"How can you say enforcement doesn't work," Amanda Carpenter asked, "if you've never tried it?"
Miss Carpenter asked that question during the America's Future Foundation's "post-mortem" discussion on the recently deceased immigration bill. Miss Carpenter complained that "we keep hearing again and again that [enforcement] is unreasonable."
Arguing in defense of the Senate bill -- which was defeated after falling 14 votes short on a cloture vote last month -- Daniel Griswold suggested national security concerns about illegal immigration were misplaced.
"We could have built a fence from San Diego to Brownsville, Texas, and it wouldn't have stopped a single one of the 9/11 terrorists," Mr. Griswold told a gathering of young conservatives and libertarians at the Rayburn House Office Building.
Brian Darling of the Heritage Foundation said the Bush administration's "talking points" in support of the Senate bill were "absurd," and criticized the bill's sponsors who crafted the measure behind closed doors.
"This was a secret process," Mr. Darling said. "Since when do the American people not have a right to have a say?"
As for the future political impact of the legislation's defeat, Cato's Mr. Griswold predicted: "I don't think conservatives are going to be rewarded for klling this bill."
-- Robert Stacy McCain, assistant national editor, The Washington Times
Comments (8)
When I was growing up in upstate NY, if a police officer passed us, he would tell us to move along, when he returned, if we were still there, we would incur his wrath and be subjected to an ID check and at least twice, a ride home to our parents. Today's PO's are handcuffed whereas they are prevented from asking about an individuals legal status, which is a sad situation. We have living among us, a huge amount of people from a nation whose murder rate is 3 times higher than ours (mexico). Invaders whose contempt for our laws, language, and culture is sickening. The overcrowding, the operation of vehicles W/O license, insurance and safety inspection. The burden placed of the local gov's where the services are stretched beyond capacity is to a boiling point with the locals.
Towns and counties such as Hazelton, PA, Prince WIlliam Co, Loudoun Co are beginning to pass ordinaces that excludes illegals from benefits ae soon to become widespread. Groups such as Casa de Maryland and the ACLU will fight for this peoples 'rights' all the while allowing these illegals to collect public services which they neither deserve or pay into through taxes. It is high time for the Federal Gov to get moving on enforcement of existing laws and removal all illegals from our midst. The cost associated with the deportation of these illegals will pay for itself with the savings of the public services NOT dispersed to illegals. It's also time to exclude business that hire illegals, call them to find out thier policy, and if you don't get a solid answer regarding thier employment policy, do not utilize thier services. Deport Pols who support illegals over Americans!
Posted by James | July 19, 2007 10:29 AM
In response to Mr. Griswold, I don't anyone in Washington is going to be rewarded until they get off their prodigious behinds and start doing what is right for the American people and NOT one party or the other. They had a chance after 911 to create an integrated immigration, homeland defense and national security policy. Instead, the Congress chose to attempt to relieve the Captain, take the helm and put a soft patch over a national security hole that required shoring, battens and plate patches. The leak is still there and the flooding is getting worse and the Congress is going to be the first heading toward the life rafts.
Posted by Larry Stone | July 19, 2007 11:51 AM
Yep, Those who opposed the bill are those that live in states that have a small minority of Hispanics, yet in the end THEY WILL LOSE.
No one has more power than 12 to 15 million people praying to almighty, regardless of what one thinks or says, It will be RESOLVED the way ALMIGHTY WANTS IT. NOT HUMAN HATERS.
The nations borders are still open, there will be 2 million more people to contend with.
and the Hate will only brew.
Instead of DEFLECTING the limelight on "Illegal Immigrants, why don't the same people that opposed it come up with a WORKABLE REASONABLE REALISTIC AND RATIONAL SOLUTION?
WE ARE NOT ALL FOLLIES IN THIS NATION.:)
Politics can only play so long, and doing nothing dose not make it go away.
what about EDUCATION, TRADE DEFICIT, SOCIAL SECURITY, HEALTH CARE, MEDICARE, WORLD GLOBALZATION, OUT SOURCING ? THESE ARE THE REAL ISSUES TO BE CONTENDED WITH.
GOOD LUCK :)
Posted by Funy Truth :) | July 19, 2007 12:18 PM
Cato's Mr. Griswold predicted: "I don't think conservatives are going to be rewarded for klling this bill."
Is this guy for real? When push came to shove, the American people stood up and flexed their collective muscle: Just say NO to Shamnesty.
The only ones who listened were the Conservatives. We The People won't forget that.
Posted by Valerie | July 19, 2007 3:08 PM
Enough illegal aliens and guess whom our president and legislators will be .
Posted by George Davis | July 20, 2007 4:51 PM
Pure and simple: This was a bill which benefited only those wanting people to work for less money so as to increase their profits. The losers would have been the millions of working people who have seen their standard of living fall over the last few decades. For once, the American people were not fooled.
Posted by Doug | July 21, 2007 9:30 AM
While the 9/11 murderers did not come across the border with Mexico, other murderers, rapists, and drunken vehicle operators did. However the next mass-murder suspects may or possibly already have. The invading hordes must be stopped! No other nation in the world allows such numbers to come in illegally. The invasion must be stopped. The invaders must be found and scrutinized. Anyone who supports such an invasion should be deported, whether an elected official or not! Liberal, conservative, libraterian or little green humaniods. It doesn't matter. No one benefits from an invasion of this magnitude. Not citizens now or citizens of the future. Controlled immigration yes. Invasion and colonization no!
Posted by Tim | July 22, 2007 10:31 PM
Great work!
Posted by Sierra Luti | July 25, 2007 8:22 AM