Gov. Brad Henry's signature is all that is needed for an immigration reform bill approved by the House to become law.
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The state House of Representatives voted 84-14 Tuesday to approve Senate changes to the bill and send it to the governor. The vote came after more than two hours of debate and questions.
Supporters of House Bill 1804 say states have waited long enough on the federal government to control the influx of illegal immigrants coming across the U.S. border and eventually into Oklahoma.
They say illegal immigrants are unfairly using taxpayer-funded benefits like in-state college tuition and social services.
Rep. Rex Duncan, chairman of the House Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, said this is about rule of law, not discrimination.
"We are too afraid to offend somebody,” said Duncan, R-Sand Springs. "The land of opportunity is becoming the land of entitlement through years of political correctness and cowardice.”
A unified federal response is the only way to reduce illegal immigration, opponents say. The debate hinges on class and race and discriminates against all Hispanics, they say, and businesses that depend on low-wage workers will suffer.
Rep. Mike Shelton said the bill was watered down from the version that initially passed the House.
Legislative details
The bill, authored by Rep. Randy Terrill, would set criminal penalties for knowingly and willingly harboring illegal immigrants. No public benefits would be allowed to people in the state illegally, except in cases of medical emergencies or emergency aid. Businesses would need to run all workers through a federal verification system or risk penalties and legal action.
The legislation also would cut off in-state tuition for illegal immigrant students unless they can verify they have applied for citizenship or plan to within one year.
That change could cut off most illegal students from in-state tuition.
Maria Elena Garcia-Upson, a spokeswoman for United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, said once a student enters the country illegally, it is almost impossible to become a legal citizen.Sen. Tom Adelson, who fought to keep the in-state tuition eligibility in the bill, agreed there is currently not a clear way for illegal students to apply for citizenship without the risk of deportation. He says the bill deals with that issue by allowing students to apply for citizenship up to one year after a legal pathway is created by the federal government.
College students now paying in-state tuition rates would not be penalized by this bill, regardless of their immigration status.
Several bill opponents say the main problem is the complicated process those outside the country must go through to enter America legally. Garcia-Upson said it can take a Mexican citizen as many as 12 to 15 years to go through the nationalization process since a limited number of visas are given out each year.
The legislation also empowers local law officers to enforce immigration laws. Currently, local officials cannot hold illegal immigrants unless they have been formally charged with a crime. Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel said his officers notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement when they suspect they have someone in custody who is illegally in the country, but if ICE doesn't have enough officers available, the illegal immigrants are released.
Rep. Terrill, R-Moore, said "catch-and-release” is eliminated in the bill, requiring local law enforcement to detain suspected illegal immigrants because they are a flight risk until ICE can pick them up.
"The federal government has not and is not taking care of their responsibilities,” Whetsel said. "They are not providing enough ICE agents; an issue that by default is falling to local law enforcement and I am not sure that is proper.”
Some opponents worry this provision will only lead to further overcrowding in jails. Terrill said there will be some costs, but the federal government reimburses local law enforcement for detaining and holding illegal immigrants.
What's next?
Henry has not said whether he will sign the bill. The legislation seemingly is "veto-proof,” as it previously passed the House 88-9 and the Senate 41-6.
It requires a two-thirds vote in each body to override. He has until Tuesday to sign or veto the bill.
"Governor Henry supports responsible and effective immigration reform, but he will withhold judgment on this particular bill until he has had an opportunity to review the final version,” said Paul Sund, Henry's spokesman.
first of all miss bigot carrie, its a federal issue. you do know that at least one state seperates okies from mexico. second of all how many okies are effected by illegal immigrants compared to those in need of health care, housing, education, protection from pedophiles, jails, better roads, etc...etc...etc... your just another sucker caught up in things that really dont matter. and by the way i go mexico annually and have never encountered a mexican that behaves as badly as randy(the Bigot) terrill. if you want to kick somebody out of the country....start with him.
I'm all for this bill. Get the ones out of here that don't belong here. The mere fact that it's gotten this far is a disgrace to our entire country. We were built on immigrants coming over from other nations, and they did it legally. Most have done it legally for hundreds of years! The fact that some of you think we should just let them come on in and use our programs is ridiculous! Look up the Mexican laws on immigration and you'll see how lenient (and stupid!) we've been all along! I don't agree with our kids being forced to take Spanish in elementary school or the school districts offering our core classes in spanish for the immigrants who are here, but they don't speak our language. So what if it takes 10 to 15 years to become an American citizen? Those who really want it, will wait and go through the proper channels. Millions have done so far, why can't the newer ones do it? Coming over here and becoming a citizen of the USA is a privilege, not a right!!!! I challenge anyone who thinks that our bills are too harsh and that the Mexican nationals are being treated unfairly here in our country, why don't you go to Mexico and see how YOU'RE treated in "THEIR" country... then come back and tell me how wrong it is the way we "treat" them!
so far randy has gotten a christmas tree removed from a elementary school, and now presents a bill that just addes pork to what is allready illegal. illegal aliens effect what 1000 people in this state...even less in his district. doesnt health care, welfare, medicare, education, cheaper housing, cleaner water, etc...etc...etc..effect more of us? its time these polyticians buck up and do something good for our communities, instead of hiding behind meaningless legislation that riles people up and does nothing. randy terril is a joke. he is cut of the same mold as forrest claunch, guy vaught, thad balkman and all the other bible thumping freaks that think that they can live your life better than you. so randy if you read this go play on the highway at 530 pm. the one that is right in front of the mental cripple factory you work at known as hilldale baptist(biggot) factory.
"Illegal" means against the law. People who are here illegally are breaking our laws, and are therefore criminals. So what if there are 30 million of them? There are probably that many theives in the U.S., rapists, etc. Should we dismiss those laws as well just because "everyone is doing it", or "the laws are just SO unfair against poor people who want to steal" blah blah blah.
