Immigration

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Talk about unfortunate circumstances and timing. Today was the first congressional hearing on the "Gang of Eight" comprehensive immigration reform bill in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The anti-immigrant nativists of the GOP "Know Nothing Party" seized on the events in Boston as a ready excuse to oppose immigration reform.

Based upon numerous media sources (I would urge caution given the shameful performance of the media this week), the "Boston Bombers" are 26-year-old Tamerlan Tsarnaev, believed to be a permanent legal resident, and his brother, 19-year-old Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, a naturalized U.S. citizen.  The brothers are Muslims and ethnic Chechens. NBC news reported that the two are believed to have lived in the U.S. since 2002 or 2003 after coming to the country with their family, possibly as refugees.

That news prompted conservative critics to drag the events in Boston into the immigration debate. POLITICO Tiger Beat on the Potomac reports, Terrorism enters immigration debate:

Immigration reform faces a new hurdle — the Boston terrorist attack.

Conservative opponents pounced on news Friday that the two suspects in the case, Muslim brothers and ethnic Chechens, are believed to be legal permanent residents.

* * *

“We appreciate this opportunity to talk about immigration reform in light of all that has been happening in Massachusetts,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee Friday at an immigration reform hearing.

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., two members of the "Gang of Eight," plan to brief President Barack Obama on the group's comprehensive immigration reform biill on Tuesday. Senators had originally planned a high-profile rollout of their measure,
including a Tuesday morning news conference where they would be flanked
by immigration reform advocates. But the group opted to postpone the event late Monday because of bombings at the Boston Marathon. Schumer, McCain Issue Summary of Immigration Bill – Roll Call:

The bipartisan group of senators working on an immigration overhaul
proposal has released a 17-page summary of its bill, which includes a
provision that will exempt the children of unauthorized immigrants from a
$500 penalty charged to those seeking to have their status legalized.

[A Scribd copy of the 17 page summary is available here. Outline of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 (h/t Talking Points Memo).]

Under the bill, unauthorized immigrants may apply to receive legalized status, known as Registered Provisional Immigrant Status.

In order to be eligible, an individual must have immigrated to
the United States prior to Dec. 31, 2011, and maintained a continuous
physical presence since then.

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Beltway media villager meme for months now has been that the GOP will agree to comprehensive immigration reform after losing three-fourths of the Hispanic vote in 2012. The GOP allegedly has learned its lesson and now realizes that its ability to win national elections in the future depends upon appealing to Hispanic voters and understands the changing demographics of America.

Silly reporters, you don't understand how deep nativism and racism runs in America. it is America's original sin.

The only reason there has not been hysterical anti-immigrant opposition to comprehensive immigration reform up to now is because there has not been an actual bill around which to rally the opposition of the nativists and racists — timing is everything in politics.

That is about to change this week. The Senate's "Gang of Eight" is expected to unveil its comprehensive immigration reform bill this week.

The "Know Nothing Party" anti-immigrant nativists and the Dixiecrats-cum-"solid Republican South" racists are now gearing up for battle. Time to fire up the anti-immigrant hysteria of hate radio demagogues and FAUX News Fraudcasting.

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The darling of the Tea Party — and Beltway media villagers — Sen. Marco "Big Gulp" Rubio (R-FL), did the "full Ginsburg," er "full Rubio" to his Beltway media villager sycophants, on the Sunday bobblehead shows today. Have water handy! Out: Full Ginsburg. In: Full Rubio.

I really don't get why this freshman back bencher and intellectual lightweight garners so much fawning by the Beltway media villagers. Maybe it is because he is as shallow and vacuous as they are, kindred spirits of sorts. Talk about the "dumbing down" od America.

Sen. "Big Gulp," a member of the Gang of Eight (what is it with senators and their need for gang membership?), decried the use of "poison pill" amendments he expects from his fellow Tea-Publicans on immigration reform.Then turning on hs heel, Sen. "Big Gulp" endorsed the NRA "poison pill" amendment to kill the bipartisan background checks agreement reached by Sens. Manchin and Toomey.

The only principle that Sen. "big Gulp" believes in is his own self promotion for consideration as a presidential candidate in 2016. This Tea Party punk should focus on how to be a senator first. He is definitely not ready for prime time.

by David Safier I just watched the documentary, The Dream is Now, on MSNBC. Incredibly moving, filled with hope, sorrow and despair. I wasn't planning to watch it, but two minutes in, I couldn't tear myself away. The lives of the Dreamers followed by the film captured the human drama, and the waste of human … Read more