Joaquin Castro: Current Immigration Laws Must Change
Discussing immigration policies with Texas business leaders Thursday, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, said that current laws lead to "ugly realities" and need to be changed to create a path to citizenship for immigrants here illegally.
He also said that state Republican lawmakers have been guided by politics more than objective measurements in their positions on border enforcement.
"I don't think that [Governor] Rick Perry will ever say the border is secure," Castro said. "We need objective measurements for what it means to secure the border."
Castro made his comments at the annual meeting of the Texas ...
Comments (5)
Brittanicus
Department of Homeland Security, combined with ICE has proven they are incompetent at monitoring the arrival visa visitors, by facing the fact that an estimated 46 percent of illegal aliens overstay their visas. Will this be the same ineptness in handling Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, abbreviated as DACA? Are the 1.8 million children of illegal aliens going to cause as many immigration problems as the first blanket amnesty, played on the American people in 1986.
If it’s anything like the unenforced Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) exhibited after the 1986 Amnesty, I will be amazed? Those young kid who have been intentionally smuggled into America to claim citizenship by their illegal alien mother; now called “DREAMER’S” will be able to get a driver’s license, an employment permit and a temporary Social Security Number. Once having these in their possession how many will even be bothered to even renew their so-called deferred action. WHY EVEN CARE AS THEY LIKE THEIR PARENTS KNOW FULL WELL THAT IMMIGRATION LAWS ARE JUST LAX POLICIES, WITH HARDLY ANY REAL ENFORCEMENT AS OTHER STRICT COUNTRIES? THEY ARE FULLY AWARE THAT ARE LAWS ARE IGNORED BY CORPORATIONS AND BUSINESSES AND THAT ICE AGENTS HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES. LATELY WE HAVE SEEN FOR OURSELVES THE OUTRAGE OF ILLEGAL ALIENS, BRANDISHING FOREIGN FLAGS AND YELLING ABUSE IN OUR STREETS, ACCUMULATING CROWDS AT POLITICAL GATHERINGS, TRYING TO AGITATE AMERICANS BY PROCLAIMING THAT THEY ARE UNDOCUMENTED, AND EVEN TRYING TO INTIMIDATE THE POLICE. THEN EVEN DARING ICE AGENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT TO ARREST THEM?
The government is not even listening to the U.S public; otherwise they would have drafted a law making entry without inspection a felony? Just go to show you how careless they are, or was this premeditated conspiracy by the elites to really do nothing? It’s the same with the 2006 President Bush Secure fence Act. It like a sad game politicians play with people’s lives, since an underestimated number of criminal elements that have easily slipped through the border fence. Then their are investigative reporters, who have visited the border fence, usually are not shown or never leave the fenced areas to hundreds of miles of open sections? Further afield there is no fence—nothing but occasional geological boundary marker instructing the onlooker that is the boundary between the US and South America countries. Instead of spending infinite taxpayer’s money on foreign nationals, use it to build the REAL George Bush double layer fence with one equipped with chain link concertina razor wire and the internal one, as exists on the exterior within the perimeters of Israel? It works for Israel it would be as successful for us; all we need is the plans.
The DREAM ACT will likely be another dismal failure, as it will be Home Security poor oversight, probably taking years to recognize that this young person’s “temporary” status has been terminated. Just as visitors or otherwise tourists to our sovereign country, you would expect with state-of-the-art innovations as a biometric entry and exiting tracking system could be used? It seems that the ICE administration of Homeland Security is still behind the times, when only 3 percent of resources according to GOA, only 8000 overstay have been placed in custody since 2006.
I am afraid that American citizens and legal residents have been overlooked in the name of greed and commerce. We must face the fact, one way or another that a good majority of politicians have their grimy hands in the cookie jar. The cookie jar is full of wealthy special interest cash and all the special favors. What we really need is the reenactment of the 1924 QUOTA SYSTEM, so every country got a fair share of the immigration pie? Instead what we now have is abject poverty, uneducated, uncontrollable FAMILY CHAIN MIGRATION that is causing hundreds of billions of dollars taken by the IRS to pay for the children’s, children of the great Reagan amnesty disaster. And if Obama get his way, we will be facing the same possibility and consequences? If the American people of any political membership think that for one bloody minute people will not be clamoring to arrive here for any comprehensive immigration deadline, you really have been drinking Cool Aid laced with a sleeping draft of Ambian?