FYI poor American citizens are not given half the "assistance" that these illegals get, particularly in our hospitals and healthcare. Illegals walk out the door with Medicaid or the hospital absorbing the cost, Americans walk out with a bill, a dun, or a bill collector harrassing them at home if they don't pay up. I for one am tired of seeing the unfairness. If Mexican nationals(or any other illegal national can get freebies, so should the average American NATIONAL).
Google the Mexican laws on immigration, and google news on the treatment of illegals in Mexico. Open your eyes, these people are HYPOCRITES of the highest order. They ban illegal chidren from schools in Mexico, healthcare, and language assistance, yet demand we give their citizens every perk. Central Americans who cross into Mexico are beaten, robbed, raped, and even murdered. Can you say "double standard"?
Not to mention many of these illegals are here to reconquest the American Southwest. Mencha and La Rasa (the RACE, how racist is THAT name?) are racist organizations that have one goal: To take the U.S. and take it for the Mexican RACE.
Are there nice Mexican nationals Yes. Many are Christian, many are educated. However, many have radical racists ideas, their teens are gang bangers, they've bankrupted cities and healthcare in CA, AZ, and Texas, and our prisons are full of illegal criminals and their gang offspring who snub our laws and our society.
Oh my goodness sakes alive, I have seen the light!! Thank you so much so much for correcting me Sandra. Now back to planet earth and reality. How long did the person that took my job with the H1-B visa? I don't know because I spent 6 months looking for my next job in the air conditioning. I took my degree that I worked hard for, and paid for without government assistance, and stocked grocery store shelves at night while I attempted to find a job during the day. So get off of you self righteous soap box and join the rest of us here on planet earth. Why don't you go and do some reasearch yourself. As far as legal immagration the number is staggering. We allow in over 2 million a year LEGALLY. And just fyi, I am a second generation immigrant. My grandparents came here LEGALLY. The assimilated, learned english and were proud to be AMERICANS. I could go on but you are a lost cause. The only reason Mexico has not collapsed is because they have the good ol' US of A to fall back on. As far as the LEGAL citizens who abuse the system, put them in jail. I feel the same way about them.
OH! and I forgot about the government assistance -to let you know, the ones (women) that do get government assistance (and they pay taxes for it - but claim them) are truly single or unable to work, etc. or more than likely have a husband or brother or some other relative who gets up everyday and busts their butt and still don't make enough (because of the low wages you know, and then there's rainy days and snow days when you can't work and don't get paid) that's is why they need the help. But you know we don't have to worry about that because rain or snow we can be at work inside, but wait if the roads are nasty or it's raining too hard - we stay home and take a sick or vacation day and get paid - yup that's what we do. Immigrants abusing the government??? I don't think so "Americans" who (the majority) stay at home on the couch and lets the government support their lazy selves because they think that the govenment "owes" them. That's who abuses the government help more than an immgrant would, but I guess it's okay because they were born on the right side of the border and can do that.
I am a US citizen who STRONLGY disagrees with this bill and a lot of the misinformed statements that a lot you have the nerve to say. You say they take your jobs?? I bet more than half of you work in an air conditioned building and wouldn't even think about working more than 12 hour days in 100+degree weather for minimal pay. And the companies that do hire "legals" to do it - most the "legals" don't last very long - WHY? you answer that question. Also the taxes issue - a LOT of these immigrants pay taxes and the same LOT do not file tax returns - guess who keeps the money?? Good ol US of A! And also, you argue that "all they need to do is come over legally" have you informed yourself as to how that process works?? I don't think you have because if you did you would be aware that the immigration people that are fighting against them and treating them badly for coming over illegally are the same ones that make it extremely hard to come over "legally" - ironic huh? I think that a process does need to happen - I just don't think anger is the way to do it. I would think that the great heartland that has such wonderful family oriented people would understand that and not say some of the hateful, ignorant comments that are being said. I love these people, I am surrounded by a lot of them and wish the best for them. I think that if they do leave America will see how wrong and inconvinient that move was.
I currently live in Los Angeles and while all the people in office were busy trying not to hurt somebodys feelings the city has been taken over. Most of the billboards, bus benches and other signs are in spainish. meanwhile, those of us that have real jobs get to pay for their health care, schooling, houseing etc. The fact the there are people out there with enough backbone to do what is right shows that there is still hope for this country.
How about the U.S. just adopt Mexico's "immigration laws" word for word. They are some of the most harsh and racists in the world. Then the illegals and hispanic racist-rights groups will truly have something to whine about, when they get tit-for-tat treatment. "Just like back home."
OH I hope that this bill passes. I'm from Texas and we are over run my illegal immigrants. They take our job's, ID and never pay taxes. This is not right to the US to suport other county's. We the US are suffering really bad over this.
Amen To Pass This Bill.
OAKDALE, Calif. -- The Hershey's chocolate plant in Oakdale will be shut down, officials said Monday.
The closure, which will take place in phases and will mean the loss of up to 600 jobs, is set to be complete by February 2008.
The plant is a key part of life for many in this Stanislaus County town of 17,500. The community hosts a chocolate festival on
the third weekend in May each year. The first products to cease production at the Oakdale plant will be Hershey's kisses
with almonds and Hershey's syrup. Both product lines will be transferred to the Hershey's plant in Pennsylvania.
The Hershey's miniatures now made in Oakdale will be made at a plant Hershey's plans to build in Mexico.
This is needed. After working from the age of 16 to support myself and now my family, I found myself without a job. When I went to take the governments help with unemployemnt, I was met with the reality that because I worked and bought assets, I do not qualify. Come in to the country illegally and own things without paying taxes and you can still get benefits!!
