Hispanic Lawmakers Disagree On Immigration Reform Strategy

Roll Call:

A disconnect is growing among Hispanic lawmakers over the strategy for moving comprehensive immigration reform, with some pressuring President Barack Obama to push legislation this summer and others acknowledging the issue likely will have to wait until after the midterm elections.

Some leading voices in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus are becoming increasingly aggressive in their calls for Obama to demand immigration legislation this year.

Read the whole story: Roll Call

Comments

[de-meme-ing]

11:32 PM on 04/21/2010

I can't help but wonder about the millions of American citizens whose lives have been ruined by the economy, with no chance to ever recover.

People have lost their homes, entire life savings, retirement plans, have lived out their credit, and worse.....................lost their health insurance after having paid into it for many many years.

Poof! Gone.

Millions have lost these things at an age where they will never be able to recoup them even if the economy rebounds, which it won't for some years to come. They will finish their lives in poverty, having worked hard all their lives. I pause, and it saddens me. What will happen to them?

Does anyone care?

I am not interested in the plight of the illegal immigrants. What about American citiznes?

I find this article, and all the other articles on the Huffingtonpost supporting illegal immigrants, offensive.

[de-meme-ing]

07:34 PM on 04/21/2010

It is no wonder that the Hispanic, and Latin community will attempt to force amnesty, given the Arizon law recently enacted in regards to illegal immigrants.

I didn't know that SCOTUS had determined that racial programing was perfectly legal, unanimously.

If there is even a hint that Obama will grant amnesty, thousands upon thousand will cross the border, as they have in past amnesties.

It is unfair for a one group to hold another hostage, to suit their unjust purpose.

But people being who people sometimes are, it is not surprising.

[DeaconJoey]

05:43 PM on 04/21/2010

I wonder what Gutierrez is doing to help get enough votes for comprehensive immigration reform... besides publicly demanding Obama drops everything he's doing (like the nuke agreement, financial reform, etc) and focus exclusively on illegal aliens?

[calhar]

04:03 PM on 04/21/2010

Its clear why hispanic lawmakers disagree on strategy.They are biased and would rather see none at all.

[de-meme-ing]

12:45 PM on 04/21/2010

Part 1
The law must exist. It must exist within the minds of man, and it must exist with a will toward "rational" mercy, compassion, and empathy as the circumstances arise for those qualities to be "rationally" applied.

Neither illegal immigration, or amnesty is rational. They do not prevent harm, they cause harm. They cause harm to those who uphold the law, and value the law. They cause harm, unjustly.

And yet, the law must never become a tyrant. It is the very tyranny of the law that brought the Declaration of Independence, Preamble, and Constitution into being, in that order. There is first a declaration of indepence, then a preamble that defines what that declaration means, then a constititution that supports those values as law. This is a country of "We the people", a country of "law", not independent rogues, no matter their number, not a rogue state.

As Madheart, in another post, points out rightfully, the very fabric of our society is being torn apart by the "selfish interests" of "special interests". This tyranny of another kind isn't just confined to the issue of immigration; Wall Street/Corporations and foreign interests are destroying our economy.

There are those individuals, perhaps millions, who will never recover from this current financial crisis; their lives are ruined. This is injustice at its' worse.

Let us get the terminology straight. Let us take a stand. Let us peacefully protest. Be rational, be intelligent.

[de-meme-ing]

12:45 PM on 04/21/2010

Part 2

Post your thoughts on your Face Book/My Space and emails. Grass root protest at it's finest. Get a dialog going. Provide links to those sites that most express your values, or quotes. Be rational, be intelligent. Peacefully protest. Remind others of those values. It is not rational, nor intelligent to give your country, or it's values, away

[de-meme-ing]

10:30 AM on 04/21/2010

Part 1
The problem, as I see it, is that patriotism has become a dirty word. We went from Tokyo Rose, to Hanoi Jane, with the MaCarthy ear sandwiched in between. Trying to flee one extreme we have come to embrace another.



Treason can't exit without an enemy, and the USA, with its' loafty purpose for it's citizenry, as defined in the Declaration of Independence, Preamble and Constitution can't exist without the acknowledgement that an enemy potentially exist. If an enemy exists it must be identified rationally and intelligently, else we have another McCarthy era; injustice, scapegoats.

