-
SEQUESTER: The Horror!
March 1, 2013 | 4 comments
-
SOTU Preview: Human Props, Budget Fights, and Wedge Issues
February 12, 2013 | 0 comments
-
Hello, I Must Be Going
August 14, 2012 | 18 comments
-
Weekend Political Wrap-Up, Paul Ryan Edition
August 12, 2012 | 16 comments
-
Esquire Blogger Sees Paul Ryan, Shreds His Safety Net
August 11, 2012 | 13 comments
The Spectacle Blog
Remember the amnesty memos? The leaked documents that showed officials in the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agency discussing an Obama administration end-run around Congress to implement an administrative amnesty for untold numbers of illegal immigrants? It turns out that USCIS wasn’t alone.
TAS has obtained a draft of a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) memo that sources say eventually made it all the way up to Secretary Janet Napolitano talking about doing much the same thing — except in much greater technical detail and with more attention to the political ramifications. The idea is that the first phase of a program to legalize illegal immigrants could be implemented by DHS even in the absence of “comprehensive immigration reform.” Or, as the memo puts it, by “using administrative measures to sidestep the current state of Congressional gridlock and inertia.”
The memo emphasizes registering, fingerprinting, and screening the illegal immigrant population (“excluding individuals who pose a security risk”) but the administrative processes envisioned involve giving eligible illegal immigrants work permits and an interim process to “legalize those who qualify and intend to stay here.” The memo does acknowledge Congress would have to act to extend permanent lawful residence.
“If going forward with a larger registration program is not possible,” the document obtained by TAS says, “we could propose a narrowly-tailored registration program for individuals eligible for relief under the DREAM Act, AgJOBS, or other specifically designed subcategories.” The DREAM Act and AgJOBS are pieces of legislation — targeted amnesties — that Congress has not voted to pass.
Most of this is consistent with the USCIS memos reported on earlier, except there is a lot more concern over how Congress will react: “The Secretary would face criticism that she is abdicating her charge to enforce the immigration laws. Internal complaints of this type from career DHS officers are likely and may also be used in the press to bolster the criticism.”
Like with the USCIS memo, the administration is likely to argue that this just reflects internal deliberations rather than any official policy. And this document is a draft that could have been modified as it moved up the chain of command. More to follow.
View all comments (31) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by W. James Antle, III
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/09/16/department-of-homeland-securit
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
ADVERTISEMENT
Oldefarte| 9.16.10 @ 4:15PM
This is typically informational and instructive as to what they [this administration] is doing; but collectively, it is [as everyone here knows] well beyond the pale of rationality [and possibly legality]. I would be most appreciative if you or any bloggers here would provide their thoughts/information/knowledge/expertise regarding the possible charge of IMPEACHMENT being brought forth after the November elections [which will hopefully provide a Republican House and Senate]!!!!!
Jonah| 9.16.10 @ 5:46PM
RINOs favor amnesty, too.
C Bowen| 9.16.10 @ 5:55PM
Thank you soccermoms and neocons for the DHS.
albert constantine jr.| 9.16.10 @ 6:20PM
As I recall, prior to the development of DHS, the Citizenship & Immigration Service was known as the INS, and was located in the Justice Department. As despicable as Janet Napolitano and her ilk are, had this function remained in the DOJ, all illegal would have already been granted citizenship and registered to vote in NYC, unless as they agreed to vote for a referendum (en Espanol) to hold the 9/11 terrorist trials (i.e. the Bush/Cheney war crimes hearings) there.
albert constantine jr.| 9.16.10 @ 6:22PM
please change "illegal" to "illegals", strike "unless" and substitute "as long"
MtTopPatriot| 9.16.10 @ 7:01PM
Bet my right testicle there is not a single mention or consideration concerning WE THE PEOPLE and our sovereign place in this Republic. This is a government constructed conspiracy to circumnavigate the rule of law, the will of the people, and how our Constitution forbids in no uncertain terms the abdication of the rule of law at the convenience of tyranny and gerrymander on a scale that dwarfs anything in history.
You treasonous SOB's behind this tyranny are playing with fire. You think we are fed up with the cultural corruption and tyranny infesting America now?
JK| 11.13.10 @ 2:11PM
What happend to your Right testicle ??? That means you are only 50% sure of what you are saying ???
Margie| 9.16.10 @ 7:39PM
"DHS contemplates Amnesty by Executive Fiat."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6_1Pw1xm9U
Jeremiah| 9.16.10 @ 10:55PM
Gotta get those new democrat voters ready by 2012!
Kevin| 11.13.10 @ 2:10PM
Not necessarily if it is a joint effort by both parties, I bet you, both parties would receive votes in the future. This is not to say that if amnesty is granted that all those millions will only vote for the dems. Do you think all the illegals are poor ??? Yeah a major percentage might, but you have no clue as to how many wealthy foreigners from the rest of the world are here illegally. The main focus is on the mexicans who are farmers, janitors and landscapers. You can't even imagine how many well educated people are here illegally and guess what they have well pated jobs. The only absence is that they are out of status and can't travel overseas.
Blackwatch| 9.17.10 @ 12:17AM
Doing an end run around our immigration laws so you can register millions of more illegal Democrat socialist voters??
Pig.
Timothy L. Pennell| 9.17.10 @ 8:16AM
It's gonna happen. This Administration is LAWLESS. Ask the BONDHOLDERS for GM and Chrysler. They had LEGAL, BINDING CONTRACTS, and the Muslim in the White House SPIT ON THEM.
