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Ken Salazar Speaks to Immigration Reform Bill

By Jeralyn, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Fri Mar 31, 2006 at 10:20:04 AM EST
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Sen. Ken Salazar gave a speech in the Senate Thursday, backing the immigration reform bill passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, including its guest worker provisions.

The theme of the speech was not the guest worker program. It was "broken borders and lawlessness," a phrase he repeated five times. He lauded the many criminal enforcement components of the bill, including those that:
  • Double the number of Border Patrol agents--adding 12,000 new agents over the next five years;
  • Double interior enforcement-adding 1,000 investigators per year for the next five years;
  • Increase resources to expand the ability of federal agents to retrieve aliens detained by local police;
  • Increase resources for additional detention facilities;
  • Add new electronic surveillance technologies and resources to create a "virtual fence" at the border;
  • Provide for reimbursement to states for costs of prosecuting and imprisoning undocumented criminal aliens; and
  • Provide for faster deportation process, and enhanced penalties for gang, tunneling, smuggling, and greater resources targeting ID fraud.

Salazar does oppose the creation of a physical fence along the border. True to his bipartisan nature, he says:

Some would have preferred that we wall off our country along our southern border. To the proponents of building a wall, I ask--what would Ronald Reagan say?

Salazar opposes an amnesty program for undocumented residents and praises the guest worker provision in the bill. For those who think it will be a walk in the park for millions, think again. Check out these requirements:

In exchange for coming forward, these individuals will be given a temporary and conditional visa. After six years, if they meet numerous requirements, including proving they are integrating into our country by learning English, U.S. history and government, pay back taxes, commit no crimes, and pay more fines, they can get to the back of the line behind those who are currently waiting to become U.S. citizens.

The Senator ends his speech by quoting a prayer by Caesar Chavez. I could be wrong, but I don't think Caesar Chavez would be dancing over this bill. The criminalization components are very much like those in the House bill (H.R. 4437) that hundreds of thousands of people protested in the past few weeks. According to an action alert I received today from the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (NIRR):

[the Senate proposal] is fatally packed with egregious and unjust enforcement provisions that undercut the spirit and goals of real legalization. The bill, which was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 27, contains many of the same provisions of the enforcement-tilted bill that passed the House (HR 4437). These extreme provisions would effectively bar millions of people from even the chance to earn legalization, take away the right to a fair hearing, legalize the indefinite detention of noncitizens, allow domestic military bases to be used for immigration detention, and turn local police into immigration agents.

Current law on immigration enforcement is already very harsh. By giving more detention authority to immigration agents, this bill would undermine checks-and-balances in our immigration system and hurt our communities and families. A real comprehensive immigration bill that offers a just solution must strip these egregious provisions.

[Cross-posted at 5280.com]

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    Ken Salazar Speaks to Immigration Reform Bill | 7 comments (7 topical)
    Re: Ken Salazar Speaks to Immigration Reform Bill (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 31, 2006 at 11:13:53 AM EST
    I give up, what is an undocumented resident? Are Kartrina refugees living in Houston or Atlanta the undocumented residents?

    Re: Ken Salazar Speaks to Immigration Reform Bill (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 31, 2006 at 11:27:27 AM EST
    Wile, that's a troll question and you know it.

    Re: Ken Salazar Speaks to Immigration Reform Bill (none / 0) (#3)
    by jimcee on Fri Mar 31, 2006 at 03:13:52 PM EST
    In fairness to all immigrants those who come here illegaly need to be sent home if they are detected. I find it rather strange there are some who think that because some are already here, albeit illegally, that they should be rewarded for breaking the law. It seems rather counter-productive to use lawless behavior as an incentive that would allow those here illegaly to cut into the front of the immigrant line. If you reward bad behavior you will get more of the same. Instead, those who go through the legal channels should be rewarded for thier patience and lawful behavior. Those who don't barred. B. F. Skinner used to call that 'Operant Conditioning'. And whatever happened to the expression 'illegal alien'? The way various advocates bludgeon the English language would make Big Brother proud.

    Re: Ken Salazar Speaks to Immigration Reform Bill (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 31, 2006 at 05:55:03 PM EST
    And whatever happened to the expression 'illegal alien'? The way various advocates bludgeon the English language would make Big Brother proud.
    Nice try, jimcee. Tell it to boy george. He's the one peddlin' the guest worker snake oil. He's the one who sold your sorry butt out, not me. Always a pleasure.

    Re: Ken Salazar Speaks to Immigration Reform Bill (none / 0) (#5)
    by jimcee on Fri Mar 31, 2006 at 07:34:26 PM EST
    Charlie, You're still here....yawn, oh, wait... Non-surfing whispy-dude, are you up for a real debate? Of course not! That might expose your community college quality debating skills. Facts be damned, Charlie is here to shout you down... No debate, just dorky invectiive. Oh did I mention 'yawn'..?

    Re: Ken Salazar Speaks to Immigration Reform Bill (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 31, 2006 at 07:48:13 PM EST
    Yeah, sure thing, kiddo. You'd still be over your head. There's not a 7th Grade debating squad in the land that wouldn't be lickin' their chops if they saw your sorry butt comin', jimcee. What's to debate with you or any of your clueless clown posse. There's no position. There's no argument. You're wrong on the facts. You're wrong on the law. It's just the same tired bigoted BS.

    Re: Ken Salazar Speaks to Immigration Reform Bill (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Apr 01, 2006 at 03:57:02 AM EST
    TL: You're are right I apologize. I am wonding how many PC names we can make up for illegals. I predict 100 years from now we will be the Un-united Territories of America.

    Ken Salazar Speaks to Immigration Reform Bill | 7 comments (7 topical)