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Obama immigration plan may make 'illegal aliens' legal

Administration wants legalization program before November midterm elections

By
KELLY FINCHAM,
Irish Central.com Editor

Published Friday, November 13, 2009, 3:16 PM
Updated Saturday, November 14, 2009, 10:07 AM

 

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Immigration: Irish optimistic as Obama administration prepares push on legalization program
Immigration: Irish optimistic as Obama administration prepares push on legalization program

The undocumented Irish community in the U.S. received a major boost today with the announcement from the White House that it will push forward with a legalization program.

Homeland Security boss Janet Napolitano said the Obama administration is seeking a "tough but fair pathway to earned legal status."

Bart Murphy, the chairman of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, said he was encouraged by the move.

"I am encouraged to finally see some positive action from the (Obama) Administration and a commitment to deal with immigration reform sooner rather than later," he said.

"President Obama will need to do some really heavy lifting on this issue in Congress, the Senate and in the labor movement. There is a bi-partisan interest in immigration reform and it needs to be nurtured."

Napolitano's comments are the strongest possible signal from the White House that the administration wants to act on immigration before the mid-term elections in November.

Advocates on both sides of the debate had feared that Obama might postpone any action until after November.

However, Napolitano today made it very clear that the administration wants to move on this issue now.

Napolitano said the legalization was essential for the nation's security.

“Let me emphasize this,” she said. “We will never have fully effective law enforcement or national security as long as so many millions remain in the shadows.”

The White House plan would require illegal immigrants to register, pay fines and any outstanding taxes, pass a criminal background check and learn English.