I work in the financial industry and it makes me sick to see the money that banks have in accounts for illegal immigrants who pay no taxes and still get benefits checks because their pay is all "under the table."
FIX IT!! We are suffering as a country due to our inabilities to control the borders on all sides!
Maria, All those families need to do is leave together. If I got a new job, and had to move out of state, or out of the country, I'd take my family with me. Same goes for these immigrants. For those who are now naturalized citizens, they blew it by having their loved ones come over illegally. They could have sponsored them after getting their citizenship, but blew that when their husband/wife/etc came over illegally. Separating families is a CHOICE. If you don't want your family separated, then go back to the home country with the illegal, and then go through the LEGAL process to bring them back.
To jose...
I have had two car accidents in my 30 plus years of driving, both times by being hit by an illegal immigrant! All they do is deport them, and I'm stuck with the repair bill. If I run without insurance, or get insurance, and cancel it just after I register my vehicle, the insurance company reports me to the DMV and my license gets suspended. If I get caught, my car gets impounded, and most likely I will lose it. Illegals don't have to worry about that.
Even if Gov Henry signs this bill, and it becomes law, I do not forsee a real change due to the abundance of fake id's and stolen identities. It angers me to no end to know that an illegal alien can vote because of the lax rules in registering to vote. To me, it cheapens the whole voting system if it is sooo easy to register without proving that you ARE legal!!
Employers will still hire illegals, Enforcement of this new law will be ignored, just like the current immigration laws on the books.
We do need a full overhaul of our nation's immigration laws, but MUST be followed up by a wall or fence covering the US/Mexico border with enough Border Patrol agents hired and trained with FULL support of their superiors to enforce our laws, and greatly reduce the flow of illegal immigrants into the US.
If the immigrants used the same expenditure of energy that they currently use for crossing the border, and channel that into fixing their own corrupt government in Mexico, things would most likely change for the better. It's darn tough to control immigration when you have a 3rd world country on your doorstep. Yes, Mexico IS a third world country in all aspects but name.
Nuff said.
ken...its allready the law...terrils bill is like saying murder is illegal....we allready know that...hes just trying to get his name in the news by adding more pork. illegal is illegal but around randy legal is illegal. the idiot should be spending his time on helping all oklahomans....not the small portion of his buddys that cant find a job.
Be Aware of the enemy randy terril in two months he will present a new Bill to take the eldery off health care and cut ther retirement checks. keep helping this person The NEXT Saddam Hussein.
America - land of the free and home of those who can't seem to agree on anything.
I'm all for the bill. There's nothing wrong with asking any immigrant to be here legally.
You have a problem with it? What's YOUR solution?
America - land of the free and home of those who can't seem to agree on anything.
I'm all for the bill. There's nothing wrong with asking any immigrant to be here legally.
You have a problem with it? What's YOUR solution?
I am a US citizen and I understand the concern about tax money and all that, but have you stopped to think about the families who are going to be separated with this law? Have you thought about the people who know someone or have family who is illegal, this law is going to make them criminals for harboring or transporting them. If you have a loved one who is illegal could you turn them in so that you are not charged with breaking the law?
so far randy has gotten a christmas tree removed from a elementary school, and now presents a bill that just addes pork to what is allready illegal. illegal aliens effect what 1000 people in this state...even less in his district. doesnt health care, welfare, medicare, education, cheaper housing, cleaner water, etc...etc...etc..effect more of us? its time these polyticians buck up and do something good for our communities, instead of hiding behind meaningless legislation that riles people up and does nothing. randy terril is a joke. he is cut of the same mold as forrest claunch, guy vaught, thad balkman and all the other bible thumping freaks that think that they can live your life better than you. so randy if you read this go play on the highway at 530 pm. the one that is right in front of the mental cripple factory you work at known as hilldale baptist(biggot) factory.
This Bill is just a license to discriminate, I'm an Insurance agent and I can tell You that You dont have to be here illegal(as You call them)to be driven with out Insurance You could be Withe,Black, Indian, Green or any othe color, the fact is that We need someone to blame for, when the April 19, 1995 bombing the first thing they did was blame it on the Iraqui people And what happen it was an AMERICAN CITICEN BORN AND RAISE HERE.
NEW YORK (CNN) -- What a spectacle, what a mess. What a day for thousands and thousands of illegal aliens and their supporters to march through the streets of many of our biggest cities demanding amnesty for illegally entering the country.
Tuesday was given over to illegal aliens and their supporters to demand forgiveness for using fraudulent documents and assisting others in entering this country illegally. What a day for illegal aliens and their supporters to demand not only amnesty but also the end to immigration raids and an end to deportations.
May Day was a peculiar choice for those demonstrations, a day in many countries in which international socialism is celebrated and a reminder of those old Soviet Union military parades.
It was also an unfortunate and ironic choice on the part of the organizers of the demonstrations. May 1 in the United States is actually Law Day, a day first established by President Eisenhower in 1958 and ultimately codified into law in 1961 at the beginning of John F. Kennedy's administration. The purpose of Law Day is to give all Americans an opportunity to reflect on our legal heritage, and by statute, encourages "the cultivation of the respect for law that is so vital to the democratic way of life."
I'll bet you know about the illegal alien amnesty marches, but I don't know of a single news organization, electronic or print that pointed out that May 1 is America's Law Day. The cable news networks gave almost wall-to-wall coverage to the illegal alien demonstrations, but they apparently couldn't find any American celebrating Law Day.
And no one seems to want to take note that we are first a nation of laws, and that without those laws and their enforcement, the foundation of our great republic turns to sand. What a spectacle on Law Day for demonstrators to demand amnesty for those who broke the law to enter our country, many of whom also broke the law with fraudulent documents.