As individuals we either support the US constition or we don't; we can't have it both ways. If we don't support the Constitution which foundation is built upon the principle "We the people, in order to form a more perfect union" we are an enemy of law and order; hence the state.

The word(s) becomes flesh and dwells amongst us; we embrace them or we don't. There is no in between or there is chaos. Currently, the USA is in extreme chaos, and not just from immigrants. Wall Street, and Corporate welfare kings have become the biggest violators of the intentions of the USA Constitition.

[de-meme-ing]

10:29 AM on 04/21/2010

Part2
Illegal immigration is irrational; it is anti law and order by its' very definition

Amnesty is irrational: Amnesty by its' very definition derives from the word amnesia. We will either embrace law and order or "forget about it", become gansters. Amnesty is perpetuating the cycle of disorder. The law is being encouraged to be violated over and over; where does it stop? Where does it spread if the words becomes flesh and dwells amongst us?

Dual citizenship is irrational; it demands no loyality. Heaven and hell exists simultaneously in one place.

No part of the citizenship has a right to hold another part of the citizenship hostage to their irrational demands.

Patriotism is not a dirty word. We are a country of law and order or we are not.


When discussing immigration, legal or not, we must remain intelligent and rational. Peaceful protest.

[MadHeart]

10:39 AM on 04/21/2010

Very well said. And I don't know where you fall on the ideological scale, either.

[taxpaying]

11:27 AM on 04/21/2010

BRAVO!! 'Illegal immigration' is ILLEGAL and if we are a country of laws written to give liberty and justice to all, when did the all become anyone who isn't a legal immigrant? Legal citizens are prosecuted and jailed for breaking the law, not given immunity from prosecution, in trying to give their family a better life but illegal immigrants are to be rewarded because it's the moral thing to do? The moral thing to do is to make certain every legal citizen in this country can before handing citizenship over for votes.

Amnesty was sold to the public by Reagan as not solving but easing illegal entry. Opponents said it would increase illegal entry because they would say, they did it once they'll do it again. Who was right?

Voted Democratic most of my life but when people like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi make comments that it is un-American to enforce our immigration laws, not sure why I ever did. Those who entered illegally don't keep coming because it isn't beneficial to them.

[MadHeart]

10:23 AM on 04/21/2010

Why all this talk about "reuiniting families" of illegal immigrants when US families are falling apart, including my own, because we have no jobs, can't afford college, and have no alternatives? I'm not kidding about this--working class and poor families are literally falling apart while employers continue to hire and work illegal immigrants.

[de-meme-ing]

11:07 AM on 04/21/2010

I agree, but may I add that they are not so much 'falling apart' as it is that they are being pushed between the cracks; or better said, shoved into the gapping holes that has arisen in the very fabric of our country.

We can continue to be a generous country, we can continue to speak out against the worlds many injustices; but we cannot, and must not impose our values onto another and more important lose sight of those values ourselves.

Opportunity wins converts. When the opportunity to illegally enter the country exists, there will always be those who will advantage themselves of that opportunity. The opportunity to violate immigration laws exists consensually in the minds of many American citizens; including not just legal immigrants. The squeaky wheel will get the grease.

Politicians want the grease of money and power. It is rare indeed to find a politician who serves for the pure purpose of patriotism. Money, like water follows the path of least resistance, hence, illegal immigration will also follow the path of least resistance.

[MadHeart]

11:24 AM on 04/21/2010

Well, I did mean literally falling apart. Divorce, bankruptcy, homelessness, separation of families in order to qualify for services and so forth, even the current political debates are tearing families apart. I enjoy meeting from people from other countries and learning about the world outside the US, and consider myself a very liberal person and a humanist, but not on this issue, which begets so many others. If we cannot ensure jobs and pay for the safety net for our own citizens without having to trim budgets and services, how can we do it for those who take advantage of what has become a sort of industry in and of itself?

[hjo4]

10:20 AM on 04/21/2010

So-called immigration reform will never happen, rightfully so. Americans of all stripes are against anything that will reward those who planned, plotted and violated our immigration laws so they could better their lives. You don't break the law then demand to be rewarded. We Americans have be indoctrinated with the belief that "There is NEVER any reason to break the law" and if you do be prepared to face the consequences of your actions. Why do those who violated our laws and their supporters believe illegal aliens should be exempt from being held accountable.

