Taco Bell: Make a Run for the Border
If you must!
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- Evilpandabear Offline
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Taco Bell: Make a Run for the Border
Anyone have any *positive* thoughts on HR4437, aka the Immigration Bill? Most of this is filled with ridiculous ideas, and I can't make sense of it for the life of me. Is it a joke? Because when I think of a giant fence that stretches most of the Southern and Northern borders of the US, I laugh incessantly. I'm reminded of the time when the Roman Emperor's thought, "Hey, let's build a massive wooden fence along ALL of our borders." Quite possibly one of the worst ideas imaginable. Ahhh... silly, Romans. I guess some things never change.
"Anyone can teach improv. It's bullshit." -Andy Crouch on June 4th 11:33pm CST
I like the idea of a sketch where we see a guy building a "spacework" fence then the guy on the other side coming over to watch and chat and totally ignores the idea that there is a fence there... and the fence guy having to continually remind the guy there is a fence there... and and the other guy verbally accomidating him yet continuing to physically ignore him creeping closer, through. and beyond the fence... and that this would happen over and over as the fence guy keeps pushing him back and gets madder and madder until... the scene just ends. If this were my sketch, I would cast Arthur Simone as the fence guy, and Mike Jastroh as the chatty guy.
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- Evilpandabear Offline
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Here are some of the provisions for Bill HR4437:
(1) Requires up to 700 miles (1100 km) of fence along the US-Mexican border at points with the highest number of immigrant deaths. (House Amendment 648, authored by Duncan Hunter)
(2) Requires the federal government to take custody of illegal aliens detained by local authorities. This would end the practice of "catch and release", where federal officials sometimes instruct local law enforcement to release detained illegal aliens because resources to prosecute them are not available. It also reimburses local agencies in the 29 states along the border for costs related to detaining illegal aliens. (Section 607)
(3) Mandates employers to verify workers' legal status through electronic means, phased in over several years. Also requires reports to be sent to Congress one and two years after implementation to ensure that it is being used. (Title VII)
(4) Eliminates the Diversity Immigrant Visa (also known as Green Card Lottery) program. (House Amendment 650, authored by Bob Goodlatte)
(5) Prohibits grants to federal, state, or local government agencies that enact or maintain a sanctuary policy. (House Amendment 659, authored by Thomas Tancredo)
(6) Incorporates satellite communications between immigration enforcement officials. (House Amendment 638, authored by John Carter)
Requires all United States Border Patrol uniforms to be made in the U.S. to avoid forgeries. (House Amendment 641, authored by Rick Renzi)
(7) Institutes a timeline for deployment of US-VISIT to all land-based checkpoints. (House Amendment 642, authored by Michael Castle)
(8) Requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report to Congress on the number of OTMs (Other Than Mexicans) apprehended and deported and the number of those from states that sponsor terror. (Section 401)
(9) Formalizes Congressional condemnation of rapes by smugglers along the border and urges Mexico to take immediate action to prevent them. (House Amendment 647, authored by Ginny Brown-Waite)
(10) All illegals, before being deported, must pay a fine of $3,000 if they agree to leave voluntarily but do not adhere to the terms of their agreement. The grace period for voluntary departure is shortened to 60 days.
(11) All children born to illegal immigrants in the United States will become wards of the state. [citation needed]
(12) Requires DHS to conduct a study on the potential for border fencing on the US-Canada border.
(13) Sets the minimum sentence for fraudulent documents at 10 years, fines, or both, with tougher sentencing in cases of aiding drug trafficking and terrorism.
(14) Establishes a Fraudulent Documents Center within DHS.
(15) Increases penalties for aggravated felonies and various frauds, including marriage fraud and document fraud.
(16) Establishes an 18-month deadline for DHS to control the border, with a progress report due one year after enactment of the legislation.
(17) Requires criminal record, terrorist watch list clearance, and fraudulent document checks for any alien before being granted legal immigration status.
(18) Reimburses states aiding in immigration enforcement.
(19) Housing of illegals will be considered a felony and subject to no less than 3 years in prison.
(20) Allows deportation of any illegal alien convicted of driving under the influence (DUI).
(21) Adds human trafficking and human smuggling to the money-laundering statute.
(22) Increases penalties for employing illegal aliens to $7,500 for first time offenses, $15,000 for second offenses, and $40,000 for all subsequent offenses.
