51 vote Wednesday afternoon. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, was working to amend the 2007 immigration bill's proposed legalization program, which would have made many illegal immigrants ineligible for the proposed legalization program because the amendment would have banned anyone who had ignored deportation orders, used false documentation or committed crimes.

The amendment was a futile attempt to bring some sort of decency to very flawed legislation. Since it didn't coddle those who choose to ignore the laws of our nation, the amendment was thwarted.

"If we are serious about restoring the rule of law, then how in good conscience can we reward those who have repeatedly committed felonies, such as identity theft, with a path to American citizenship?" Sen. Cornyn said Wednesday. "If we do not adopt this amendment then we might as well re-title this section of the bill 'No Felon Left Behind.'"

Rather than pass Cornyn's amendment, the Senate chose to go with an alternative offered by Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass. His amendment cut the list of crimes to things like drug trafficking, sex offenses and other "very serious" crimes. However, if the crime committed occurred in association with getting a job, the individual still would be allowed to be legalized. Rewarding people for breaking our laws goes against everything Congress should stand for. There is no reason to create laws if certain people are allowed to break them. If I get pulled over for speeding, I should not expect a reward. Strangely enough, I don't see a police officer handing me a gift card for breaking the law. If it continues on this trail, our court system could be turned into a game show. I already can hear a judge saying, "Give this heroin addict a new car!"

We are in desperate need of immigration reform, but this bill isn't the answer. Amnesty didn't help when President Ronald Reagan allowed it in the '80s, and it won't work now. We're supposed to learn from our mistakes, but unfortunately in this case, our politicians have yet to figure that out.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© Copyright 2007 Daily Toreador
media.www.dailytoreador.com

Glad you enjoyed it! I've caught quite a bit of flak over this particular article.

- Cole

Welcome to ALIPAC Cole feel free to post your articles here and add comments to the boards

Originally Posted by coleshooter

Glad you enjoyed it! I've caught quite a bit of flak over this particular article.

- Cole

Cornyn's my Senator and even I didn't know about his "no felon left behind" remark. Awesome. Well done on the article!

Originally Posted by coleshooter

Glad you enjoyed it! I've caught quite a bit of flak over this particular article.

- Cole

Great to have you onboard Cole!

Welcome to ALIPAC!

coleshooter

Welcome to ALIPAC


Direct and too the point. Although, "Disappointed" is an understatement.

Hey coleshooter....



Thanks for dropping in, don't be a strange ok?

Originally Posted by jean

Hey coleshooter....



Thanks for dropping in, don't be a strange ok?

I can be strange, though.