Orange County Reps. Dana Rohrabacher and Loretta Sanchez reacted along partisan lines to President Barack Obama's announcement of a federal policy change preventing deportation of some illegal immigrants.
"The president has just sent a message to every potential illegal immigrant throughout the world that it's OK to bring their children to the United States and break American law,'' said Rohrabacher, R-Huntington Beach.
"This announcement is a slap in the face to all those who followed the law and waited in line and those who are still waiting to come to the U.S. legally. Their families are not going to be taken care of. It's the scofflaws who are being rewarded by this president.''
Sanchez, D-Garden Grove, called Obama's announcement as "bold and
unprecedented.''
"As a supporter of the Dream Act for years, this executive order will have a lasting impact on many young individuals throughout Orange County and our country,'' Sanchez said.
"As a senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee, I have always worked toward ensuring that ICE and DHS target individuals who pose a threat to our country and community. I am glad the president will continue to apply prosecutorial discretion during deportation proceedings,'' Sanchez said, referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security.
Rep. Ed Royce, R-Orange, did not have a comment about the policy change, aide Audra McGeorge said.
The policy is estimated to affect about 800,000 people across the country.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the policy will apply—on a case-by-case basis—to undocumented immigrants who:
came to the United States under age 16; are younger than 30; have continuously lived in the United States for at least five years; are enrolled in school, have graduated from high school, have obtained a general education development certificate or are honorably discharged from the Coast Guard or armed forces; and have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, multiple misdemeanors or pose a threat to national security.
Speaking at the White House, Obama said the change is aimed at people who were likely brought into the country by their parents, and in many cases did not know they were undocumented until they tried to apply for a job.
"Effective immediately, the Department of Homeland Security is taking steps to lift the shadow of deportation from these young people,'' he said.
Obama insisted the policy was not amnesty, immunity, a path to citizenship or a "permanent fix'' to the immigration system. He called it a "stop-gap measure'' that gives ``a degree of relief and hope to driven, patriotic young people.''
"It's the right thing to do,'' Obama said. Rohrabacher said Obama was motivated by politics.
"It's obvious this was a politically expedient decision and betrayal of American youth,'' Rohrabacher said. "Fewer jobs will be available to our citizens and legal immigrants and already limited resources and benefits for our own young people will be further taxed as a result of this back-door amnesty by the Obama administration.''
Sanchez said the change in policy will benefit the nation.
"So many young people are not able to graduate and live their lives because they have been in the shadows of our society with the fear of deportation always on their mind,'' Sanchez said. "This will now provide those students an opportunity to give back to the community and country they know so well. I look forward to continue working with the president and my colleagues here in Congress to push for a comprehensive approach to immigration reform.''
- City News Service
It surprises me that a "senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee" seems to be somewhat unclear about this.
We need an open door policy where you just enter, period. AFTER and only AFTER you commit a crime can you be deported, right?
Plz get to the present!!!
(ps- only seen pickchers o the chinawall, seems it worked, tho.)
While I love a well structured and justified argument as much as the next person, I also enjoy the comedic value of the last 130 comment exchanges. There's true beauty in observing one person literally eviscerate the flawed argument of another. And supply of disdain is high because "OMG everyday someone is wrong on the internet!"
If you build it, they will still come. How do you fence the southwest desert? The Ocean? The sky? You need to also work on taking away illegal employment and freebies. Also need to make legal immigration easier. The INS is constipated, need to get the OC out of the ditch. The reason this policy is a slap In the face is Pres Obama supported amendments that killed the 2007 Immigration Reform Act, Never introduced Immigration reform, stole these current ideas from Sen Rubio and circumvented to legislatIve process. I don't think that shows leadership.
What did Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie and Sam Houston say when they saw a horde of Mexicans coming at them at the Alamo????? Bowie turned to Crockett and Houston and said, "Is it the gardeners day to trim the grass".. lol lol lol
You are correct. I just don't like an attack on my mother. I am from N.J. and that is the way I was brought up. Don't tread on me. If you look at the original comments I did not start any nasty remarks. I only finish them because that is the way I am.
MINE THE AREAS ALONG THE BORDER OR LET THEM ALL IN..
THEY SEEM TO BE FINDING ALL THE TUNNELS? How can you say that unless you know where all the tunnels are? Do you? Of course not. In war we laid many anti-personnel mine fields to stop the enemies advance. The troops knew where the mine fields were so there was no problem. They are cheap to employ. Now we have airplanes, cars, trucks,ATV, cameras, horses & thousands of employees monitoring all this and billions spent on it when the money could be put to better use. Like an extra round or two of golf for Obama, or his kids could take all their 19 friends to Fla. on summer break on Air Force one. The secret service could have free prostitutes. No more nickel and dimeing the girls and getting caught. Eric Holder could stop suing the states and tell Obama I do not need your executive privilege to hide the truth.
You could not be anyone's pal with that attitude. I thought you said you were going to be nice??? Geeezzzzz.
Why would you mine both sides of the border? You are not making cents. You mine from 15 feet past the Rio Grande border on the AMERICAN SIDE. Geezzzz. THE A M E R I C A N SIDE!!! It runs the
Don't be that way. Make a better suggestion.
Mario is starting again. Read below. He is not staying with the topic but is making innuendos about me and the fact that I like VELCRO.... Marc Schroeder Bobo, first of all, IF I was a Latino? It would be Marcos. Second, there was absolutely NOTHING offensive in that response I wrote. Who ties your shoes for you? Or are you a Velcro guy?
If you put fences up they would be in the same area. 15 ft off the Rio Grande. The way the mines work is it takes a certain amount of pressure to set them off. Let's say 100 lbs. That eliminates pets and wildlife almost entirely. The rotting meat is eaten by carrion. Coyotes and snakes. Throwing a rock does nothing. To top it all off we have signs, saying in English, that there is a mine field in the area and to stay away. The signs will face the U.S. The elimination of the drug runners, human trafficking and illegals will cost billions less. It is not stupid. I will send you my bill for educating you but you should really go back to school or join the Army to get an American education. I mind is a terrible thing to waste.