Wendlin wrote on May 20, 2007 8:19 PM:AS A LONG TIME RESIDENT OF SAN DIEGO, THE SIMPLE AND BEST SOLUTION IS TO CLOSE THE GAPS IN OUR BORDER WITH CANADA AND MEXICO. NOTHING CAN WORK RIGHT UNTIL THE BORDER AREAS ARE PROPERLY SECURED. BELIEVE ME, I LIVE HERE AND SEE THE PROBLEMS EVERY DAY. AND THEY ARE GETTING WORSE. IMMIGRATION IS FINE IF IT IS CONTROLLED. CURRENTLY IT IS NOT.THE SOLUTION IS SO SIMPLE.

Mary wrote on May 20, 2007 8:24 PM: Here are some reasons why the bill is dangerous for our country: The immigration bill unveiled yesterday by the Senate, which would grant amnesty to virtually every illegal alien in the country, plus an unknown number of their relatives, amounts to a complete sell-out of the interests of the American public, declared the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). The Senate bill, S. 1348, includes immediate and irrevocable benefits for tens of millions of illegal aliens, access to low-wage foreign labor for business interests, and nothing but more worthless promises to the American public that the government would enforce immigration laws in the future. S. 1348, which the Senate is expected to vote on as early as Monday, was hammered out behind closed doors, bypassing the hearings process or any assessment of the fiscal, labor market or environmental impact. The bill would grant amnesty to nearly every illegal alien in the United States as well as children and elderly parents who may be residing outside the country. Within 24 hours of filing an application, illegal aliens would be granted work authorization and relief from possible deportation, without any background checks. In addition, the legislation calls for the admission of 400,000 additional "guest workers" plus their dependent family members each year, some of whom will be permitted to remain permanently. "In agreeing to this bill, the United States Senate has broken every promise that has been made to the American people," charged Dan Stein, president of FAIR. "The bill reneges on promises that amnesty would never again be offered to people who are in this country illegally; it violates commitments that Congress has made to protect the interests of American workers; and it compromises the security of this nation by granting legal status to people who may pose a threat to the nation. Adding to the betrayal, this surrender of the public interest was negotiated by senators who had personally pledged, as recently as last year, never to agree to any bill that includes amnesty." The provisions of the bill that call for tougher immigration enforcement in the future were described by FAIR as "worthless and an insult to the intelligence of the American public." The 2007 version of immigration reform contains the identical set of promises to secure the borders, establish a verifiable worker identification system, and enact penalties for employers who hire illegal aliens that Congress and successive administrations have made and broken countless times over the past 20 years. "The security and enforcement provisions are less than meaningless. They will either not be funded, endlessly delayed, or ignored all together," Stein declared. "While tens of millions of illegal aliens will reap rewards and enjoy access to the courts to appeal any denial of benefits, the American public gets shafted with no avenue for appeal." FAIR is calling upon the Senate to delay voting on S. 1348 until the bill receives a full public hearing, and until a thorough study of its impact is completed. "This is a bill that will quite literally affect the future of this nation. Its ramifications deserve more than a weekend's review on the part of the people who will vote on it," said Stein.

Melissa wrote on May 20, 2007 8:28 PM:Romney is right. That is bill is ridiculous.

Paul/prying1 wrote on May 20, 2007 9:49 PM:When will the politicians enforce the laws already on the books? - The first thing they should be doing is sending the ILLEGAL ALIEN criminals in our jail system back to their respective countries. - Tighten up on the Student Visas and Visitors that overstay their welcome. Build the wall on the fast track and throw the owners of companies that are hiring the ILLEGALS into the hoosegow. We don't need no stinking Immigration Bill! We need our stinking elected officials to stand behind the laws we have now...

American woman wrote on May 21, 2007 10:01 AM:It's hard to immagine trusting any of these people who supposedly represent us in DC. One of my greatest concerns is that politicians want to throw money at issues, in this instance, hoping that a large figure will convince WE, THE PEOPLE that those who have invaded our country will suffer greatly the monetary loss...that it will be harsh PUNISHMENT for their transgressions. Puh-leeeeeze! This theory just can't fly with us! We speak in billions and trillions of dollars these days! Why would a $5,000. fine seem equitable to us? Especially since we want the intruders deported back to their own countries! One thing that rarely comes up in these articles is the reality of what it's like to have to live among third-world type individuals with a cultural background very much opposed to our own! I have witnessed the ruination of once-pleasant communities by an overwhelming influx of illegal aliens here in Riverside County. We see it everywhere in the Southwestern states! These folks are thrilled with their new lots in life, while we are appalled at the lifestyles they insert into our daily existences. The cultural and sociological differences are glaring! For whatever reason, WE, THE PEOPLE are expected to bend to the whims of the invaders! There will never be peace among us as long as our own government insists on our co-existence with millions of poor, uneducated people. On top of all of this, is the part that outside forces play in the equation! There are many, many Latino/Mexicano factions working against America for the continuing flow of illegal aliens into our sovereign nation. There are the radical, racially driven members of La Raza [NCLR], MALDEF, LULAC, MAPA and the thug children of MEChA. Then we have Southern Pverty Law, and the flakes at the ACLU! All these organizations are backed by BIG MONEY! Remember to consider the current Administration's plan for the North American Union [NAU], which springs from the Security and Prosperity Partnership, agreed-upon by Canada's Paul Martin, Mexico's Vicente Fox and our own anti-American, President George W. Bush! Back on 3/24 of 2005, these three men signed a pact forming the SPP. The Congress has yet to be informed on the purpose or future of this government agency, www.spp.gov

Reality.... wrote on May 21, 2007 8:56 PM:I'd say this gentleman will be the next Republican Nominee...Poor John Mcain, he lost my vote when he posed with Ted Kennedy.

Greg in Oceanside wrote on May 21, 2007 9:37 PM:As of May 18 we had approximately 3803 inmates in our jails here in San Diego County. Of that population 1459 (or 33.36 percent) were listed as Latino, which was the largest racial group represented. The last time I checked the US Census, whites were the largest racial group. These statistics speak volumes of what Latinos are doing to our communities, which is why we should oppose any amnesty programs. Amnesty would grant conditional citizenship to the thousands of illegal alien gang members in all of our communities throughout the country. We must fight any/all attempts to pass any sort of legislation that would grant amnesty and citizenship to illegal aliens. Our children's future is at stake. Granting amnesty would also allow illegal aliens the right to tap into all social security benefits that we've been paying into while they have not. We need to stop granting automatic citizenship to babies born to illegal aliens, commonly referred to as “anchor babies.” The time is upon us to preserve what is left of our sovereign nation before it is too late. Please write your Senator and Congressman and express your concerns and put a stop to the chaos that is happening in Washington.