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Posted by IrishAndProud on Mar 09, 2010, 02:56 PM EST
If Obama even so much as TRIES to make illegal aliens 'legal,' it will be merely one more nail in his already hefty political coffin.
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Posted by howareya on Jan 27, 2010, 12:16 PM EST
There are reasons why we have immigration rules. If they are more stringent now, there is a reason. There are millions of people that would love to come to this country...mostly from third world countries. We cannot take them all! Like I said before, it's like the lifeboats from the Titanic on the verge of sinking because of all the people climbing aboard.
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Posted by plasticpaddy on Nov 17, 2009, 03:50 PM EST
TrophyWife, might I ask when you did so? I have done so within the past two years, and would posit that it is next to near impossible
Report abuse
Posted by TrophyWife on Nov 17, 2009, 01:46 AM EST
As others have stated, coming here legaly is not impossible. I did so myself, and I'm sick and tired of the whining in regards to this issue. No matter if you're from Ireland(self included) or any other country...do it the right way. Anything worth having is worth the work involved or the struggle.
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Posted by plasticpaddy on Nov 16, 2009, 03:41 PM EST
Actually FastEddy it is very difficult to come here legally. Very, very difficult, to suggest otherwise is not true. It is not too much to ask for people to come here legally, but at least provide that opportunity, it simply doesn't exist anymore for the vast vast majority of immigrants whether educated and skilled or not.
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Posted by plasticpaddy on Nov 16, 2009, 03:40 PM EST
Honestly allentown I think you're right. Despite my wanting something to happen I think it would be politiclaly naive at a time when Republicans have witnessed gains in certain key areas in recent elections.
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Posted by allentown on Nov 16, 2009, 02:18 PM EST
That is not what I heard. I heard that the Obama Administration will not address illegal immigration in 2010, because the Democrats are afraid of the voters in the November elections.
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Posted by plasticpaddy on Nov 16, 2009, 12:13 PM EST
FatherVol, because the laws have changed significantly. I think you would find it 99% likely that they would not be able to come here today under the same circumstances.
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Posted by FastEddy on Nov 16, 2009, 12:10 PM EST
FatherVal: " My grandparents came into this country legally 80 years ago. Why is it so difficult for people of other nations to do the same? " It is not difficult to come to the USA, illegally. It is not difficult to come to the USA legally, either. That's the point. US citizenship used to be worth something to many. Passing the physical(s), paying the taxes and fees to get in and get legal and are not too much to ask. Most other countries make these kinds of allowances.
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Posted by FatherVol on Nov 16, 2009, 11:15 AM EST
My grandparents came into this copuntrry legally 80 years ago. Why si it so difficult for people of other nations to do the same?
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Posted by FastEddy on Nov 16, 2009, 10:24 AM EST
This is good. I would suggest US$10,000 in fines plus 20% in taxes on income while here illegally ... that's about what I pay as a legal citizen ... Of course if you vote democrat, your bill may vary.
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Nov 15, 2009, 08:27 PM EST
Understood. I appreciate your responses.
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Posted by plasticpaddy on Nov 14, 2009, 07:08 PM EST
Plasticpaddy, you cannot tell someone to keep an opinion that you disagree with to themselves. I will agree with that,it is nto what I meant with it, more misinformed and misdirected anger, I disagree with.
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Posted by plasticpaddy on Nov 14, 2009, 06:34 PM EST
As for the criticism of Obama, at least he is taking a position, placing it before congress and allowing the democratic process to either pass of defeat the idea of public healthcare. As for the issue of immigration, it is mostly opposed by most people because they say 'hey, im against illegal immigration' when they do not understand the lack of a legal route. It's like saying im against crack cocaine and locking up all the users without going after the people selling and producing the stuff. It really is based on a misleading of the public into a frenzy on issues where actual knowledge and critical thought are non-existent.So it could equally be argued (not convinced this is my own opinion, yet) that the public are horribly misinformed by the lack of an objective (even somewhat objective) media in this country. All they hear are absolutley biased news coverage from privately owned companies, in turn owned by huge media conglomerates. There really is a case in this country for an government funded, but independently operated news station that would be prevented by law from giving disproportionate time to biased individuals, they would be permiotted togive all opinions on a topic, but given equal force, time etc. So many problems, so much misinformation.
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Posted by plasticpaddy on Nov 14, 2009, 06:23 PM EST
I'm not excusing it I'm saying that people here criticise what they do not understand. They want people to come here legally. When legal options are unavailable, illegal entry is the result. You are reading more into my comments than I mean them to say. I merely want people to understand why there are so many illegals and concentrate on the actual issue at hand, not just the condemnation of people with no other option. Give people a way to come her legally and then if they come illegally you can criticise it without my feeling the need to interject.
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Nov 14, 2009, 06:09 PM EST
Further, if Obama is truly oblivious enough to push this nonsense in 2010 (as has been reported), it will only contribute mightily to his own party's further defeat at the polls. As with that stupid health care fiasco (passed in the middle of the weekend, in the middle of the night), you cannot fly in the face of a majority of Americans to this extent and not expect some very serious repercussions at the ballot box for it...particularly in a mid-term year that is notorious for bringing losses to the party that controls the White House. The Repubs haven't even done squat yet -- as far as a unifying, national message -- and they're ALREADY ahead of the Dems with the voters, on a national, generic ballot. So with this illegal alien issue thrown in on top of all that...how exactly does this help Obama or the Dems, in the election next year? Unless, of course, the aim here is to get millions of 'new' Democratic votes, from 'former' illegals, after they've been rewarded with full citizenship for violating our borders. Politicians are stupid as hell. They're like this in Ireland, too. It's almost like a mental disease grips them, as soon as they're in.
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Nov 14, 2009, 05:55 PM EST
Plasticpaddy, you cannot tell someone to keep an opinion that you disagree with to themselves. We can say it all we want: we, the REAL Americans and the REAL immigrants (who did it the right way) want illegals OUT of our country. They entered illegally, and violated our sovereignty -- and we want them back OUT, on their collective butts. Have you ever considered that perhaps EXCUSING law-breaking is 'spouting idiocy,' as you say? You may be 'sick' of it, plasticpaddy, but that really is YOUR problem, not ours. We're sick of certain people (a minority) making B.S. EXCUSES for ILLEGAL ALIENS. There IS no excuse, for their presence, here. Bush tried to give them amnesty (and then further insulted our intelligence by saying that that's not what he was doing) and the entire country rose up against him and STOPPED it dead in its tracks; and now Obama (who's even further removed from reality than Bush was) is trying the exact same thing. They keep flying in people's faces with this issue, and it's getting them NOWHERE.
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Posted by plasticpaddy on Nov 13, 2009, 10:01 PM EST
I'm sick of those idiots on here posting -they're illegal I don't care- read about current immigration law, how legal paths have been constantly eroded for years then come back and spout your idiocy. Until then keep your illinformed opinions to youself.
Report abuse
Posted by plasticpaddy on Nov 13, 2009, 10:00 PM EST
Why are you apologising if you clearly couldn't give a s-hit about those people
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Posted by RetInKalifornia on Nov 13, 2009, 09:58 PM EST
Undocumented=Illegally Here, break the law be deported, sorry!!!
Report abuse
Posted by plasticpaddy on Nov 13, 2009, 03:41 PM EST
Excellent. My thoughts are with the undocumented Irish and other nationalities with this time. I hope it does some good for you all.
 


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