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Home Front: WoT
Deporting illegals "not practical"
2005-11-15
In defending President Bush's so-called "guest worker" program for illegal aliens – which critics have dubbed an amnesty program – Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff says it's just not practical to deport the millions of foreigners in the country illegally. "The cost of identifying all of those people and sending them back would be stupendous. It would be billions and billions of dollars," Chertoff told Sean Hannity on the Fox News Channel program "Hannity & Colmes" last night.
We'd probably have to cancel a bridge or two.

"One of the reasons I think that we've been focusing on the idea of a temporary worker program as part of a larger strategy for border security is because it would be a way to siphon off people who really want to do nothing more than work here, put them into a regulated program – we would know who they are – we would then be able to send them back at the end of a period of three years or six years. They would have made some money, they could take it back home, and then we could focus our other resources on the people that don't want to do it the right way, and we could get those people sent out."

Hannity challenged Chertoff, saying such a plan rewards those who "didn't respect our laws and sovereignty." Asked the talk-show host: "Why don't we say, no, you're here illegally, you didn't respect our laws, you ought to go home?"

Chertoff again appealed to the issue of cost, saying, " Sean, you know, it's really an issue of practicality. I mean, as a practical matter, we've got to identify these people and pull them out of the shadows."

The Homeland Security chief emphasized that Bush's plan "is not an amnesty." Said Chertoff: "The president's proposal is not a path to citizenship. It's clearly temporary, and it clearly envisions people who would have to commit to go back. 
 What this would let us do is acknowledge the reality that we've got hundreds and thousands of employers all over this country who are employing illegal aliens. Sometimes, individual citizens employing people in their home."

When Hannity suggested quadrupling the number of Border Patrol agents to help deal with the flood of illegals coming across the southern border, Chertoff pointed to training constraints. "Right now, our capacity for training really is fully stretched," the official said. "Because it is obviously not an easy job, to train a Border Patrol agent. It's very dangerous work on the border." Chertoff emphasized that since 9-11, the number of Border Patrol personnel has increased by 3,000.

The homeland security chief said he believes there will be a point in the future – using new technology and infrastructure, and more agents – when the border will be impenetrable. "I think we have a day coming," he told Hannity. "I can't give you dates. It is not going to happen overnight."
Well, I'm here to tell you now each and ev'ry mother's son
You better learn it fast; you better learn it young,
'Cause, "Someday" Never Comes."
Posted by:Jackal

#6  This is a fact conveniently buried by the mainstream media. this was passed at a time when Illinois can't pay its mediacre bills and has massive budget woes.

Well that's pretty damned stupid. Can't pay the bills and have cash flow problems, and the governor signs into law some bill guaranteeing health care for some segment of the population? How about denial of federal money to states that enact these sorts of "shelter" laws?
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2005-11-15 23:19  

#5  DuPage Republicans are getting pretty bad too.
Saw most of my township dweebs (Milton) is being indicted.

Posted by: 3dc   2005-11-15 22:54  

#4  'Moose, ya stole my thunder with your points. Chertoff has no imagination, creativity, or he is being held back from above.

How's this for a plan?
1. Seal the Friggin Border™ North and South. This will involve structures, sensors, border patrol personnel, the army, the navy, the seabees, whatever. That will stem the inflow.
2. Put the screws on employment. Make it expensive and criminal for employers to hire illegals. Now the illegals can't make the money in the country.
3. Nobody born in this country is an automatic citizen unless the parents are citizens.
4. No free healthcare or schools for illegals.
5. Free transportation for illegals back to ....somewhere. No questions asked.

You stem the influx, you take the financial rewards away from the illegals, so the problem starts sorting itself out. Illegals here have no chance of getting a guest worker card. Start afresh. People like Chertoff or that horse custodian FEMA guy are just bureacrats. We need can-do no-nonsense problem-solvers like General Honare. **Takes a Valium to calm down**
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2005-11-15 22:10  

#3  #2 On self-deporting -- alas the Democrats have got the good guys beaten there too. I live in Illinois and the Governor Blowjobovitch has just signed into law the "All Kids healthcare" bill which might as well be called the "Illegal Alien Magnet" bill since it guarantees healthcare to all kids regardless of legal status. This is a fact conveniently buried by the mainstream media. this was passed at a time when Illinois can't pay its mediacre bills and has massive budget woes.
Posted by: Jarong Angaviper4129 2005-11-15 21:54


When I die I'd like to return to Illinois and be burried in Cook County so that I may remain active in politics.
Posted by: SouthernIllinoian   2005-11-15 22:01  

#2  On self-deporting -- alas the Democrats have got the good guys beaten there too. I live in Illinois and the Governor Blowjobovitch has just signed into law the "All Kids healthcare" bill which might as well be called the "Illegal Alien Magnet" bill since it guarantees healthcare to all kids regardless of legal status. This is a fact conveniently buried by the mainstream media. this was passed at a time when Illinois can't pay its mediacre bills and has massive budget woes.
Posted by: Jarong Angaviper4129   2005-11-15 21:54  

#1  The alternative to deportation is to deny them employment and benefits. Without them, they will "deport" themselves. Many already pass back and forth across the border almost freely, on a semi-annual basis or more.

Therefore, something like the RICO law, allowing for triple damages against employers hiring illegals needs to be put in place. Combined with a guest worker program, it still needs a way to get rid of those who either come here just for the largesse, or with evil intent, such as the MS-13.

"Possession" of an illegal worker could also be a crime, that is, providing any shelter, remuneration, non-public services, or any other offering made by an employer.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2005-11-15 21:07  

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