Thread: Where Was Donald Trump During the Immigration Fight? Advocating Amnesty

Where Was Donald Trump During the Immigration Fight? Advocating Amnesty

By: streiff (Diary) | January 23rd, 2016 at 09:00 AM

On the campaign trail, Texas Senator Ted Cruz has started making this statement about the Gang of Eight immigration fight:

“For anyone who cares about the issue of amnesty, who cares about border security, that moment was the rubicon, it was the battle right there and then,” he said.

After a long pause, he added, “Mr. Trump was nowhere to be found. Did not engage in the battle. Said nothing.”

This is sort of a rhetorical device because if you’ve paid attention you know that Donald Trump’s opposition to illegal immigration is very recent.

Back in 1991, a judge found that Trump has conspired with business associates to hire illegal workers and cheat them of their pay:

In a ruling released on Thursday, a Federal judge found that Mr. Trump, a group of his associates and a union official conspired to avoid paying pension and welfare-fund contributions by hiring the immigrants to demolish the old Bonwit Teller building on East 57th Street at Fifth Avenue to make way for Trump Tower.

The ruling, by Judge Charles E. Stewart Jr. of the Southern District, found, in the behavior of the various defendants, “a conspiracy to deprive the funds of their rightful contribution.”

(As an aside, in Christian theology there are four sins that “cry to Heaven for vengeance.” Cheating workers of their just pay is one of those. Perhaps Trump should revisit his boast of never needing to ask God for forgiveness… which is also embraces as least three sins against the Holy Spirit.)

Back in 2013, Trump was a big believer in amnesty and in the DREAM program:

On an August day two years ago, Donald Trump was in a much different place: He was just a billionaire with the simple goal of connecting his beauty pageant business with the upcoming Hispanic Heritage Awards.

So at his New York penthouse office atop Trump Tower, he convened a meeting.

Trump ushered in a pair of men — one to talk about the awards and a Democratic strategist who works with nonprofits — and three young DREAMer activists. The DREAMers were on a tour sharing their stories with those less likely to support them, like tea party supporters.
…
“You know, the truth is I have a lot of illegals working for me in Miami,” he told them, using the term for undocumented immigrants those in the meeting found offensive. “You know in Miami, my golf course is tended by all these Hispanics — if it wasn’t for them my lawn wouldn’t be the lawn it is; it’s the best lawn,” Pacheco recalled Trump saying.

Trump said he knew the work of undocumented people is what makes his golf courses and hotels great.

“At the end of the day, what we’re looking at is a value proposition for America,” Tijerino said to Trump at the end of the meeting, referring to immigration legislation.

“You’ve convinced me,” Trump said to the delight of the activists in the room.

Compare, by the way, the casual aplomb shown above on the subject of hiring illegals with the duplicitous whistle-and-tap-dance act he does when Anderson Cooper asks him the question back in July.



Of course he can’t guarantee it, he knows he employs illegals. He knows that his business needs them. And he’s willing to extend an amnesty.

For all the woofing Donald Trump does about immigration, the fact is that while the Gang of Eight immigration fight was going on, a fight in which Ted Cruz opposed that bill, Donald Trump’s views on immigration were indistinguishable from the Gang of Eight bill.

And in the past he has not only profited from using illegal immigrants but he has, on several occasions, disavowed his bulls*** claim that he would deport them.

http://www.redstate.com/2016/01/23/d...ating-amnesty/

Donald Trump was running his business. Donald Trump wasn't responsible for the Gang of Eight Bill. He wasn't an elected official involved in it. Why would a US Senator ask "where was Donald Trump during the immigration fight"?

But, since the Senators and member of Congress who were elected officials responsible for solving this problem failed to do so, as fate would have it, it now appears Donald Trump will be an elected official in the highest capacity as President of the United States.

So, where Trump was when he wasn't in government during a government problem was and is an irrelevant question, the relevant question now is "if elected President, whatcha gonna do about illegal aliens?" And the answer to that relevant question is "I"m gonna get them the hell out of here in 2 years".