It may be time to get ready for a Second Amendment moment. THIS is why the Founders wanted us ARMED. This is not a Democratic Administration. It is fast becoming DICTATORIAL. It's time for FREEDOM LOVING PEOPLE to ARM themselves. Our Founding Fathers did not risk all, so that we could slip in to DESPOTISM. In fact, they gave us the SECOND Amendment, to make sure we wouldn't.
SIC SEMPER TYRANNUS!
Stan Redmond| 9.17.10 @ 9:18AM
If only the administration was this concerned about the well being of productive American citizens. We will remove all roadblocks to illegal immigrant (not even legal immigrants) amnesty while at the same time throwing landmines and barbwire for success.
thegsmiths4| 9.17.10 @ 9:56AM
I hate to say it, but this is not the first amnesty bill and Obama's administration is not the first one involved.
The administrations from both sides of the aisle have had amnesty bills, big and small. Some passed, others didn't.
The difference is that the Repubs go about it openly while the Dems go behind our backs.
The last time the Repubs tried it, over 50% (75%? ) of the country let their representatives know they were against the bill. The opposition to it was just as big as the one against health care. The Repubs listened to the people and did not pass their bill.
Now it is the Dems turn, and true to type, they are ignoring the will of the people they are supposed to represent and going behind our backs.
shipley130| 9.17.10 @ 4:36PM
How would DHS know who is a security risk if they are illegal, undocumented, immigration law breaking people? Priceless.
JK| 11.13.10 @ 2:17PM
They run em' against a FBI and world database of people on the list. What is the big problem with getting these people held accoutable for their actions in the future. Why would you want to live amongst people you don't know their intentions or background ? Won't you feel safer to have all the people around you documented so that in the event of any mishap, you know who it is and where to get them ? Legalizing them only gives them a paper/status but from then on they are held responsible for their actions. They have been a part of our society for the las 23 years since the 1986 amnesty so why not hold them accountable and make them pay for being here ?
Maureen Borinski| 9.18.10 @ 12:56AM
Why do you morons slam the dems for all of this when it was a Republican who granted amensty last, and the Republicans didn't do a thing to help the situation the whole time the criminals Bush/Cheney were in office???
JACK| 11.13.10 @ 2:29PM
:~) Well Said Maureen !
goodprez| 9.18.10 @ 9:05AM
Amnesty TODAY! amnesty NOW! amnesty TOMORROW! Amnesty FOREVER!
June| 9.20.10 @ 5:24PM
Traitors one and all who will sacrifice our beloved country and its people to illegal aliens and anti-American organizations. Call your reps and vote the weasels out in November. We must take our country back. We can do no less for our founding fathers who gave us the guiding principles by which we should live. Turning our nation into a diverse mess, filled with criminals, was never their intention.
Pat| 9.20.10 @ 10:09PM
Maureen: You sound just like another "Let's blame Bush" Democrat.
Since 1965, our U.S. Government, led by Senator Teddy Kennedy, passed the Immigration Reform Act, which bumped annual immigration from 100,000 to 1.2 to 1.5 million annually from third world countries. As the U.S. filled up with poverty-prone citizens, President Lyndon Baines Johnson passed the Great Society Act that handed out welfare checks, housing, free lunches and food stamps like candy on Halloween to millions of new-comers. Our national debt exceeded $1.1 trillion by the end of his term.
What a wonderful gift the Dems have handed America huh? If the democrats give amnesty to millions of illegal foriegn nationals, they are through. The mask is already off, most Americans see them for what they really are. The American people will not forget those who turned their backs on us and voted for amnesty. All illegal alien pandering politicians WILL get the boot in 2010 & 2012
Fred| 9.21.10 @ 12:16AM
The President could extend TPS to all illegal aliens before the November election. If that should happen, America will be flooded with poor people asking for TPS or asylum. If after the election, it will be done before the new members join Congress in January 2011.
JK| 11.13.10 @ 2:25PM
Fred, these so called poor people have more money in their pocket than you and the average American Joe. Not putting you down or anything but just adressing your views on "poor". Most Americans live of borrowed money (Credit Cards) however these so called "poor" people have cash. Have you heard the saying, CASH IS KING? And mind you, I have seen very wealthy illegals who are here and doing top dollar jobs. Alot of them are much higher educated and have jobs that the locals can't even qualify for. The trouble they are here illegally is because their countries don't support growth and the legal process takes decades. Check out the government website to see how a foreigner can qualify for a work visa or a green card and see if you could make it yourself.
Mary| 9.21.10 @ 1:00AM
Please let your elected representatives know you do not want them pass any sort of legalization or amnesty like Dream act. Senate will vote Tuesday on a bill that contains the Dream Act. We need instead to vote in people that will make E-Verify mandatory to check each and every job in the US, existing and future.
JACK| 11.13.10 @ 2:28PM
Mary, you believe in Santa Claus, don't you ???
You think the elected representatives give a damn about you and I ??? That is a big joke that is keeping people alive for many centuries.
Bill| 9.21.10 @ 6:40AM
This is proof that the democrats fully intend to subvert The United States Constitution and our Federal Laws. Folks, it's time for all American Citizens to stand up and demand the "Impeachment" of Barrack Obama and demand the removal of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. It's also time to declare open season on all Progressives in America.
Pat| 9.21.10 @ 10:05AM
Go here to send free fax to your Reps:
www.numbersusa.com
Take America back in 2010 & 2012, give the boot to Dems & RINOS!