And what a mess when the president of the United States and the U.S. Congress are pandering to a group of people who are not citizens and refuse to demand enforcement of our immigration laws, our criminal laws, and fails to secure our borders and ports.
I couldn't help but wonder as I watched monitors bringing images of the marches and demonstrations from all across the country, who should really be protesting on May Day. What about the millions of legal residents who followed the long, drawn-out process to secure a visa to enter the United States lawfully? Maybe they should be protesting. What about the seven-figure backlog at the Citizenship and Immigration Services agency of people who are following the rules. Should they demonstrate?
What about all of our fellow Americans who are being marginalized by the massive importation of illegal, low-cost and mostly uneducated labor into this country? Perhaps those citizens should take to the streets. And what about the more than 250 million Americans who make up our middle class and those who aspire to it whose wages have stagnated and who are paying for the social, medical and economic costs of illegal immigration? That's a big march.
If yesterday's demonstrators and their supporters in Congress and corporate America are serious about their deep desire for American citizenship, why don't we hear any of them clearly say they're willing to give up dual citizenship? Or that they're willing to learn English and surrender demands of bilingual education? Or declare they embrace English as our official national language? Or demand that illegal employers of illegal aliens pay for the social, educational and medical costs now borne by the taxpayers?
Yesterday was Law Day. I hope that we celebrate Law Day with a great national enthusiasm next May 1. I guarantee you I'll march in that demonstration.
I would like to share a couple of comments. To Desiderius: I have not lost a job to an illegal immigrant but have lost one to a LEGAL immigrant here on an H1-B visa. I also had to train him before the company showed me the door.
Same concept as illegals. Why would a company pay a legal person $10 an hour (plus the taxes associated, plus matching the social security taxes, etc..) to do a job when they could pay another $8 an hour under the table? Corporations do as they please to make the bucks for CEO's and shareholders without regard to little guy.
That is why the federal government will do nothing to stop it. Who do you think funds them?
There would be no expenses to deport the illegals. If the laws were made to punish the big guys at a corporation, much like the Sarbanes-Oxley act, there would be no jobs and they would leave. Make the CEO of Holiday Inn accountable, not the GM's of the hotels, and the jobs for illegals at Holiday Inn's would come to an abrupt end.
Randie, Wilson - you bring up a good point. These people want to 'milk' OUR system (healthcare, education, etc.) and want protection from OUR government but want to fly the flag from the country they have escaped. Puzzling.
This bill should not be passed Reason is for all who have worked to pay into our services they are takin away from our old and children who are doing without now. It is not fair for s to be paying into the system yet theyare the ones benifiting from it. It is NOT fair for us to carry this load when they pay nothng into it.
P.S. They are coming so fast now they aremaking us the minority grup without a say what we do in our country yet we are still paying for it not them. My computer leaves out some letters the keys are stickin so thought I should rewrite this again. We God Bless America. They send monies back to their homes Mexico They do nothing for here but take. They still ay allegiance to Mexico and not here. They just know how to beat our system. Help us Lord!
I have to wonder why at these immigration demonstrations that there is ALWAYS the Flag of Mexico ,and many of them flying, this is still AMERICA..OUR COLORS ARE RED WHITE AND BLUE....
This bill sould no be passed.Reason isfor all who have worked to pay into our services they are takingaway from us. Now we cannot take care of our own old and children who are doing without. It is not fair for us to carry tier load when they pay nothing into it. P.S. They are coming so ast they already are making us the minority They are taking away what we have worked for not them. God Bless us ALL is right.
This Bill is just a license to discriminate, I'm an Insurance agent and I can tell You that You dont have to be here illegal(as You call them)to be driven with out Insurance You could be Withe,Black, Indian, Green or any othe color, the fact is that We need someone to blame for, when the April 19, 1995 bombing the first thing they did was blame it on the Iraqui people And what happen it was an AMERICAN CITICEN BORN AND RAISE HERE.
Mexicans now know how it feels to be North American Native Indians. Real illegal immigrants came over here in boats, they need to return back to their own country in europe and Africa
Mexicans now know how it feels to be North American Native Indians. Real illegal immigrants came over here in boats, they need to return back to their own country in europe and Africa
Let's all remember that Oklahoma was the first state to pass the meth law, and now other states have followed in what appears to be a very successful program. If Oklahoma has to be the first to pass an illegal immigration law, so be it. The demonstations across the country on May 1 speak loudly. We can't just continue to sweep this problem under the rug. If anyone thinks that Okies are mean spirited people, think back to the April 19, 1995 bombing when we all came together to support one another. The nation was in awe of our fortitude and love for each other. Oklahomans are wonderful poeple, and our law makers are good men and women who are trying to do what's best for our fine state. Let's all support them and Governor Henry into signing this bill as we welcome our LEGAL brothers and sisters into "The Great State of Oklahome"!
I am with the majority of the people who have posted so far. I for one do not wish to foot the bill for others that are not here legally. I have a few friends that came here and went through the system (as slow as it may be), but they did it and are now legal citizen that own houses,cars, pay TAXES, and are going to college or have already made it through college. If they want to come here and go the legal way to get the status of a citizen then let them, but for those who live 10 families to a house hold and take our jobs and do not have insurance on the car they own, then they need to go. They should have no say so in our politic realm and should not be allowed to protest us in any form. They want to come here and be free, yet they want to praise homeland and hang their flag over ours, I don't think so. What is up with that? That is not the way to gain our respect or support. The friends that I mentioned earlier are furious about the people wanting to over run our country. They figure if they took the right way to gain citizenship then why should anyone else get special treatment. I totally agree with them and I understand their frustration. Final statement . SEND THEM HOME>>>>
Desiderius, have you ever considered what happens in China when someone enters illegally? They aren't simply sent back out of the country. I have met many fine men from mexico who were here illegally. The problem is, they were here illegally! They did not pay taxes because the government had no clue they even existed. And the thought that illegal aliens can come into the US and openly protest OUR immigration laws is ridiculous. They have no right to vote here, so why should they be allowed to have a voice in our politics? If you move to Iran, should you have the right to have a voice in their government if you enter illegally? I respect your service to your nation and thank you for it. However, you might want to reconsider the implications of what you are saying.