And he will. Believe it.

Hillary lie but you will win

You have got to be kidding?! So it's okay with you that Trump was not even paying attention to this important issue? It's okay that he has hired illegals and contributed to the problem of illegals taking jobs from Americans? According to your logic, why should we be concerned with illegal immigration at all since we're not elected officials? Your whole line of reasoning is intellectually dishonest. I would suggest you reread the article. Donald Trump has supported illegal immigration by hiring illegal immigrants, and if you think he no longer employs illegals, I have some swamp land to sell you. Donald Trump has and will always do what benefits Donald Trump and I don't expect him to change now. I know that you trust him to solve the illegal immigrant problem, but I don't trust him any farther than I could throw him, and no, I don't believe it!

Donald Trump has never hired illegal aliens. The case in the RedState article was over 30 years ago, involved Polish workers, hired by a contractor, who Trump fired as soon as he found out and he fought the some union lawsuit for pension contributions for almost 20 years.

He spoke against amnesty, he Tweeted against amnesty, Donald Trump has been against illegal immigration and free trade treason for 35 years, i Amblest.

My point is that he has been a private citizen, and not in the position to do anything about it. We support all these politicians who have been in government for years and what have they done? They haven;t done anything.

Yes, I do trust Trump to solve the problems of illegal immigration and free trade treason. And you know how he's going to do it? He's going to take on the organizations that stand in the way of those solutions, starting with the Media. He already has. When was the last time there was a sob story put forth by Jorge Ramos who Trump took on? Wait until he goes after Luis Guiterrez. He'll make mincemeat of these people, he'll attack the opposition in ways we've never seen and they will have no power, no following, no money.

But it's okay if you don't believe him, it's okay if you like Cruz better. RedState's founder who wrote the article against Trump is a Cruz supporter. Cruz is already in government, he's in the US Senate, he can lead the fight against illegal immigration in the Senate. If he's really against illegal immigration now, he's a great asset for our country in the US Senate, should stay there and help Sessions lead the Senate to pass the laws needed to help stop illegal immigration.

Judy wrote (excerpt):

Donald Trump has never hired illegal aliens. The case in the RedState article was over 30 years ago, involved Polish workers, hired by a contractor, who Trump fired as soon as he found out and he fought the some union lawsuit for pension contributions for almost 20 years.

I think it has been pretty well established that Trump paid for undocumented labor to demolish a building. Yes, a contractor did the hiring, but that contractor worked for Trump. With "good management" he should have been aware of what those working for him were doing, even if for no other reason than to protect himself legally and his corporate reputation.

In a more recent situation some illegal aliens actually admitted to working on a Trump project:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local...a61_story.html

IMO, anyone that thinks Trump has never used illegal labor to help build his empire is delusional. Honestly, I'll bet there are very few, if any, wealthy builders out there that have been in the business for decades that haven't used illegal immigrant labor at one time or another.

Judy wrote (excerpt):

He spoke against amnesty, he Tweeted against amnesty, Donald Trump has been against illegal immigration and free trade treason for 35 years, i Amblest.

The expedited return of the "good ones" would be considered amnesty because to expedite the return of illegals would require moving them to the front of the line, plus it would actually go against current law.

Trump said Wednesday in an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash that as president he would deport all undocumented immigrants and then allow the “good ones” to reenter the country through an “expedited process” and live in the U.S. legally, though not as citizens.
“Legal status,” Trump suggested. “We got to move ’em out, we’re going to move ’em back in if they’re really good people.”

http://hotair.com/archives/2015/07/3...omment-page-3/

The "merit-based system" he has spoken of would be classified as amnesty too.

"I have to tell you, some of these people have been here; they've done a good job; in some cases sadly they've been living under the shadows," Trump said in his telephone interview. "We have to do something, so whether it's merit, or whether it's whatever, but -- I'm a believer in the merit system. Somebody's been outstanding, we (ought to) try to work something out."

http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/24/politi...ent/index.html

He has also spoken to placing illegal aliens on a path, which can be assumed to mean path to citizenship.

