House OKs Bill to Tighten Immigration Laws, A Little
House OKs Bill to Tighten Immigration Laws
WASHINGTON - The House acted Friday to stem the tide of illegal immigration by taking steps to tighten border controls and stop unlawful immigrants from getting jobs. But lawmakers left for next year the tougher issue of what to do with the 11 million undocumented people already in the country. The House legislation, billed as a border protection, anti-terrorism and illegal immigration control act, includes such measures as enlisting military and local law enforcement help in stopping illegal entrants and requiring employers to verify the legal status of their workers. It authorizes the building of a fence along parts of the U.S.-Mexico border.
But it put off consideration of a guest worker program, which President Bush and many in Congress say must be part of a lasting solution to the illegal immigrant crisis.
The vote was 239-182, with opposition coming from Democrats and some Republicans upset by the exclusion of the guest worker issue and other Republicans wanting tougher border control measures.
One measure that Republican leaders wouldn't allow a vote on was a volatile proposal to deny citizenship to babies born in this country to illegal immigrants.
[Read on.]
See also: Michelle Malkin: Border Security: One Step Forward
Euphoric Reality: Guard the Borders Blogburst
When I first saw the headline at Breitbart I got my hopes up a lot more than I should have. Their finally taking some appropriate steps to seal off the border, but they still haven't addressed Bush's amnesty program or the anchor baby issue. It's time to seal the border, with troops if necessary, and quit granting citizenship to babies born to parents who shouldn't have been in this country to begin with. It's also time to put some real teeth into laws against employing illegals. The bill in question still leaves a lot to be desired.
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There's a newer AP article on the matter here.
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Maybe the bill's a little better than I thought, but
someone still needs to drive a stake through the heart of Bush's amnesty plan.
We have 11 million people in this country who are breaking the law just by being
here. Letting them stay is not the answer.
House passes bill on border security
By Stephen Dinan
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
December 17, 2005
The House last night passed a major border enforcement and
immigration security bill after approving amendments ending the
diversity visa lottery program and requiring immigration authorities
to complete background checks before granting an immigration
benefit.
Those who have been pushing for years for more immigration controls said
the bill, which passed 239-182, is a major victory, even if it doesn't include
all they had sought.
"The great thing about this is the momentum is on our side," said Rep. Tom
Tancredo, Colorado Republican. "I really feel good about the issue of adding
more stuff to it because of that momentum."
On Thursday, the House passed a provision calling for nearly 700 miles of
fence to be built on the U.S.-Mexico border. Then, yesterday, it passed an
amendment ending the diversity visa lottery, a system that grants 50,000 green
cards every year without tying it to family relationships or employment. It
passed 273-148.
Rep. Robert W. Goodlatte, Virginia Republican, said the lottery makes no
sense and pointed to examples of terrorists who have entered the country through
the lottery.
"Don't gamble with national security," he said.
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on.]
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