Allison I would be scared of you too asking all those nasty questions! I am sure you scared them to death at that big state HR position. Illegals pay taxes and you are uninformed if you think for a moment they do not.
Take your handcarts, your bible, your autos, all the things you have stolen from this country but go. You do not belong here, but the Mexicans do. You have no God given right to occupy this sacred American land and you know it. Mexicans work hard and you don't. If allowed to, Mexicans would pay taxes unlike some people that I know.
The U.S. Government does not give illegal immigrants tax numbers or drivers licenses. ILLEGAL immigrants are NOT paying taxes, they are paid "under the table." They don't have car insurance, either, unless someone with a valid driver's license buys it for them. If they dont read or speak English, and have never taken the DL Exam, are they really familiar with our driving laws?
I have worked in HR for a State Agency and scared off of few of illegals when I asked too many questions about their "fake" papers and ID's. I have in-laws who have lived with or married illegals, and I have friends that have been in accidents with uninsured illegals.
I don't like footing the bill for services for anyone who can work and doesn't pay taxes. I don't like anyone driving without insurance or a drivers license. Who does?
My parents have created their own job for the past 40 years in the homebuilding industry. But here the past 3 years, my family has had a difficult time getting jobs because of the illegal immigrants coming here to our state. These illegals are not paying taxes, but my family pays taxes, insurance to the state for them and their workers. But now they are not paying anything because they have not worked since November 06 because home builders want to get cheap labor. Now the home builders are getting sued by homeowners because of cheap labor. So what goes around comes around for these homebuilders. I am very excited about this bill passing.
Illegal is illegal. When you knowingly break US laws to come to the country illegally, then you are illegal. When you purchase illegal documentation to work here, then you are stealing someone's identity and that is illegal. Why should we then give you benefits of being legal. It is hard for someone to be a legal immigrant and we are disrespecting them when we give legal status to illegal immigrants. We are disrespecting our own poor when we make it easier to get benefits if you are illegal than if you are a legal citizen. We need to take a stand on this important issue. And yes, I've personally seen thousands of citizens lose long-held jobs to illegals who would work a dollar or two cheaper and not need to have taxes paid on their behalf.
I had in-laws that came from Mexico. They came here and done everything that was asked of them, they purchased their home, formed a business, paid their taxes and never once asked for state assistance in any matter. The raised 5 great kids, all well educated. And they produced great kids, one being mine. I am so proud of what they taught me and I miss them very much, as they are now deceased.
This was sent to me by email, I think it should be shared. I don't agree with all that is going on right now, but if this has an ounce of truth then why should we change our laws for the benefit of others.
HARSH YOU SAY?
There will be no special bilingual programs in
the schools, no
special ballots for elections, all government business will be conducted in our language.
Foreigners will NOT have the right to vote no
matter how long they are here.
Foreigners will NEVER be able to hold political
office.
Foreigners will not be a burden to the
taxpayers. No welfare, no food stamps, no health care, or other government assistance programs.
Foreigners can invest in this country, but it
must be an amount equal to 40,000 times the daily minimum wage.
If foreigners do come and want to buy land that
will be okay, BUT
options will be restricted. You are not allowed
waterfront property. That is reserved for citizens naturally born into this country.
Foreigners may not protest; no demonstrations,
no waving a foreign flag, no political organizing, no bad-mouthing our
president or his policies, if you do you will be sent home.
If you do come to this country illegally, you
will be hunted down and sent straight to jail.
Harsh, you say?...
The above laws are the immigration laws of
MEXICO! SOMETHING TO THINK About!
Three cheers for our legislature. Finally a sensible law that's long overdue. This is a great country and a great state. That is evidenced by the large number of people wanting to come live here. But there is a proper way to do that and there is an illegal way as well. I welcome anyone regardless of race, creed, national origin, so long as they do it the legal way. To allow otherwise, is to mock those who have worked within the laws of this country to get here. I think this is a wonderful example for all the other states. Illegal is Illegal - whether it's speeding, violating child support laws, theft, muder, or any other law. If you get caught, hey, you pay the price.
I strongly believe illegal immigrants should not qualify for government assistance & they should not be getting in state tuition. There too many legal imigrants who have done all the correct paper work and everything else they were asked to do and then took the test and became American citizens to let illegals get benefits that a lot of hard working Americans can't get. They should all have to do everything by the book.
I agree that illegal immigrants should not qualify for government assistance except for Emergency Situations. I strongly agree illegal immigrants should not be getting in-state tuition!
let me share alittle something with all of you. My husband has been here since 2001 and came over with a work visa. When it ran out he was here what you may consider illegal then so we start the process of getting him legal. This is what happens. First you get a lawyer then you pay for each shot that the immigration services thinks you need,and if that don't break you then you need a physical that you pay for, oh and the lawyer charges his fee and then you go to fill out all the papers and along with the papers are filing fees that range from $200 on up and there is about five of these so now this will cost you all together around $4000.00 and then the gas for the lawyers office about five or six times, the interview with Immigration services, the then the trip up to Immigration to have your picture taken and fingerprints. So now this is why we have so many illegal immigrants here. And yes why my husband did work he also paid taxes. Why don't we keep the illegal immigrants here and send all the dead beat dads to mexico, and all the welfare recieptiants that fake their illiness so they can lay on the couch and draw a check to mexico, and just maybe we wouldn't have a problem with the Welfare of our state.
