Senator's bold plan to force illegal immigration solution
Congress' failure to achieve a workable policy on illegal immigration has left the states in the unenviable position of dealing with the difficult consequences. One leading South Carolina legislator is urging a response that will be sure to encourage Congress' renewed attention.
Glenn McConnell, Senate President Pro Tem, wants the South Carolina Legislature to start the process of demanding a national constitutional convention to deal with the immigration issue. The convention would seek an amendment to give states greater authority to deal with illegal immigrants. And it would require the federal government to deport illegals picked up by the states.
Sen. McConnell, a Charleston Republican, will seek approval of a resolution in the General Assembly with the expectation that like-minded leaders in other states will take up the cause. Approval by two-thirds of state legislatures would force a constitutional convention. It's likely, however, that a groundswell of support for Sen. McConnell's proposal would bring about needed action in the Congress before the states step into the breach.
"There's a power failure in Washington," Sen. McConnell says, citing Congress' unwillingness to achieve a workable plan to deal with illegal immigrants, whose numbers are estimated at 11 million. Consequently, states are left with the expense of providing services to illegals, such as emergency medical care and law enforcement. The proposed amendment would give state government greater authority to decide which services will be provided and to determine what penalties will apply to those who violate the law.
While states, including South Carolina, are attempting to manage problems caused by illegal immigrants, those efforts are liable to be rejected by the federal courts, absent constitutional authority, the senator says.
Sen. McConnell recognizes that his idea doesn't offer a comprehensive solution, adding that only the federal government can deal with the essential issue of securing the nation's borders. But it would give some states greater authority in an area where they are largely powerless.
"I hope it will be a clarion call to Congress to go back to Washington and stay there until it can resolve the issue," he says.
Sen. McConnell's proposal might be viewed by some as quixotic, but the senator is hardly alone in his view that Congress hasn't met its responsibility. The miserable poll numbers for both Republicans and Democrats in Congress are a reflection of the public dissatisfaction with their incapacity on immigration and other matters.
Sen. McConnell's idea may well pick up mass and momentum as it moves forward. The state Legislature should get the proposal rolling with its approval in January.
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wanda (anonymous) says...
You want to solve the immigration problem? Easy.
Capture, Sterilize and Deport.
October 7, 2007 at 9:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DinTN (anonymous) says...
ALERT! ACTION NEEDED!!!
Bill would eliminate automatic birthright citizenship for anchor babies!
Ask your representative to support this bill!
HR 1940 would end the practice of granting automatic citizenship to the U.S.-born children of illegal aliens. Nearly every other country, including all members of the European Union, requires that at least one parent be a citizen or permanent resident for a child to automatically become a citizen.
The Birthright Citizenship Act of 2007, by Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA), would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate birthright citizenship.
Our current policy results in over 300,000 additional citizens from anchor babies each year. The demographic impact is far greater because their families stay and bring in additional relatives. Anchor babies are eligible to sponsor their illegal alien parents and other relatives when they turn 21. Moreover, taxpayers pick up the tab for the medical costs and subsequent welfare outlays because of the child's citizenship status.
The 14th Amendment, passed to guarantee the citizenship of freed slaves, grants citizenship to anyone born here and "subject to the jurisdiction" of the United States. HR 1940 acknowledges the right of birthright citizenship established by the 14th amendment to the Constitution, but says a person born in the United States is considered "subject to the jurisdiction" of the United States only if one of the parents is a citizen, an alien lawfully admitted for permanent, or an alien performing active service in the armed forces.
Please ask your Congressional representative to co-sponsor HR 1940. Send a FREE fax or an e-mail by entering your ZIP Code and clicking "Go!"
http://capwiz.com/caps/issues/alert/?...
October 7, 2007 at 10:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DrColes (anonymous) says...
80% of the American people want an end to anarchy!
Illegal workers are criminals, those who hire them are criminals and those who aid-and-abet them are criminals.
Illegal aliens in America have NO rights. We are required by law to arrest and prosecute, deport them.
No, matter your political party affiliation, and setting aside your thoughts on issues. We all need to remember what it is to be an American Citizen. We need to make sure our elected representatives obey their Oath of Office and keep their Oath of Allegiance.
See http://tinyurl.com/2znnvl Know whom you are voting for.
America needs American Patriots NOT a bunch of naturalized citizens who just want a lifetime of benefits.
October 7, 2007 at 10:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mongo (anonymous) says...
The title of this article is wrong in 2 counts.
The plan is not "bold", it is just some more cheap pandering to the nativist base.
And it is not a "solution", rather, more enforcement-only nonsense that can only exacerbate the problem.
Mongo
www.itsnofun.com
October 7, 2007 at 11:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Brittanicus (anonymous) says...
Came across this petition of worried New york citizens, to petition their so-called American governor from dishing out drivers licenses to any foreign national with a passport or a foreign countries ID card. To me this is very dangerous state law, that has hundreds of serious implications. Not to mention the fact that many of the fanatical jahadists who slammed passenger jets into the New york twin towers had authentic drivers licenses. This is a magnitude of incompetence and this 1st class moron should be recalled.
