The following story appeared in FAIR’s August 27 Legislative Update. To subscribe to FAIR’s Legislative Update click here.
The Republican National Convention’s platform committee met last week to create the Republican Party’s 2012 platform, a statement of the Party’s policy positions for the next four years. Alarmingly, the proposed platform ignores the over 23 million unemployed and underemployed U.S. citizens and legal residents by calling for a “legal and reliable source of foreign labor through a new guest-worker program.” (National Journal, Aug. 21, 2012) In fact, the U.S. already admits close to one million guest-workers annually. (See U.S. Dept. of State FY 2011 Annual Report)
However, while the platform proposes a new guest worker program, it also seeks greater immigration enforcement measures. Specifically, the platform calls for prohibitions on sanctuary cities and in-state tuition for illegal aliens, an end to the Justice Department’s attack on state enforcement measures, completion of the fence along the U.S.-Mexico border, and a requirement that all U.S. businesses use the E-Verify program to verify the employment eligibility of their employees. (Associated Press, Aug. 24, 2012)
The Convention’s delegates plan to vote on the platform this week. (C-Span, Aug. 22, 2012)
Obama says the border fence is “now basically complete”
In his speech in El Paso on immigration reform on May 10, 2011, President Obama declared that the fence along the border with Mexico is “now basically complete.”
Department of Homeland Security officials told us they have finished 649 out of 652 miles of fencing (99.5 percent), which includes 299 miles of vehicle barriers and 350 miles of pedestrian fence.
“Five years ago, legislation was passed to build a 700-mile double-layer border fence along the southwest border,” DeMint wrote. “This is a promise that has not been kept. Today, according to staff at the Department of Homeland Security, just 5 percent of the double-layer fencing is complete, only 36.3 miles.”
So what gives? Is the border fence “now basically complete” or not?
DHS reports that there is now fencing for 649 of the 652 miles described in the Secure Fence Act of 2006. But the vast majority of the requirement was met with vehicle barriers and single-layer pedestrian fence. The original act specifically called for double-layer fencing, and only 36.3 miles of double-layered fencing currently exist.
So he stretched the truth, yes there is a fence, but basically only one wire or a vehicle barrier, so how secure do you think that is? When you consider that we have about half a million illegals every year. I think we need a higher fence.
I too am calling for a legal and reliable source of foreign labor , in foreign countries .
The GOP platform on immigrant proposals relating to guest worker program and enforcement measures more closely apoproximates the American citizen wish for a stable, steady program to esdtablish a well coordinarted program benefitting the USA and the immigrant as well since entitlement abuses, criminality,fraudulent actgivity can be regined in by law enforcement. Stgudent visas and in state tuition will provide vital education for foreign students who enter the uSA with a student visa and bde accorded advantages that an illegal would not. All this President Obama waves away with his imperial wand of Presidential directives. since 2007 to 2012 5 trillion dollars have been spent with minimal results and much shennanigans.
well said! Nothing bothers me more then knowing that tax payers pay twice the tuition for out of state, then an illegal!
Enacting many laws under the Democrats, Liberals or Republicans will remain virtually impossible to pass. As an Independent my vote is not going to President Obama and the only reason I am voting for Mitt Romney, is to insure more TEA PARTY LEADERS unseat all those in Congress. I think potential VP Paul Ryan is a good choice, as he is yet another TEA PARTY politician? Any new laws that make financial sense have never had any possibility of enough votes in the House of Representatives and certainly not the Senate, held in contempt of the will of the people. With a steel grip in the Senate, and constantly failing to reach cloture by arch Liberal incumbent Sen. Harry Reid whatever in the way of bills of any need, will never reach the floor.
Both political Parties need to be held accountable for not passing the ‘Legal Workforce bill’ known exclusively as E-Verify (H.R.2885) or a crucial amendment known as the ‘Birthright Citizenship Law’ (H.R.140). The TEA PARTY however has this initiative that if they affirm more authority and influence in the Republican Party, these two laws will find passage. Join the local TEA PARTY and cast your vote for MITT ROMNEY. By infiltrating the Republican Party the TEA PARTY will have overall influence to stop illegal immigration, open up more oil drilling areas, a fair tax code for everybody; stop Obama from allowing the United Nations from more influencing in American laws, lower the U.S. treasury 16 Trillion dollar deficit and many controversial issues such as the in the Heritage foundation 2007 survey. That another mind numbing comprehensive amnesty; a certainty under President Obama and his czars, would cost taxpayers $2.7 trillion to complete.