You don’t have to go back far to find a pro-amnesty statement from the No. 1 defender of deportation. At the end of June, speaking to the press in Chicago and after saying he “heard you probably have 30 million” illegal aliens in America, Trump contended:
“You have to give them a path, and you have to make it possible for them to succeed. You have to do that. But the bad ones, and there are bad ones, you have to get out, and you have to get them out fast.”
That’s “path” as in “path to citizenship,” not a path to exit the country via our southern border. And it’s clear he was referring to the bulk of the millions of aliens. The “bad ones” he would deport he depicts as a minority of the illegals. How small a minority is wide open to speculation.

http://www.investors.com/trump-backed-amnesty-for-illegals-as-recently-as-june/

Trump has also spoken in support of comprehensive immigration reform, which we all know is amnesty.

Trump told Kessler that the Republicans must develop comprehensive immigration reform “to take care of this incredible problem that we have with respect to immigration, with respect to people wanting to be wonderful, productive citizens of this country.”

http://www.investors.com/trump-backe...ently-as-june/

Based on the information I've provided above, it's easy to see why some folks find it difficult to completely trust Trump on the issue of illegal immigrant amnesty. The man has been extremely inconsistent on the issue.

Those articles have already been posted here and debunked. What's your goal? To nominate Cruz who as a US Senator swore under oath he supported comprehensive immigration reform and legalization for illegal aliens and whose largest donor in this Presidential race is Club for Growth, pro-amnesty, pro-immigration and pro-free trade?

I'll take Trump every day of the week and twice on Sunday. But you're free of course to support Cruz or any other candidate you feel more comfortable with for whatever reason. That's our system!!

Originally Posted by Judy

Those articles have already been posted here and debunked. What's your goal? To nominate Cruz who as a US Senator swore under oath he supported comprehensive immigration reform and legalization for illegal aliens and whose largest donor in this Presidential race is Club for Growth, pro-amnesty, pro-immigration and pro-free trade?

I'll take Trump every day of the week and twice on Sunday. But you're free of course to support Cruz or any other candidate you feel more comfortable with for whatever reason. That's our system!!

What's been debunked? He's said absolutely everything I listed as evidenced by the links I provided. Your level of denial is beyond belief.

He has verbally came out in support of:

- A merit-based system for illegal immigrants.
- Comprehensive Immigration Reform
- A path for illegal immigrants.
- The expedited return of deported illegals.

He has not walked any of this back.

These are well documented facts that can't be debunked. Actual recorded quotes can't be debunked. Furthermore, trying to deflect Trump's problems to Cruz just doesn't work anymore.

As for the hiring of illegal labor. Like I said, I suspect all wealthy builders have done it at one time or another. Furthermore, how have the articles I posted been debunked? Trump even admitted that it is possible that his contractor's have hired illegal labor. He just denies knowing anything about it, which doesn't mean it didn't happen. Nothing has been debunked and just because you say it has ..... doesn't actually make it so.

Oh, my goal is the truth.

These were alternatives suggested to the Grand Stupidity and Incompetency of the US Congress. You don't post the whole statement, because you're posting Anti-Trump Propaganda. And that's okay, that's your right, and it's my right to call it out. Welcome to American Politics. Peace! Don't forget, the same problem we had then, we still have in much greater form. We want people who can and want to actually solve the problem, that is Trump, not run in election after election on the same unsolved problem, which is everybody else.

STAY TRUE!! STAY TRUMP!!

Originally Posted by Judy

These were alternatives suggested to the Grand Stupidity and Incompetency of the US Congress. You don't post the whole statement, because you're posting Anti-Trump Propaganda. And that's okay, that's your right, and it's my right to call it out. Welcome to American Politics. Peace!

STAY TRUE!! STAY TRUMP!!

I posted the links. You or anyone else is more than welcome to follow the link to the rest of the story. Other than the article about illegal labor, the rest is documented quotes directly from Trump's own mouth, not propaganda but fact.