For Texas GOP, a New Position on Immigration Reform
FORT WORTH — Late Friday night, Texas Republicans approved an unprecedented change to their official party platform: a call for a national guest-worker program.
The more moderate language is a welcoming gesture to Hispanics who have avoided the GOP because of what they view as its hardline position on immigration issues.
"It takes away a tool that Democrats have used for years to drive a wedge between conservative Hispanics and Republicans," said TexasGOPvote.com's Bob Price, who is also a delegate at the Republican Party's state convention.
The platform, which is not binding, is more of a political statement ...
Comments (14)
Cristina Parker via Texas Tribune on Facebook
If you think immigration reform is about getting votes, you are missing the point. Hint: it's about keeping families in tact.
Scott Nicol via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Price's quote makes it obvious that this is purely politics, smoke and mirrors, rather than any fundamental change in policy or belief. After the election they will shake the etch-a-sketch and this position will disappear.
Stephen Taylor via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Cristina, the families could remain intact if they left along with their illegal alien relative. Why should it be the other way around? Why should parenthood confer some sort of protected status for illegals?
Jose B. Gonzalez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I recognize a bone from the scrap table when I see it... It's tossed at the floor & must be eaten there as well... The GOP can take that bone & shove it where the sun don't shine!!
GOP doesn't seem to understand that the vast majority of Hispanics dislike Pena - they consider him a traitor... They do themselves a huge disfavor by using him as a type of "poster-boy"... Well, I guess they probably like seeing Pena eat the scrap bones at their feet, and he seems to like eating there as well...
Stephen Taylor via Texas Tribune on Facebook
When Hispanics begin to vote the GOP will begin to take them seriously. Pundits of all political stripes have been saying for years that the Hispanic vote is huge and will swing the next election. The next election. Not this one, but surely the next one. It will be soon. A sleeping giant. We're certain. Just as soon as they start to vote. They are a huge block of votes that will be voting soon. Very soon. Maybe this fall. Perhaps.
Cristina Parker via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Your ancestors came to America illegally, Stephen.
Bologna Vest
"No more little brown ones! (Unless they do my laundry, raise my kids, or cut my grass.)"
Janet Thomas via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Stop mouthing our handlers comments Cristina, we didn't have any immigration laws in this country until 1870.
G Hall
Well, it's about damn time the GOP started recognizing that we, Texan and Americans, should reconcile with our Mexican brothers. I leave the conservatives that read this, this thought. At the Alamo, these Texans died defending Liberty and Freedom from oppression by a Dictator: Juan Abamillo, Juan A. Badillo, Carlos Espalier, Gregorio Esparza, Antonio Fuentes, José María Guerrero, Damacio Jimenes (Ximenes), Toribio Losoya, and Andrés Nava. Everybody else that died there fighting the dictator, was from out of town. The Tejanos I know and love here in Texas are hard working, tax paying supporters of Freedom, Liberty and the rule of Law. Some 1st generation emigrants to Texas sometimes have a hard time embracing the rule of law thing because they were raised in a corrupt country where an elite bunch of families rules everything and has established a rule of steal/bribe/mordida in all business and government dealings. Their children though are Americanized/Texanized, in greater numbers than realized. In other words, most are Americans in mind, spirit and body. God bless America, RICO all banksters and their ho politicians and IMPEACH the racist Eric Holder.
Stephen Taylor via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Actually, Cristina, they didn't. At the time they came from England there weren't any restrictions on immigration. My wife's ancestors came from Germany in the late 19th century, and they came legally. None of my people skulked across a desert in the dead of night, nor waded a shallow river. No sense of entitlement in our families at all; we did things legally.
Mary Steele
If the Democrats wanted immigration reform they had 2 full years of full control to do it when Obama was elected; they had the WH, Congress and Senate majority but did nothing on immigration or amnesty! Stop believing the pandering Democrats, they are playing you fools!