If you are interested in addressing this issue yourself, family and fellow workers I have locatted a Petition to sign. From its contents it does not look as though it is aimed at just New york residence, so anybody can make their anger known?
***Petition***
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! HELP KEEP NEW YORK SAFE!
http://www.nygop.org/?page_id=361
Governor Spitzer recently issued a unilateral order to grant drivers licenses to illegal aliens. Given the critical importance of the issues surrounding homeland security and immigration, this is a rash mistake.
New Yorkers know too well the importance of maintaining the integrity and security of our identification documents. The September 11th hijackers were able to board planes because they all had drivers licenses or state issued identification. New York closed this security gap, but now Governor Spitzer wants to move us backward.
In the post 9/11 world, we simply cannot take chances with important identification and security documents.
In addition to being dangerous Governor Spitzer's change in policy has been cited as being costly, a threat to the integrity of voter registration and possibly illegal. Governor Spitzer changed the policy without consulting elected representatives or holding public hearings.
If you, too, are strongly opposed to this dangerous change in policy, join me in urging Governor Spitzer to reconsider and rescind this action by signing the online petition below.
October 7, 2007 at 8:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Brittanicus (anonymous) says...
Time to go after illegal immigrant employers, because they have been ignoring the law too long. They should make a manditory visit of at least 5 years to a prison. All their business assets should be confiscated, along with any financial gains from using foreign national workers.
Mission Statement: To Assist Businesses Harmed as a Result of Unfair Competition and to Locate, Investigate and Prosecute Employers of IIIegal Aliens.
Illegal Employers use illegal workers and do not pay them prevailing wages or other benefits in order to sell their products or services at a lower price, or earn more profit, than Employers who obey the law. These Illegal Employers Unfairly Compete in the Marketplace of the American Economy and cause taxpayers to pay more.
By choosing to hire Illegal Aliens so they can avoid paying minimum wage, payroll taxes, worker's compensation insurance, overtime and other legally mandated employee benefits, these Illegal Employers profit at the expense of taxpayers and honest Business owners. The Illegal Employers contribute to the massive influx of Illegal aliens into our country. Illegal Employers force those who do pay taxes to also pay for the health care, education and welfare of the Illegal aliens they hire.
We support the right of any immigrant to enter the United States legally. America was built on the blood and sweat of immigrants seeking a better life. But those immigrants, who many of us call our ancestors, came here legally and complied with the immigration policies in existence at the time. They also did not expect or receive free health care and other social services that most hard working Americans have to pay for.
We recognize our country's borders are not secure. We also recognize that, for whatever reason, the Federal government is not adequately enforcing the immigration laws. Therefore, the Illegal Employers do not think they have to obey these laws and so are willing to hire those they know to be illegal aliens because they can profit at others' expense.
We look forward to hearing from you if your company has lost business because your competitor uses illegal aliens for cheap labor. Also, if you have been terminated from your job because you inquired about your employer's illegal hiring practices please contact us. You can reach us at 1-800-377-9122. You can also contact us at our e-mail address: illegalemployers@hotmail.com
Thank you for your support and interest in our cause and our Country.
October 8, 2007 at 6:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Brittanicus (anonymous) says...
For those of you tired of the incessant commentary on the illegal occupation of our country? Then take a trip to google and watch some very cruel jokes played on U.S. citizens, by our government, a corrupt Mexico and the open boder fanatics. Most have an ulterior motive; the globalisation of America. The Agenda of globalist elites of this world, to drown us in impoverished, uneducated people of the globe.
Watch, listen and learn? Then judge for yourself the consequences to us all. If we do not fight back before the 2008 elections and make your voice heard, there will be no going back.
http://video.google.com/videosearch
Illegal Immigration
October 8, 2007 at 6:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wilbrimley (anonymous) says...
The issue of immigration continues to divide people of good will across our nation and our state. Immigration divides us, in part, because of both the breadth and the depth of the issues involved from powerful global economics to fast-changing local cultures, from the complex world of international politics to family histories intricately woven across borders, from worldwide patterns of migration to the very heart of American identity.
The question of how to respond to the complicated realities of immigration has divided us not only as Americans, but also those of us who consider ourselves to be Christians. Like most social issues facing American Christians, we do not speak with one voice. Rather, we remain sadly divided along the predictable lines of class and race, denomination and political affiliation. As one who has been raised in the church, I would ask my fellow sisters and brothers that we would learn to engage this issue from a reasoned theological perspective rather than participating in the brand of knee-jerk politics we ingest daily from the media.
What does the Bible have to say about immigrants, aliens, and foreigners? What has the Christian tradition affirmed through the centuries, as pastors, teachers and everyday Christians have wrestled with these very questions regarding the "stranger" in their midst? What resources does our tradition give us for naming forms of oppression and liberation in our society? And how might we learn to live with such radical hospitality that we find ourselves ready to welcome even the "least of these" (Matthew 25:40) willing to obey God rather than the laws of any human authority (see Acts 5:29)? To think theologically about immigration may not provide Christians with specific policy solutions, but inevitably it does change the nature of the debate itself, transposing it from the realm of fear and scarcity to the realm of love, generosity and abundance.
October 9, 2007 at 8:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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