We here at NumbersUSA have been a little surprised at a lot of negative response from our members after we declared a little victory last week on barring illegal aliens from a federal health plan. The fact that we also offered a fax thanking Pres. Obama for bowing to popular wishes on the issue also seemed to cause a lot of people to think we are dangerously naive. Can we talk a bit about this . . . .
The immigration debate often brings out the worst in people, but it still is disappointing to see the sad display by a number of bishops and other religious leaders yesterday outside the Capitol. They used their prayer vigil to spew hatred at their fellow Christians and other Americans working to reduce immigration in order to help the most vulnerable members of our society.
I was dining in downtown Boston with a long-time acquaintance of Teddy Kennedy at the very time the Senator died a week ago. We had discussed what had caused Kennedy to pursue immigration policies that so fundamentally changed America. When I awoke the next morning to the Massachusetts TV stations doing their eulogies, I decided to wait until after burial to share my thoughts. . . .
Earlier this month, Pres. Obama took a shot at the opponents of Amnesty by labeling them as “demagogues.” Roy responded by requesting a meeting with the President, and NumbersUSA members responded with their own thoughts as well.
Hundreds of unemployed Black Americans are getting jobs in Raeford, N.C. because enforcement is driving out illegal workers. But that is a bad -- even evil -- thing, according to religious leaders like the ones scheduled to go to the White House on Thursday to help decide how to pass an amnesty for illegal aliens this next year. I don't really think these religious leaders hate the Black American underclass. But they HAVE abandoned it.
In Mexico, Pres. Obama indicated that all of us who regard legalizing 12-20 million illegal aliens as "unacceptable" are "demagogues." I think he used the term in its most pejorative sense, meaning that we use "false claims" to appeal to "popular prejudices." The President needs to get to know us better. NumbersUSA has been asking all year for a chance to explain our position at the White House. Even Pres. Bush let us do that a few times. How about now, Pres. Obama?
In a visit to Mexico, Pres. Barack Obama said he expects Amnesty legislation to be drafted in Congress this fall with debate beginning after the first of the year. While the President has always maintained that he wants to pursue immigration reform, he has come under heat recently from open-borders groups for not doing enough.
Senate Immigration Subcommittee Chair Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he'll unveil a proposal for immigration reform and amnesty shortly after the summer recess. The publication Congress Daily is reporting that despite an intense battle over health care reform, Schumer still plans to launch at least an outline of his plan, if not proposed legislation.
Now, nobody in Congress can claim not to know what is going on with illegal aliens and the proposed federal health plan. Congressman Lamar Smith of Texas has laid out the details in The Hill, a newspaper for the Capitol Hill staffers and Members of Congress.
A startling new report unveils the details of a secret meeting between big business and open-borders groups working under the umbrella of the ImmigrationWorksUSA lobbying group. The "Storming the Hill National Summit" took place last month and revealed the true motives behind the lobbying group's efforts.
Oh, sure, they say it isn't true. But every indication says it is. Consider: Asked by Katie Couric if "illegal immigrants" should be covered under the emerging national health plan, Pres. Obama said "NO." But then he started giving exceptions that would cover about 98% of current illegal aliens. House leaders are playing the same game. Take a look . . .
Representative Lamar Smith (R-Texas) had an op-ed published in Monday's edition of USA Today speaking up for the more than 14 million unemployed United States citizens. The letter was published in response to the USA Today editorial "Recession freezes immigration debate but points to answers" also published in Monday's paper.
Pres. Barack Obama took the first step on Thursday towards immigration reform and an amnesty for more than 11 million illegal aliens. Members of the Administration met with 30 Members of Congress from both sides of the issue and both sides of the aisle to get the debate rolling, but Pres. Obama said after the meeting that there was "not by any means consensus across the table."
Most attendees of the White House amnesty meeting today fell all over themselves to show their concern for helping the 12 million illegal aliens in this country. I sent a letter to each Member of Congress reminding that they may not want to face voters next year and have to answer why they chose giving permanent work permits to illegal aliens while 14 million unemployed Americans couldn't find jobs.
Pres. Barack Obama's Chief of Staff met with reporters on Thursday morning before the President's 2 p.m. meeting with Congressional leaders to kick off the discussion for immigration reform. But Rahm Emanuel said that the White House doesn't believe they have enough votes in Congress for an amnesty bill.
A recent British study revealed that an amnesty would cost British taxpayers £1 million per illegal alien. The total cost includes handouts and other state services provided over the lifetime of the average immigrant.
At the moment I am posting this blog, our computers show that voters who care about their unemployed American neighbors have sent 693,437 faxes THIS MONTH through NumbersUSA to Congress and the White House. The message of the faxes is loud and clear: NO amnesty and LESS immigration.
Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who also chairs the Senate Immigration Subcommittee, will unveil an outline of an immigration reform bill on Wednesday that will likely detail a plan to offer amnesty to the nation's more than 11 million illegal aliens.
Before Pres. Obama meets with his pro-amnesty posse in the White House, I wish he could spend some time in Putnam County, Indiana where I've spent recent days researching some of the pioneer history of my ancestors. All the service personnel in my motel, the restaurants, gas stations, etc. are native-born Americans. It is strong evidence that if Obama would stop promising amnesty and would enforce immigration laws that millions of unemployed Americans would be happy to take the jobs opened by departing illegal aliens.
In my blog from Thursday, June 18, I looked at the historical views of black Americans towards massive immigration of low-skilled labor. For today’s African-Americans regarding illegal immigration, there seems to be a divergence between the leadership and the rank-and-file. Terry Anderson, a radio host in Los Angeles, airs his views in a two part video interview that is posted on the CAPS website. The link was sent to me by a NumbersUSA member who wrote, “Everyone at NumbersUSA needs to see these radio interviews.”
During a speech at the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast President Obama assured the audience that he was committed to comprehensive immigration reform.
Senate Immigration Subcommittee Chairman Chuck Schumer said he will push for a national worker identification card as part of any immigration overhaul. The card would include biometric data like fingerprints, and he said it will make it easier for employers to identify undocumented workers.
A few weeks ago as I was running to catch my ride home after a long day at the office, an old lady asked me for $5.00 to buy dinner. "$5.00 for something to eat? Please? I'm hungry." I was literally running as she asked me, and I told her, "I'm sorry, maybe next time." Then my conscience started eating at me. I kept hearing the words ringing in my ears, "For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat." I turned around, pulled $5.00 out of my pocket and ran back to find her, but she had gone.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has been pretty vocal since last fall's election about his desire to pass an amnesty, but over the last couple of days, he's turned up the rhetoric. Reid said late last week that immigration reform will happen during this Congress and preferably before the end of this year.
The business lobbies that have been so successful in keeping our immigration laws from being enforced operate out of the same motives when they lobby against environmental laws: profit. And if they can get away with it and secure amnesty for illegal aliens, then we have to be very concerned that the process can be repeated versus any law, including the environmental laws.
