FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jim Billimoria

May 17, 2007

Phone: (202) 225-4501 or

Jim.billimoria@mail.house.gov

Amnesty Proposal Compromises the Rule of Law

Washington, DC – Rep. Tom Price (GA-06-R) issued the following statement after the Senate announced an agreement on their comprehensive immigration/amnesty reform package:

“The crisis of illegal immigration becomes worse with each passing day,” said Price. “What the Senate proposed today would result in amnesty for many who are in our nation illegally.”

“Though the border security measures would be potentially helpful, this bill is one step forward and two steps backward. True immigration reform means getting a handle on today’s crisis by enforcing the rule of law and ensuring border security.

“The ‘compromise’ announced today will reward illegal aliens with the ability to bypass those who have obeyed our laws and followed the rules.

“What kind of message does this send to the millions of immigrants from around the world who have waited years to gain legal access to our nation? All that is compromised with this proposal is America’s Rule of Law.”

CNN reports on the Senate Compromise from today:

Immigration breakthrough could pave way for citizenship

WASHINGTON (CNN) — The estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States could be put on the path to citizenship under a new immigration bill agreed upon Thursday by a bipartisan group of senators.

“The agreement we just reached is the best possible chance we will have to secure our borders, bring millions of people out of the shadows and into the sunshine of America,” Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts said.

President Bush expressed gratitude to the senators for their work. (Watch Bush praise bipartisanship of senators)

“I really am anxious to sign a comprehensive immigration bill as soon as I possibly can,” he told reporters outside the White House. “Today, we took a good step toward this direction.”

The bill is going to the Senate next week and if it passes, will then proceed to the House. (Watch senators explain how the bill works )

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has told the White House that she’s not going to bring the issue to the floor unless the president can deliver at least 70 votes.

But Republican Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said the bill is not a done deal.

He said he has “concerns with the principles outlined in today’s announcement.”

“I believe today’s announcement is somewhat premature because specific legislative text has yet to be drafted on a number of key details,” Cornyn said in a statement. “Until I have the opportunity to review this text, I will withhold from making more detailed comments.”

The 380-page bill, which comes after nearly three months of negotiations, would give immediate work authorization to undocumented workers who arrived in the United States before January 1, 2007.

Heads of household would have to return to their home country within eight years, and they would be guaranteed the right to return.

Applicants would also have to pay a $5,000 penalty….read the rest, and video of U.S. Senators insisting it is NOT amnesty here.

We can kiss the Republican Party goodbye they have struck an agreement for amnesty.
Kennedy will be the hero and the illegals will vote 3-1 for the Democrats. We will now have a one party system. President George W. Bush gets the credit for the destruction of the Republican party.
This day will go down in infamy! Unless a miraculous intervention happens Monday. Keep calling!

T.B.
California

Isakson pivotal to bill on immigration

By BOB KEMPER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 05/12/07

WASHINGTON — The Senate next week will reopen the volatile debate over illegal immigration, and while even those closest to the negotiations don’t know what to expect, at least one lawmaker can already claim a victory: Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.).

Republican and Democratic leaders, fearing voter backlash if they fail to resolve the issue this year, are clinging to a formula Isakson first proposed last year. It would bridge the divide between the House’s desire to focus on border security and the Senate’s broader approach, which includes creating a temporary worker program and providing a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants living illegally in the United States

Read the rest from the AJC here.

One of more than 1100 recieved here since the “Grand Compromise” amnesty today

I just spoke to the Isakson and Chambliss offices in Washington D.C., I let them know that I had written them, called them to let them know I was against any typy of immigration reform and they both had promised not to vote for any type of illegal immigration reform that is currently written, especially by Kennedy! I let them know I am very, very, angry with support support of this reform bill! Both representive’s gave the same spill that they were for immigration reform with border protection, but not amnesty!! HA! HA! LOL! if it was not so serious. I told them I was handicap, but I would get in my wheel chair and go house to house in the state of Ga. to have them recalled if they voted Yes for this immigration amnestyreform bill on Monday! I want him to vote NO on any immigration reform bill that is written or cosponsored by Kennedy and the rest of the Democrat’s!

When I got this e-mail I have been so angry with them I could see red!

I thought you would like to know what they response was. The same spill and spin by both!!!

Sincerely,

J. C.
Watkinsville, GA

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Here is what is going on in the U.S. Senate…partial transcripts from CNN’s Lou Dobbs Tonight ..last night.

Senators from both parties tonight also focusing on domestic politics and issues. They’re still trying to break a deadlock on the so-called comprehensive immigration reform legislation. That deal would give amnesty to as many as 20 million illegal aliens.

Lisa Sylvester now reports on those last-minute negotiations.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Democrats and Republicans have agreed in principle to an overall framework, but a deal has not been finalized, and both sides are now proceeding cautiously.

REID: Our immigration system is broken and certainly needs to be fixed. But in the process, we don’t want to make it worse than what it was to start with.