(23) Refusing to accept immigrants from countries which delay or refuse to accept the foreign country's citizens deported from the United States (Section 404)
(1) Requires up to 700 miles (1100 km) of fence along the US-Mexican border at points with the highest number of immigrant deaths. (House Amendment 648, authored by Duncan Hunter)
(2) Requires the federal government to take custody of illegal aliens detained by local authorities. This would end the practice of "catch and release", where federal officials sometimes instruct local law enforcement to release detained illegal aliens because resources to prosecute them are not available. It also reimburses local agencies in the 29 states along the border for costs related to detaining illegal aliens. (Section 607)
(3) Mandates employers to verify workers' legal status through electronic means, phased in over several years. Also requires reports to be sent to Congress one and two years after implementation to ensure that it is being used. (Title VII)
(4) Eliminates the Diversity Immigrant Visa (also known as Green Card Lottery) program. (House Amendment 650, authored by Bob Goodlatte)
(5) Prohibits grants to federal, state, or local government agencies that enact or maintain a sanctuary policy. (House Amendment 659, authored by Thomas Tancredo)
(6) Incorporates satellite communications between immigration enforcement officials. (House Amendment 638, authored by John Carter)
Requires all United States Border Patrol uniforms to be made in the U.S. to avoid forgeries. (House Amendment 641, authored by Rick Renzi)
(7) Institutes a timeline for deployment of US-VISIT to all land-based checkpoints. (House Amendment 642, authored by Michael Castle)
(8) Requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report to Congress on the number of OTMs (Other Than Mexicans) apprehended and deported and the number of those from states that sponsor terror. (Section 401)
(9) Formalizes Congressional condemnation of rapes by smugglers along the border and urges Mexico to take immediate action to prevent them. (House Amendment 647, authored by Ginny Brown-Waite)
(10) All illegals, before being deported, must pay a fine of $3,000 if they agree to leave voluntarily but do not adhere to the terms of their agreement. The grace period for voluntary departure is shortened to 60 days.
(11) All children born to illegal immigrants in the United States will become wards of the state. [citation needed]
(12) Requires DHS to conduct a study on the potential for border fencing on the US-Canada border.
(13) Sets the minimum sentence for fraudulent documents at 10 years, fines, or both, with tougher sentencing in cases of aiding drug trafficking and terrorism.
(14) Establishes a Fraudulent Documents Center within DHS.
(15) Increases penalties for aggravated felonies and various frauds, including marriage fraud and document fraud.
(16) Establishes an 18-month deadline for DHS to control the border, with a progress report due one year after enactment of the legislation.
(17) Requires criminal record, terrorist watch list clearance, and fraudulent document checks for any alien before being granted legal immigration status.
(18) Reimburses states aiding in immigration enforcement.
(19) Housing of illegals will be considered a felony and subject to no less than 3 years in prison.
(20) Allows deportation of any illegal alien convicted of driving under the influence (DUI).
(21) Adds human trafficking and human smuggling to the money-laundering statute.
(22) Increases penalties for employing illegal aliens to $7,500 for first time offenses, $15,000 for second offenses, and $40,000 for all subsequent offenses.
(23) Refusing to accept immigrants from countries which delay or refuse to accept the foreign country's citizens deported from the United States (Section 404)
"Anyone can teach improv. It's bullshit." -Andy Crouch on June 4th 11:33pm CST
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- phlounderphil Offline
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- chicocarlucci Offline
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I looked at the Dallas paper yesterday and saw a huge 500,000 person protest in downtown Dallas. They were waving mostly American flags and some Mexican flags and they all seemed to be peacefully marching, and I felt a great deal of pride watching all of these people supporting MY idea of what America is to me.
And then my submiminal (sic) thoughts wandered to the imagery of some hardcore republican conservative looking at the same front-page, shaking his head and thinking, "Man! Look at all those terrorists.. "
(sigh)
And then my submiminal (sic) thoughts wandered to the imagery of some hardcore republican conservative looking at the same front-page, shaking his head and thinking, "Man! Look at all those terrorists.. "
(sigh)
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- nadine Offline
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I think America is acting way too late on toughening its stamce on Illegal immigrants. Congress is realiing that our economy cannot withstand the large numbers of people who utilize public serivices but pay no taxes.
When I was working at Brackenridge, the number of 'unsocumented' patients sometimes outnumbered the citizens of this state/city/country. I'm not talking about those people with green cards, I'm talking about people who were here illegally and used the ER as their primary health system because they knew they couldn't be turned away. We would have days where the waiting room was overflowing and the majority of the cases were minor illnesses. When we asked for identification, we often got none, no ID, no billing address, nothing. So the hospital had to eat the cost and I'm betting it passed its losses on to the insurance companies of the people who could pay.
Illegal immigrants do more damage to the economy than benefit. They ensure that day laborers/diswashers/etc will be paid low wages because those who hire them know they can exploit the worker and he/she can't go for help if they're not paid one week. If the ( often uninsured) worker is hurt, they use the hospital, and can almost never pay the bill. The illegal worker places their children in public school, yet doesn't pay taxes to support the school, so in effect, they're stealing that service. Most illegal worjers here do not spend their money in this economy, rather they send it home to theit families in other countries, thus taking away a certain amount of our economic growth.
Mexico once published a pamphlet on how to 'immigrate' ( illegally) into the United States. It basically gave them a guideline on how to make it across the border and get a job here. So I doubt we will get any help from our southern neighbors on stopping illegal immigration from their country.