I think this bill is great & a long time coming. I have nothing against people who are seeking "Legal" immigration, I work with several people who are here of Visa's and seeking permanent residence. It is really unfair to those who are doing everything legal to become residents to give residency to someone only because they are here in the U.S. and will work cheaply.
90% of the people who cross the river are good people. This bill will help us weed out those who don't respect anyones laws. If the feds ever get off sitting on their hands then maybe individual states won't have to do their work.
Notice the code words of "hate" and "discrimination" tossed at legal American citizens who want strong immigration laws with consequences for law breakers? I don't care if a person is Hispanic, Canadian, Chinese, or any other illegal alien, that person is breaking the law and should be dealt with a consistent consequence.
It's about time we passed this!! It's really not harsh enough. We have to quit waiting on all the politics in Washington, it's about time someone showed some intestinal fortitude and took a stand. LEARN ENGLISH! APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP! QUIT BREAKING THE LAW and then wanting everyone to feel sorry for you and let you slide through. If MEXICO is such the "motherland", go back there and let your momma take care of you! Do it legally and the right way, and you'll have no gripes or complaints. Quit ignoring the rules, and apply them to yourselves.
Why are illegal immigrants asking for a new route of citizenship? I don't have a problem with those who are seeking to become legal. But I have a problem with those who are sitting around on welfare and medicaid who truly don't want to become citizens and demand our freedoms, rights, and benefits. BECOME LEGAL!!! That process has stood for a number of years. I am sick of seeing and hearing people say we aren't sympathetic to their culture by changing applications, street signs, legal documents, school curriculum. Do you see any other country having this discussion? Does Canada change all their doc's to each of their adoptee languages. NO! Learn the Language, and Get Legal.
No free lunches! If you get Medicaid or Medicare, which illegals do, then you should pay your fair share of state and federal taxes. There was a time in my life that I needed free medical services. I couldn't get them because I had a job and an IRS tax record. I determined I could go to Mexico, return to the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant, and receive free medical benefits, housing, and welfare payments. When I proposed this action to the regional director of HUD, she agreed with me that it could work that way with the current laws at that time. As it stands now, if you are an illegal immigrant, you have no IRS tax record on file with any computer system on earth. You can receive full government benefits as a non-worker with zero income. If you are a poor person who works minimum wage, you have an IRS tax record and you WILL be denied benefits afforded to people with no tax record. It pays to be illegal. Why, well take the various FICA, medicare, medicaid, state, deductions removed from your paycheck. Illegals have none of this. It pays businesses to hire illegals because the IRS and State Tax Commissions have little resources to audit the books. I can name a dozen cottage industries down in SE. OK. who have never paid employees taxes and hold nothing out. They are some of the businesses that put the illegals to work once Mr. Stipe's a.k.a. (McAlester Business Group) chicken plants were raided by INS and the illegals moved to Tyson Foods in Arkansas. Mr. Stipe got the illegals out of town via Greyhound buses and 15 passenger vans. While one of the vans left McAlester, an OHP officer stopped it because it was weaving. Turns out the whole group was drunk. McAlester PD heard the traffic over the radio and were able to send out a driver to take them to Arkansas. So, in these parts of the woods, illegals are a way of life and here to stay, or leave.
Scapegoating is an important tool of propaganda; for example, the Jews were singled out in Nazi propaganda as the source of Germany's economic woes and political collapse.
Scapegoating is often more devastating when applied to a minority group as they are inherently less able to defend themselves. A tactic often employed is to characterize an entire group of individuals according to the unethical or immoral conduct of a small number of individuals belonging to that group, also known as guilt by association. The word is more widely used as a metaphor, referring to someone who is blamed for misfortunes, generally as a way of distracting attention from the real causes. Also referred to as the fall guy.
Racial segregation differs from racial discrimination in a number of ways. Discrimination ranges from individual actions, to socially enforced discriminatory behavior, to legally mandated differences in status between members of different races. Segregation has, typically, harshly reinforced discrimination: if people of different races live in separate neighborhoods, attend different schools, receive different social services, etc., then people of the favored races can be largely insulated from societal neglect of people of other races.
Thanks Herbert! Real solutions, eh? Going to start building that boat. But I have paid taxes and have a home - I want that back before you push me towards the motherland.
Scapegoating is an important tool of propaganda; for example, the Jews were singled out in Nazi propaganda as the source of Germany's economic woes and political collapse.
Scapegoating is often more devastating when applied to a minority group as they are inherently less able to defend themselves. A tactic often employed is to characterize an entire group of individuals according to the unethical or immoral conduct of a small number of individuals belonging to that group, also known as guilt by association. The word is more widely used as a metaphor, referring to someone who is blamed for misfortunes, generally as a way of distracting attention from the real causes. Also referred to as the fall guy.
Mexicans now know how it feels to be North American Native Indians. Real illegal immigrants came over here in boats, they need to return back to their own country in europe and Africa.
Hate is a bad word - sorry. What do liberals have anything to do with it - I have a mind, I form my own opinions and I can easily be on either side of the tracks. I hope my tax dollars help these people because they need it. Again, I ask the question of "Who gives these illegals tax numbers? Answer: U.S. Government. Why? To tax wages, etc.. So my point is this: illegal aliens are paying taxes. Should we refund these dollars with interest to these people as we usher them across the border? Do we sell there homes (yes I know them as neighbors and home-owners)and give it back to them or keep it? Our tax base will be hurt and we will begin to pay more for services. Solutions?