David Spratt
Immigration enforcement or reforms are not about keeping families intact. This is the ME, ME, ME mentality,, I want what I want and because I want it I am entitled to it. Immigration laws protect the safety and security of the individual as well as the Nation. Restricting immigration protects the country and it's Citizens from individuals bringing communicable diseases into the country , note the recent story on Chagas and the resurgence of TB. They protect the Citizens against the entry of criminals. It is a means to control the balance of labor according to supply and demand. It insures that people entering the country have no Ill will or nefarious intent towards the country or it's people. The greater good is served by having strict immigration law and enforcing it to the full extent of the law. I know and have known many Illegals , working in construction for 30 years. The majority do NOT feel any allegiance to this country beyond their ability to earn a living , provide assistance for their families who remain in Mexico and elsewhere, and live better than they could in their home counties. Most of them would much prefer to be in their home countries, and many return to them after they earn enough money here to allow them capital to start a business or buy land in their home countries. Many Green Card holders would return if conditions allowed them to earn what they do here . If conditions in Mexico were to change tomorrow and Quality of life and wages were equal to the United States , you would see a mass exodus from the U.S. Economic enrichment should not be a factor in determining who should be allowed to come and stay,, being an economic refugee is not a reason for allowing people to come here. There are millions of people out of work here now. ALL Illegals broke the law , violated the rules, ignored the restrictions , or generally just figured the law did not apply to them since they saw something on this side of the border and decided they wanted it regardless of whether or not they were entitled to it or it was theirs to take. When confronted , they make excuses and go so far as to claim they should keep all their ill gotten gains,, they should also be allowed to stay and gain more. Not only do those who gained birthright Citizenship want their illegal family members granted amnesty,, they want all future persons born to Illegals to gain the same advantage. Has anyone noticed the decline in wages or standards of living in this country? Millions are out of work here now,,, and several million come into the country LEGALLY every single year. Not only should those who entered illegally be kicked out , greater restrictions should be placed on future immigration. This is not a racist view, since I would apply it equally to any person from any country in the world. Illegals do not , or are not supposed to vote and they simply have no say that matters. The rules and what anyone here thought did not matter to them when they decided to come here. They should sit back , shut up, and accept whatever hand the American Public decides to deal them. Families should be kept intact,,,, they should be deported as a unit. We were fooled in 86 when we were told 1 1/2 million would be given amnesty ,,, it turned out to be twice that,,,, and the border would be secured and illegal immigration would be stopped. Now it is 12 million , and what if it once again turns out to be twice that number? Equally it seems there is not any real effort to totally secure the border. Voting without an ID , issuing drivers licenses to illegals, providing medical care, food stamps, allowing them to work and live here, have a baby and get a free pass ,,, we have become a lawless society with laws that are ignored. Enter any other country in the world ILLEGALLY ,, demand your rights and see where it gets you. This is a ridiculous argument made by people with the mentality of a five year old who sees candy and demands they get it for no better reason than they just want it.
Jose B. Gonzalez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Ask the Native Americans if you are here legally...
Fighting terrorism & illegal immigration since 1492...
Rudy Gonzales
Texas Republicans talking guest workers? Hell gonna freeze over! Not since Reagan has anyone actually talked about this concept. Sadly the national TEA-Republican's have corrupted the system and the numerous malicious gaffs in the nomination process proves they are not serious.
Everyone wants enforcement of our laws on immigration, which includes following the federal government's position and not making flawed excuses for not implementing the rules and laws of the land. Rick Perry was for enforcement until he was against it as Romney and Gingrich and a multitude of other nominees who openly voiced their disappointment with the federal government.
Reagan was the last one who openly courted the Hispanic/Latino vote and addressed the immigration issues dead on. America used to have the "Bracero Program" which allowed Mexicans to come over with proper documentation, but the was scrapped by the Congress. Romney proved how foolish he really is by proclaiming "Self Deportation" would work. Immigrants have been here for over thirty years and have had a great life with children and grandchildren who are citizens, but still live their lives without any trouble. Now the TEA-Republicans want to deport families with citizen children, because their parents are undocumented workers.
This issue was not an issue until the TEA-Republican's made it an issue. The TEA-Republican's were for the "Dream Act" last session, but turned their back on it. As long as TEA-Republican's take their stand to deport children who are American citizens, many Hispanic/Latino voters will not come over to the Republican side and vote. I am a US citizen, served in the USAF proudly and honorably, have watched the bigotry first hand in the "Southern States" and watched it morph into the bigots and prejudiced extreme fringe it has, and I am mortified that there still is this kind of person in America.