SYLVESTER: Here’s what’s on the table. The 12 million-plus illegal aliens would qualify for a new Z visa. They would have to pay a fine of $5,000 paid back over time. To seek a green card, they would have to return or touch back to their home country. Illegal aliens would be able to bring only dependent children and spouses into the United States, not extended family.

The guest worker program would be limited to 400,000 people. They could work for two years at a time for a total of six years. Their families would not be included.

The Z visa and guest worker programs would not be implemented until after enforcement provisions are in place — 18,000 border agents, 370 miles of fencing and a biometric secure identification system.

SEN. JOHNNY ISAKSON (R), GEORGIA: So that’s a good foundation and that’s why there’s optimism, but until the ink’s dry and we’ve read the fine print, nobody is going to be fully supportive.

SYLVESTER: But the details have slowed the process, including limits on administrative and judicial reviews and information sharing between the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.

Senate leaders are insisting the immigration debate wraps up by the end of next week.

SEN. JEFF SESSIONS (R), ALABAMA: And we think this year’s bill is going to be a thousand pages. That’s not a little bitty matter.

SYLVESTER: Senator Sessions says nine days is not enough to study the implications of a thousand-page bill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

Associated Press
Bush denounced over border violence

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano accuse the federal government of doing little to find a permanent solution to immigration problems and violence along the U.S.-Mexico border. — The governors complained in a letter sent Tuesday to President Bush that the lawlessness…

…read it here

Transcripts from CNN’s Lou Dobbs Tonight last night: Cardinal Roger Mahoney teaches the illegal alien lobby how to talk about amnesty.

LOU DOBBS, HOST: Tonight, the Bush administration and top lawmakers hold what are called make-or-break talks on so-called comprehensive immigration reform legislation. Will the Senate put the interest of the pro-amnesty lobby ahead of the national interest again?
We’ll have complete coverage for you.

Also tonight, disturbing new evidence that one of the country’s most powerful Catholics, Cardinal Roger Mahony, is hell bent on ignoring the principle of separation of church and state. The cardinal giving pro-illegal alien supporters a tutorial on how to sell their amnesty agenda….

The archbishop of Los Angeles, Cardinal Roger Mahony, has been giving advice to pro-amnesty, open borders advocates.

Christine Romans has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Cardinal Roger Mahony on the language of illegal immigration.

CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY, LOS ANGELES: I have learned that certain words are not to be used. Never use the “A” word, “amnesty”. But rather, find other words that don’t convey the power of what we are about.

ROMANS: The “we” here is the Catholic Church and the National Council of La Raza, to whom he was speaking. What they’re about, so- called comprehensive immigration reform.

MAHONY: We need and will get a comprehensive legislation passed.

ROMANS: And Cardinal Mahony has an urgent timeline.

MAHONY: Legislation must be passed by both houses and signed in to law by the time we get to the August recess.

ROMANS: Political observers say for Mahony, religious and politics are absolutely inseparable.

DAN HOFRENNING, ST. OLAF COLLEGE: The only thing he really cannot do is advocate for a particular candidate in an election or get involved in a specific campaign. Religious leaders are free to take stands on a particular pieces of legislation.

ROMANS: Mahony’s office did not return calls seeking comment, but in a recent speech, he said his lobbying for amnesty is justified by the bible. “As a Christian, there are no prior commitments that can overrule, or trump, this biblical tradition of compassion for the stranger, the alien, the worker.”

Indeed, Mahony says the church as a moral obligation to change American law, because he says, “Our current immigration laws are, in a word, unjust.”

(END VIDEOTAPE) ROMANS: His position on reforming those laws Says the church as a moral obligation to change the law. Because our immigration laws is incredibly specific. Illegal aliens, he says, can “earn their green cards” through several years of work, paying a fine, taking English in civics classes, and getting in line behind those already here, Lou. Very specific recommendations.

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Governor signs Senate Bill 23

Sen. John Douglas says the bill will help the justice system check the immigration status of criminal offenders

ATLANTA– Governor Sonny Perdue has signed into law Senate Bill 23, sponsored by Sen. John Douglas (R-Newton County). The bill will allow Judges and the State Board of Pardons and Parole to consider the immigration status of convicted criminals when determining their eligibility for parole or bail.

If the court determines that the defendant is in this country illegally, then the court may determine if deportation could occur during their probated sentence. If the court finds that a deportation may occur during the probation, the courts may decline to allow the probated sentence. This law will also allow the immigration status of a defendant to be considered in the decision to grant bail before trial.

“This new law will give the courts another tool to help them serve the best interests of the state of Georgia,” Sen. Douglas said. “This bill is another step in trying to control illegal immigration in Georgia. In judicial matters, often those who are in this country illegally will not pay their debt to society after breaking the laws of this state or nation. They flee to their home country if they are granted bail or even parole. Allowing the courts to consider the immigration status of these defendants just makes good sense.”

The new law takes effect July 1 and provisions of this law can be applied to those defendants already in the court or correctional system.

# # # # #

Sen. John Douglas serves as Chairman of the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. He represents the 17th Senate District which includes Newton County and portions of Henry, Rockdale, Spalding and Walton counties.