ALLOWING MORE DESTITUTE PEOPLE INTO OUR NATION IS A GREAT PASSIONATE IDEA, BUT IT JUST LEADS TO MORE POVERTY FOR THE GENERATIONS OF OUR OWN. JUST LOOK AT THE POOR ON THE STREETS OF EVERYTOWN, IF YOU DARE AND READ THEIR HUNGRY, EXHAUSTED & HAUNTED FEATURES?
These morons in Washington refuse to take the pressure off, by voting in the “Legal Workforce Act” to aid in closing a loophole of illegal workers, stealing some of the 23 million American jobs. Likewise the Birthright Citizenship bill that if passed would stop the growing billions of dollars taking from American taxpayers payroll checks. This financial support for the new citizenship of illegal alien children that taxpayers cover because the stupid court system has fabricated that not only the descendants of slaves, but infants of illegal migrants and immigrants have a right to citizenship status? The cost is growing in medical care, school education and other benefits, destroying our own children’s future, because the majorities of these kids come from non English speaking families and are retarding nationwide school education performance. Go to California where the children enrolled there have greater proportions of foreign nationals than citizen offspring.
hungry
Call or otherwise contact the Senate office or the Congressional House of Representatives by going to United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Government pages should also be in your telephone book and switchboard operator will connect you directly with your desired party.
WE DON’T NEED ANY KIND OF IMMIGRATION REFORM, JUST AMENDMENTS. THE SYSTEM IS NOT BROKEN; IT JUST NEEDS TWEAKING.
President and “Bi-Partisan” Group Want to Reward Criminals With path to Citizenship
by Stephen Frank on 01/30/2013 of California Political News & Views
Who says crime does not pay. All you have to do issue stolen or false ID, steal jobs, health care and education from honest people. Lie on job applications—all of which would put us in jail. Do these criminals acts long enough and the President and self proclaimed Republican and Democrat “leaders” want to reward illegal aliens for a lifetime of crime with a path to U.S. citizenship.
If you murder enough people maybe the same folks would give you a job in law enforcement. Honest immigrants are demeaned by this effort. Why apply for citizenship—violate the law and you can do it anyway. Oh, this group says a requirement of “citizenship” is to learn English. Does that mean they will stop publishing ballots and other government forms in dozens of languages?
NO COPYRIGHT! DISTRIBUTE TO ALL.
raffaele cafagna
This is not a serious plan for comprehensive immigration reform; it is a comprehensive special-interest New Year's wish list,in which everyone gets something except the American people. Unfortunately,all Americans get is the bill,which they will have to pay with their jobs and their tax dollars."
Those who do not honor or observe the Law by definition are, LAWLESS people.
We now have a whole class of politicians, who, in the name of 'compassion' are promoting and endorsing LAWLESSNESS.
John McCain recently said, "We can't have 11 million people walking in the shadows in this country". I agree. But instead of rewarding LAWLESSNESS by allowing them a pathway to legal citizenship, lets encourage them go back to their OWN country, where, as legal citizens, they can "walk in the sunshine" with their heads held high. Then, if they wish to 'emigrate' to the United States, they can 'take their place in line', with all the other LAW ABIDING citizens, and go thru the LAWFUL immigration procedures to come to the United States.
HELLO - - - I AM A FLAMING LIBERAL MULTICULTURALIST - - - FROM YONDER HELL
I DEMAND... that you feed, clothe and house me
I DEMAND... well-fair and food stamps until the day I die
I DEMAND... free medical care and via Obama Care that YOU pay for such
I DEMAND... free street drugs and condoms plus needles
I DEMAND... to speak in Ebonics and accuse any in opposition as being racist
I DEMAND... that K-12 including college be taught only in Ebonics
I DEMAND... a cash allowance per month enabling me to buy a fancy automobile
I DEMAND... the 'right' to drive uninsured... with no 'airbag...' and the 'right' to not wear a seat-belt
I DEMAND... a free Harley Hog and the 'right' not to wear a helmet
ARE WE CLEAR ???
THE 'BLESSINGS' OF IMMIGRATION ... OH THEY BE SO MANY
Overcrowded Roads
Overcrowded Schools
Overcrowded Cities & Towns
Overcrowded Police Departments
Overcrowded Malls
Overcrowded Stores
Overcrowded DMVs
Overcrowded Doctor's Offices
Overcrowded Emergency Rooms
Overcrowded Pharmacies
Overcrowded Prisons
Overcrowded Guns Shows
Overcrowded Shooting Ranges
Overcrowded Gun Stores
Overcrowded Ghetto's
Overcrowded Public Housing
Overcrowded & Overrun Nation
Feeling a bit Pinched ???