Desiderius - like Lauren said it'about accountability not hate. These people are here illegally and should be held accountable for their actions. I don't hate them but don't want my tax dollars to go in supporting them while we have enough of our legal citizens to support as it is. I understand their plight and sympathize with them for wanting to better their lives, but they are breaking the law by being here. Because we punish lawbreakers does not mean we hate them. You've been hearing to many liberal talking points using 'hate' as you argument. That dog doesn't hunt as far as I'm concerned.
How about those who lost their identity because an illegal alien is using their social security number? i bet we could find a few hundred thousand of those people...
you say immigrants will lose everything. You should say ILLEGAL immigrants. That is the issue at hand. I am all for helping those who go about it the right way, but sneaking under a fence does not make you an American. sorry.
Desiderius: Measures taken to enforce immigration laws have nothing to do with hate, but everything to do with accountability. The fact is, if the United States simply hands over jobs and our freedoms without legal documentation, chaos can qui
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"Illegal" means against the law. People who are here illegally are breaking our laws, and are therefore criminals. So what if there are 30 million of them? There are probably that many theives in the U.S., rapists, etc. Should we dismiss those laws as well just because "everyone is doing it", or "the laws are just SO unfair against poor people who want to steal" blah blah blah.
FYI poor American citizens are not given half the "assistance" that these illegals get, particularly in our hospitals and healthcare. Illegals walk out the door with Medicaid or the hospital absorbing the cost, Americans walk out with a bill, a dun, or a bill collector harrassing them at home if they don't pay up. I for one am tired of seeing the unfairness. If Mexican nationals(or any other illegal national can get freebies, so should the average American NATIONAL).
Google the Mexican laws on immigration, and google news on the treatment of illegals in Mexico. Open your eyes, these people are HYPOCRITES of the highest order. They ban illegal chidren from schools in Mexico, healthcare, and language assistance, yet demand we give their citizens every perk. Central Americans who cross into Mexico are beaten, robbed, raped, and even murdered. Can you say "double standard"?
Not to mention many of these illegals are here to reconquest the American Southwest. Mencha and La Rasa (the RACE, how racist is THAT name?) are racist organizations that have one goal: To take the U.S. and take it for the Mexican RACE.
Are there nice Mexican nationals Yes. Many are Christian, many are educated. However, many have radical racists ideas, their teens are gang bangers, they've bankrupted cities and healthcare in CA, AZ, and Texas, and our prisons are full of illegal criminals and their gang offspring who snub our laws and our society.
Sorry, no bleeding heart here.
Amen To Pass This Bill.
OAKDALE, Calif. -- The Hershey's chocolate plant in Oakdale will be shut down, officials said Monday.
The closure, which will take place in phases and will mean the loss of up to 600 jobs, is set to be complete by February 2008.
The plant is a key part of life for many in this Stanislaus County town of 17,500. The community hosts a chocolate festival on
the third weekend in May each year. The first products to cease production at the Oakdale plant will be Hershey's kisses
with almonds and Hershey's syrup. Both product lines will be transferred to the Hershey's plant in Pennsylvania.
The Hershey's miniatures now made in Oakdale will be made at a plant Hershey's plans to build in Mexico.
I work in the financial industry and it makes me sick to see the money that banks have in accounts for illegal immigrants who pay no taxes and still get benefits checks because their pay is all "under the table."
FIX IT!! We are suffering as a country due to our inabilities to control the borders on all sides!
Maria, All those families need to do is leave together. If I got a new job, and had to move out of state, or out of the country, I'd take my family with me. Same goes for these immigrants. For those who are now naturalized citizens, they blew it by having their loved ones come over illegally. They could have sponsored them after getting their citizenship, but blew that when their husband/wife/etc came over illegally. Separating families is a CHOICE. If you don't want your family separated, then go back to the home country with the illegal, and then go through the LEGAL process to bring them back.
To jose...
I have had two car accidents in my 30 plus years of driving, both times by being hit by an illegal immigrant! All they do is deport them, and I'm stuck with the repair bill. If I run without insurance, or get insurance, and cancel it just after I register my vehicle, the insurance company reports me to the DMV and my license gets suspended. If I get caught, my car gets impounded, and most likely I will lose it. Illegals don't have to worry about that.
Employers will still hire illegals, Enforcement of this new law will be ignored, just like the current immigration laws on the books.
We do need a full overhaul of our nation's immigration laws, but MUST be followed up by a wall or fence covering the US/Mexico border with enough Border Patrol agents hired and trained with FULL support of their superiors to enforce our laws, and greatly reduce the flow of illegal immigrants into the US.
If the immigrants used the same expenditure of energy that they currently use for crossing the border, and channel that into fixing their own corrupt government in Mexico, things would most likely change for the better. It's darn tough to control immigration when you have a 3rd world country on your doorstep. Yes, Mexico IS a third world country in all aspects but name.
Nuff said.
I'm all for the bill. There's nothing wrong with asking any immigrant to be here legally.
You have a problem with it? What's YOUR solution?
I'm all for the bill. There's nothing wrong with asking any immigrant to be here legally.
You have a problem with it? What's YOUR solution?
NEW YORK (CNN) -- What a spectacle, what a mess. What a day for thousands and thousands of illegal aliens and their supporters to march through the streets of many of our biggest cities demanding amnesty for illegally entering the country.
Tuesday was given over to illegal aliens and their supporters to demand forgiveness for using fraudulent documents and assisting others in entering this country illegally. What a day for illegal aliens and their supporters to demand not only amnesty but also the end to immigration raids and an end to deportations.
May Day was a peculiar choice for those demonstrations, a day in many countries in which international socialism is celebrated and a reminder of those old Soviet Union military parades.
