Republicans Screw Immigrants and Americans
06 April 2006 11:55 am by Taylor Marsh
Republicans Screw Immigrants and Americans
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| Feckless Frist and the weak-kneed Republicans strike again. They make sure their rabid right-wing radio base has the send 'em home bone. |
As outlined by Senate Republicans late Wednesday, the
compromise would place illegal immigrants in three categories:¶Those who have lived in the country at least
five years would be put on a path toward guaranteed citizenship, provided
that they remained employed, paid fines and back taxes, and learned English,
a senior Republican aide said. The aide said this group accounted for about
7 million of the roughly 11 million illegal immigrants believed to be living
here.¶Those who have lived here for two to five years,
said to number about three million, would have to leave the country briefly
before reporting to an American port of entry, where they would be classified
as temporary workers. They would be allowed to apply for citizenship but would
have no guarantee of obtaining it. Those who did not would have to leave after
participating in the temporary worker program for six years.¶The remaining one million or so, those who have
lived in the country less than two years, would be required to leave. They
could apply for temporary worker status but would not be guaranteed it.
Senate
G.O.P. Strikes Deal on Immigration
So far, I'm not impressed. Republicans seem hell bent on screwing immigrants and Americans, only this time they're doing it simultaneously… and we didn't even get a kiss.
The Republican geniuses running the Senate have come up with the
idea that if you're an illegal immigrant and you've been in the country for
less than 5 years you must willingly go back home, some “briefly,”
with some people having to start all over again. Sure, those living here between
2-5 years would get a little boost and be able to apply for citizenship once
they re-entered legally via a port of entry, but there would be no guarantees.
If you don't get citizenship, after 6 years in the temporary program it would
be bye-bye, go back. Under 2 years in the U.S., however, it's go home and good luck next
time.
If I see any Senate member congratulating him- or herself on this
“compromise” I'm going to scream.
Senate Republicans are as useless at supplying solutions as they
are on holding George W. Bush accountable. It's bow to the base, baby, bow to
the base. What they've come up with as a “compromise” is worthless
to this country, to the illegal immigrants who deserve better, not to mention
to the citizens like you and me who pay these pathetic politicians to come up
with answers.
There is no mention anywhere about holding corporations accountable for hiring illegal immigrants. The Republicans who control the Senate and the
House have ducked their duty to do anything that stops employers from hiring
illegal immigrants, whom they then exploit through cheap wages, bad working
conditions and abominable adherence to our labor laws.
We all know that Senate Republicans are bought and paid for by
corporations, but you'd think country would come before their corporate paymasters
at some point. Unfortunately, not only are Senate Republicans bowing to corporations,
but they're slapping the immigrants who want to work in this country in the
face. It's appalling.
If the Republicans who control Congress don't deal
with the corporations who employ illegal immigrants, making it
a felony to hire illegal immigrants, as well as thwart U.S. labor laws, as well as
demand whopping fines, nothing done means anything. Because as long as there
are jobs in this country to be filled on the sly, illegal immigrants will continue
to find a way into this country, being exploited for their poverty and need.
Make illegal immigrants leave and come back? What genius came
up with that one?
Democrats
are a minority, but they should not stand for this nonsense.
The American people are going to get screwed if the Republicans
have their way, which will also mean that “border security” will once
again be a joke and we will continue to have an illegal immigration problem, only it will now be a catastrophe.
By the way, what about 10-15,000 border agents to control the
borders, along with the technology and communications capabilities to track
illegal immigrants, as well as the criminals flooding through our borders? What
about the connectivity needed for INS and ICE to be effective? Nobody is talking
about those realities.
The Senate Republicans are offering up another fraud, wrapped
up in the language of “compromise,” so Bush can look like he's doing
something when he's not. Also making sure to tithe policy to the rabid Republican right-wing base. Radio hosts will be thrilled to have the send 'em home bone. But the bottom line is that Republicans are so weak and out of ideas they
think their base can save them from the American people and the illegal immigrants, both of whom deserve better, and are not going to buy this nonsense anymore.
UPDATE: TalkLeft has more info and some of it is going to really tick you off.