[taxpaying]

11:54 AM on 04/23/2010

Amnesty was already given under the Reagan Administration and was sold to the citizens as not a means of fixing the issue but of slowing it. Opponents said it would lead to more illegal entry since they would say the USA did it once they'll do it again. Who was right?

The financial crisis should be a signal to those of us who still believe what were indoctrinated to believe that those were just words that have evolved to being meaningless, except for marketing purposes. I was taught by my parents that two wrongs don't make a right, but, I asked them what about 2 people who illegally enter this country, doesn't that make the right of a legal citizen in their child?

[USAFVET76]

10:07 AM on 04/21/2010

Hispanic lawmakers like Gutierrez are more interested in protecting and defending illegals, than Americans or America.

Shameful.

[Budokan]

09:55 AM on 04/21/2010

I demand conservatives admit their innate racial intolerance toward POC.

[Cooliman]

10:03 AM on 04/21/2010

And the HP is the perfect place to demand it.

[de-meme-ing]

10:39 AM on 04/21/2010

Shall ;they then embrace your rhetoric of discrimination? Shall they then embrace the gangster mentality of these "special interests" groups?

[randyjet]

09:52 AM on 04/21/2010

The threat to stay away from the polls is good and I hope that they DO that. Then Congress will enact strict enforcment and make it impossible for illegals to stay here. THAT should make Rep. Gutierrez day. The same goes for gays, Staying at home will be the best gift to those who oppose them.

[Cooliman]

10:04 AM on 04/21/2010

Don't worry, if you're Latino and gay you can go shopping.

[HeartT]

09:12 AM on 04/21/2010

I'm of the mind that when the economy is working for all, people are less angry, thereby the immigration debalte will be less volatile. I am certainly for immigration reform, but feel that the country's economic environment is not conducive for a civil debate. Not that the crazies won't hold their tongue no matter what the environment, but in a more stable economy, those empty and loud voices could have less impact, and will provide the media, while it will certainly be focused on the loud and negative, to at least mention a more postive angle.

[de-meme-ing]

10:42 AM on 04/21/2010

Isn't tht just promoting the violation of civil law, by distracting its' violation with money? Bribery.

[jwoww]

08:30 AM on 04/21/2010

It's pleasing to read on this progressive rag that the anger over illegal immigrants is growing. Hopefully DC will listen to the people this time and start enforcing illegal immigration laws, heavily fine companies that knowingly hire illegals and start rounding them up and sending them back.

With UE at 10%+ and expected to stay there for a long time the jobs that "no Amercian wanted" are a lot more attractive now.

Illegals are a huge drain on national and state budgets - time to get rid of them is now.

[MadHeart]

08:39 AM on 04/21/2010

In Charlotte, NC, which has a large Hispanic population consisting mostly of illegal immigrants, the budget for schools is strained beyond the limit. There are 2 main parts of the city they tend to congregate, open businesses, etc.--they are not hiding. Hundreds of teachers & teaching assistants have been laid off, there is a moratorium on building and renovations, salaries, and increasing class size. Yet another shortfall in the budget was stated on the news this morning which will require another 600 school personnel to be laid off next year. Since ESL is required for non-English speaking school children, along with regular schooling which requires interpreters for many, the strain on the budget is ensuring that all children will not get a decent education.

[USAFVET76]

10:10 AM on 04/21/2010

You are not alone. Its happening in every city to one degree or another. No where is it more costly than in California. They must go. And it doesn't take violence or profiling to make it happen. Its a simple problem with a simple solution.

But lawmakers would rather ignore the simple solution and pursue amnesty.

Any fed politician that supports amnesty for illegals is working against American interests. Reagen did it and it was a mistake. If these guys do it again..............its a disaster.

[konkyboy]

08:59 AM on 04/21/2010

I think the lawmakers in this article probably share the same goal.

They're just disagreeing on the strategy to achieve that goal.

Alot like the Republicans with Financial reform.

[de-meme-ing]

10:48 AM on 04/21/2010

Yes well the republicans have gotten a huge wake up call with Goldman's and Sacks.

The democrates need the same wake up call in regards to illegal immigration.

It is calling them, but they have thus far refused to listen, bringing the country and its' citizens into further despair. We can't carry the whole world on our shoulders, nor can we carry the despair of the Mexican pople on our shoulders. They must take responsibility for their own country and people.

Legal Mexican immigrants must embrace their new country, and its' people and Constitution. To do otherwise is unconscienable.