It was also an unfortunate and ironic choice on the part of the organizers of the demonstrations. May 1 in the United States is actually Law Day, a day first established by President Eisenhower in 1958 and ultimately codified into law in 1961 at the beginning of John F. Kennedy's administration. The purpose of Law Day is to give all Americans an opportunity to reflect on our legal heritage, and by statute, encourages "the cultivation of the respect for law that is so vital to the democratic way of life."
I'll bet you know about the illegal alien amnesty marches, but I don't know of a single news organization, electronic or print that pointed out that May 1 is America's Law Day. The cable news networks gave almost wall-to-wall coverage to the illegal alien demonstrations, but they apparently couldn't find any American celebrating Law Day.
And no one seems to want to take note that we are first a nation of laws, and that without those laws and their enforcement, the foundation of our great republic turns to sand. What a spectacle on Law Day for demonstrators to demand amnesty for those who broke the law to enter our country, many of whom also broke the law with fraudulent documents.
And what a mess when the president of the United States and the U.S. Congress are pandering to a group of people who are not citizens and refuse to demand enforcement of our immigration laws, our criminal laws, and fails to secure our borders and ports.
I couldn't help but wonder as I watched monitors bringing images of the marches and demonstrations from all across the country, who should really be protesting on May Day. What about the millions of legal residents who followed the long, drawn-out process to secure a visa to enter the United States lawfully? Maybe they should be protesting. What about the seven-figure backlog at the Citizenship and Immigration Services agency of people who are following the rules. Should they demonstrate?
What about all of our fellow Americans who are being marginalized by the massive importation of illegal, low-cost and mostly uneducated labor into this country? Perhaps those citizens should take to the streets. And what about the more than 250 million Americans who make up our middle class and those who aspire to it whose wages have stagnated and who are paying for the social, medical and economic costs of illegal immigration? That's a big march.
If yesterday's demonstrators and their supporters in Congress and corporate America are serious about their deep desire for American citizenship, why don't we hear any of them clearly say they're willing to give up dual citizenship? Or that they're willing to learn English and surrender demands of bilingual education? Or declare they embrace English as our official national language? Or demand that illegal employers of illegal aliens pay for the social, educational and medical costs now borne by the taxpayers?
Yesterday was Law Day. I hope that we celebrate Law Day with a great national enthusiasm next May 1. I guarantee you I'll march in that demonstration.
Same concept as illegals. Why would a company pay a legal person $10 an hour (plus the taxes associated, plus matching the social security taxes, etc..) to do a job when they could pay another $8 an hour under the table? Corporations do as they please to make the bucks for CEO's and shareholders without regard to little guy.
That is why the federal government will do nothing to stop it. Who do you think funds them?
There would be no expenses to deport the illegals. If the laws were made to punish the big guys at a corporation, much like the Sarbanes-Oxley act, there would be no jobs and they would leave. Make the CEO of Holiday Inn accountable, not the GM's of the hotels, and the jobs for illegals at Holiday Inn's would come to an abrupt end.
P.S. They are coming so fast now they aremaking us the minority grup without a say what we do in our country yet we are still paying for it not them. My computer leaves out some letters the keys are stickin so thought I should rewrite this again. We God Bless America. They send monies back to their homes Mexico They do nothing for here but take. They still ay allegiance to Mexico and not here. They just know how to beat our system. Help us Lord!
I have worked in HR for a State Agency and scared off of few of illegals when I asked too many questions about their "fake" papers and ID's. I have in-laws who have lived with or married illegals, and I have friends that have been in accidents with uninsured illegals.
I don't like footing the bill for services for anyone who can work and doesn't pay taxes. I don't like anyone driving without insurance or a drivers license. Who does?
This was sent to me by email, I think it should be shared. I don't agree with all that is going on right now, but if this has an ounce of truth then why should we change our laws for the benefit of others.
HARSH YOU SAY?
There will be no special bilingual programs in
the schools, no
special ballots for elections, all government business will be conducted in our language.
Foreigners will NOT have the right to vote no
matter how long they are here.
Foreigners will NEVER be able to hold political
office.
Foreigners will not be a burden to the
taxpayers. No welfare, no food stamps, no health care, or other government assistance programs.
Foreigners can invest in this country, but it
must be an amount equal to 40,000 times the daily minimum wage.
If foreigners do come and want to buy land that
will be okay, BUT
options will be restricted. You are not allowed
waterfront property. That is reserved for citizens naturally born into this country.
Foreigners may not protest; no demonstrations,
no waving a foreign flag, no political organizing, no bad-mouthing our
president or his policies, if you do you will be sent home.
If you do come to this country illegally, you
will be hunted down and sent straight to jail.
Harsh, you say?...
The above laws are the immigration laws of
MEXICO! SOMETHING TO THINK About!
It's about time we tried to do something about this growing problem that I beleive has caused so many other problems
Scapegoating is often more devastating when applied to a minority group as they are inherently less able to defend themselves. A tactic often employed is to characterize an entire group of individuals according to the unethical or immoral conduct of a small number of individuals belonging to that group, also known as guilt by association. The word is more widely used as a metaphor, referring to someone who is blamed for misfortunes, generally as a way of distracting attention from the real causes. Also referred to as the fall guy.
Scapegoating is often more devastating when applied to a minority group as they are inherently less able to defend themselves. A tactic often employed is to characterize an entire group of individuals according to the unethical or immoral conduct of a small number of individuals belonging to that group, also known as guilt by association. The word is more widely used as a metaphor, referring to someone who is blamed for misfortunes, generally as a way of distracting attention from the real causes. Also referred to as the fall guy.
Veteran of the U.S. Navy
Apr. 67 - Nov. 68
Vietnam carriers
Veteran of the U.S. Navy
Apr. 67 - Nov. 68
Vietnam carriers
Veteran of the U.S. Navy
Apr. 67 - Nov. 68
Vietnam carriers