But we are to blame as a nation for this. Our capitalistic society which puts profit as the main goal actually encourages the use of illegal workers becuase if you can keep your expenses low by hiring a gardener at 200 a week, then you can afford that Hummer, and huge ass home on Town Lake. Our government will look the other way while huge companies hire illegal workers to pick their fruit/vegetables, build homes, and clean their offices. Hell, I'm betting that 60% of those on Capitol Hill have hired illegal workers to help them with their homes or child care. Congress is the biggest bunch of hypocrites (sp?) on the planet.
I say that we do need to strengthen our borders, not just because of the illegal immigrant issue, but if we can't stop pepole from corssingo ur borderd who want to just work here, how can we stop those groups who cross in a truck full of plutonium? We can't even stop the drug drade from entering our country, think of how easy it would be for people do start sending guns/explosives/etc through our Mexican border. And we make a deal with Mexico; we'll take your workers if you give us discounts on oil. Mexico is a member of OPEC and I'm sure they could work out a deal with us for cheap oil or gas.
OK, I"m off my soap box.
When I was working at Brackenridge, the number of 'unsocumented' patients sometimes outnumbered the citizens of this state/city/country. I'm not talking about those people with green cards, I'm talking about people who were here illegally and used the ER as their primary health system because they knew they couldn't be turned away. We would have days where the waiting room was overflowing and the majority of the cases were minor illnesses. When we asked for identification, we often got none, no ID, no billing address, nothing. So the hospital had to eat the cost and I'm betting it passed its losses on to the insurance companies of the people who could pay.
Illegal immigrants do more damage to the economy than benefit. They ensure that day laborers/diswashers/etc will be paid low wages because those who hire them know they can exploit the worker and he/she can't go for help if they're not paid one week. If the ( often uninsured) worker is hurt, they use the hospital, and can almost never pay the bill. The illegal worker places their children in public school, yet doesn't pay taxes to support the school, so in effect, they're stealing that service. Most illegal worjers here do not spend their money in this economy, rather they send it home to theit families in other countries, thus taking away a certain amount of our economic growth.
Mexico once published a pamphlet on how to 'immigrate' ( illegally) into the United States. It basically gave them a guideline on how to make it across the border and get a job here. So I doubt we will get any help from our southern neighbors on stopping illegal immigration from their country.
But we are to blame as a nation for this. Our capitalistic society which puts profit as the main goal actually encourages the use of illegal workers becuase if you can keep your expenses low by hiring a gardener at 200 a week, then you can afford that Hummer, and huge ass home on Town Lake. Our government will look the other way while huge companies hire illegal workers to pick their fruit/vegetables, build homes, and clean their offices. Hell, I'm betting that 60% of those on Capitol Hill have hired illegal workers to help them with their homes or child care. Congress is the biggest bunch of hypocrites (sp?) on the planet.
I say that we do need to strengthen our borders, not just because of the illegal immigrant issue, but if we can't stop pepole from corssingo ur borderd who want to just work here, how can we stop those groups who cross in a truck full of plutonium? We can't even stop the drug drade from entering our country, think of how easy it would be for people do start sending guns/explosives/etc through our Mexican border. And we make a deal with Mexico; we'll take your workers if you give us discounts on oil. Mexico is a member of OPEC and I'm sure they could work out a deal with us for cheap oil or gas.
OK, I"m off my soap box.
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- Marc Majcher Offline
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canada's werewolf army
The real reason that The Wall is a terrible, terrible idea:
http://wigu.com/overcompensating/2006/04/wall.html
http://wigu.com/overcompensating/2006/04/wall.html
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- nadine Offline
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Yes some illegal immigrants abuse the system, but a lot hide in their homes and die trying home remedies.
The terrorist reason is still unconvincing. The terrorists who did 9/11 were here legally. If a terrorist is smart enough to hijack a plane, you don't think they can get into this country if they want to? And why only the Mexican border? Why not the Canadian border??
I think a lot of the outrage that the hispanic-americans are feeling are valid.
Fear is not the answer. I think a lot of these measures are so negative. There are so many better solutions but take more work: find out why companies outsource, why less and less students here are going into engineering and sciences, and as Mike pointed out, why are there jobs that are so nasty and pay so little that only illegal immigrants do them?
Building a fence is more symbolic then functional.
The terrorist reason is still unconvincing. The terrorists who did 9/11 were here legally. If a terrorist is smart enough to hijack a plane, you don't think they can get into this country if they want to? And why only the Mexican border? Why not the Canadian border??
I think a lot of the outrage that the hispanic-americans are feeling are valid.
Fear is not the answer. I think a lot of these measures are so negative. There are so many better solutions but take more work: find out why companies outsource, why less and less students here are going into engineering and sciences, and as Mike pointed out, why are there jobs that are so nasty and pay so little that only illegal immigrants do them?
Building a fence is more symbolic then functional.