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| When asked about figures released by the Pew Hispanic Center that demonstrated 14% of the nation’s construction workers are illegal aliens, Harry Reid responded, “That may be some place, but it’s not here in Nevada.” Reid is right. The number is much higher in Nevada. According to the same report, Nevada has the highest level of illegal aliens in the workforce at 12.2%—2.3% higher than the next highest state. |
Harry Reid’s advancing dementia became quite obvious recently when he used the Race card in a feeble attempt to paint all Republicans as anti-Hispanic bigots.
As reported at alternet.com, in part, Harry’s words of wisdom were:
"I don't know how anyone of Hispanic heritage could be a Republican, OK," said the ranking Democrat at a campaign event with Latino supporters earlier this week. "Do I need to say more?"
Actually, Harry, you did say quite a lot more on the floor of the U.S. Senate when you declared that illegal aliens (90% Hispanic) are scam artists and free loaders.
Surely you remember this classless diatribe from just few years ago?
Your office released the following statements (in bold) concerning illegal immigration:
“In response to increased terrorism and abuse of social programs by aliens, (I) today introduced the first and only comprehensive immigration reform bill in Congress. Currently, an alien living illegally in the United States often pays no taxes but receives unemployment, welfare, free medical care, and other federal benefits. Recent terrorist acts, including the World Trade Center bombing, have underscored the need to keep violent criminals out of the country.”
Your bill, Senator Reid, titled the “Immigration Stabilization Act,” would overhaul the nation's immigration laws, and calls for a massive scale-down of immigrants allowed into the country. The bill also changes asylum laws to prevent phony asylum seekers.
The senator said the U.S. open door policy is being abused at the expense of honest, working citizens.
The senator continued:
"We are a country founded upon fairness and justice. An individual in real threat of torture or long-term incarceration because of his or her political beliefs can still seek asylum. But this bill closes the door to those who want to abuse America's inherent generosity and legal system.”
"Our borders have overflowed with illegal immigrants placing tremendous burdens on our criminal justice system, schools and social programs. The Immigration and Naturalization Service needs the ability to step up enforcement. Our federal wallet is stretched to the limit by illegal aliens getting welfare, food stamps, medical care, and other benefits often without paying any taxes.”
“Safeguards like welfare and free medical care are in place to boost Americans in need of short-term assistance. These programs were not meant to entice freeloaders and scam artists from around the world. Even worse, Americans have seen heinous crimes committed by individuals who are here illegally.”
Specific provisions proposed by the senator in the Immigration Stabilization Act include:
* Reduces annual legal immigration levels. Relatives other than spouse or minor children admitted only if already on immigration waiting lists and their admission does not raise annual immigration levels above approved level.
* Reforms asylum rules to prevent aliens from entering the United States illegally under phony "asylum" claims.
* Expands list of felonies considered "aggravated" felonies requiring exclusion and deportation of criminal aliens. Allows courts to order deportation at time of sentencing.
* Increases penalties for failing to depart or re-entering the United States after a final order of deportation order. Increases maximum penalties for visa fraud from five years to 10 years.
* Curtails alien smuggling by authorizing interdiction and repatriation of aliens seeking to enter the United States unlawfully by sea. Increases penalties for alien smuggling.
* Adds "alien smuggling" to the list of crimes subject to sanctions under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
* Expands the categories of property that are forfeited when used to facilitate the smuggling or harboring of illegal aliens.
* Clarifies that a person born in the United States to an alien mother who is not a lawful resident is not a U.S. citizen. This will eliminate incentive for pregnant alien women to enter the United States illegally, often at risk to mother and child, for the purpose of acquiring citizenship for the child and accompanying federal financial benefits.
* Mandates that aliens who cannot demonstrably support themselves without public or private assistance are excludable. This will prevent admission of aliens likely to be dependent on public financial support. This requirement extends to the sponsor of any family sponsored immigrant.
* Increases border security and patrol officer positions."
For the record, Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) introduced the Immigration Stabilization Act in the United States Senate in 1993. The statements quoted above are from a press release issued by Reid’s office on August 5, 1993.
In view of Reid’s anti-immigrant stance, the proper question is: How can any Hispanic be a supporter of Harry Reid?
Source: http://levin.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NjJmNzE3MTg5MDJhYzM4OTM5OGMwOGM5ZTNhYzJlYmE