Those who do not honor or observe the Law by definition are, LAWLESS people.
We now have a whole class of politicians, who, in the name of 'compassion' are promoting and endorsing LAWLESSNESS.
John McCain recently said, "We can't have 11 million people walking in the shadows in this country". I agree. But instead of rewarding LAWLESSNESS by allowing them a pathway to legal citizenship, lets encourage them go back to their OWN country, where, as legal citizens, they can "walk in the sunshine" with their heads held high. Then, if they wish to 'emigrate' to the United States, they can 'take their place in line', with all the other LAW ABIDING citizens, and go thru the LAWFUL immigration procedures to come to the United States.
Once again, we are being lied too. Enforcement should come first and "legalization" second, if at all. What are we saying to those who applied legally? "Sorry, back of the line for you!"?
What about the disproportionate number of crimes committed by illegal aliens? The funds being spent, illegally, supporting illegal aliens...as in California's running joke of public entitlements that benefit more illegals than citizens?
No, much more work needs to be done and it needs to be done slowly and deliberately. We, the people, do NOT want this to be yet another "you have to pass it to read it" moment. We demand facts first, not the usual lies from the Republican and Democrat "leadership".
Many people who claim that they support amnesty (by any other name is still the same) don't stop to consider the massive drain on our already fragile natural resources, i.e. H2O, productive farm land, clean air, the total environment, the facilities such as schools, hospitals, etc. When those go into ruinous conditions we will be a totally third world country, and by the looks of things, that is already happening in many areas.
The problem we have is that our generous welfare, food stamps, "Dream Act" tuition rates, "motor voter" laws, and so on ad in finitum, are attracting unproductive people. Just a mere few generations ago immigrants who came here, the "...tired...poor," were brave, intelligent, resourceful people who fled tyranny and poverty for economic opportunity.
Obama has refused to enforce the immigration laws we have now. What makes you think he'll enforce new ones if they don't suit his purpose?
virginia raymond
There *are* objective ways to measure so-called "border security." By all these measures, the border is more "secure" than it's been in forty years. See this report, released on Wednesday, January 30, 2013, reviewing the data: http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?bc=25667|43061
gypsy314 ne
Democrats want more illegal aliens because democrats are pro choice and most of there babies are killed by pro choice. Illegal aliens will not go the pro choice rout and become a welfare night mare for Texans and become like California bankrupt. Illegal aliens should not be dictating to our law makers period. Anyone wonder why law breakers getting a pass and democrats use the kids to get pass for illegal aliens. Back in 1986 3 million plus illegal alien were given amnesty and the elected leaders promise one time deal America would never do the amnesty again and borders would be secure and the promise list went on and on. Well folks here we are again. To damn many Americans out of work and our democrat leaders talk and care more about illegal alien then the American tax payer. They democrats plea children are here at no fault of there own. I say it is not American tax payers fault either that our elected leaders have failed to keep there promises. I for one will hold them to it. I say deport every single illegal alien and do not let them leave there children for us to raise. I do not care if it takes years for the process to remove them. I say no jobs they will leave. I say jail anyone who works a illegal alien no free pass. I know then American tax payers will be better of from carrying the burden from A to Z on illegal aliens. So hold our elected leaders to there promise one time deal.
Rudy Gonzales
The prejudiced and bigoted of America admire the TEA-Republican party. Texas' U.S Representative Joaquin Castro is absolutely right that Perry and all the other TEA-types in Texas and across the land, would never be satisfied by president Obama increased border security. Objective enforcement of border security has improved and continues to be improved with Obama's actions and enforcement, but the real problem is Congressional balking at increasing the border budget for improvements. Pointing the the current market system in place which benefits mostly farmers and ranchers and lowers food costs, must be taken into account when discussing immigration reform. The "Bracero Program" which was in place from 1942 until 1964, provided the basis for the situation currently being discussed. During that time so many came into the states legally, brought in and started families which still have deep roots and a basis for discussion at the table. This cross-border program lead to todays issues for thousands if not millions of undocumented to work and live in America. No jobs were lost to these undocumented workers, but Criminalizing people rather than their actions is the polish the TEA-Republicans and their membership have been using to stereotype people from south of the border. The original "Dream Act" provided an easier path for residency and citizenship and should be passed as it stood in 2007 through 2010. When TEA-types force middle-of-the-road Republicans to take the combative position against what they call "Amnesty," they show no regard for splitting up of families. President Obama has deported more undocumented than the previous administration, which has and still does break up families. These are the people who should be shown greater consideration due to the actions of previous presidents of both Mexico and the U.S.