Month: June 2013

Senator Sessions’ statements on the floor of the Senate before and after the vote on S. 744 on June 27, 2013

Hi Gang:
It is unlikely that by now you have not heard that the Senate passed S.744 to implement what they refer to as “Comprehensive Immigration Reform.  This piece of legislation- actually, an extremely large piece of legislation, it runs more than one thousand pages, utterly ignores the failures of the Amnesty of 1986.  It also ignores the findings and recommendations of the 9/11 Commission and the findings and recommendations as carefully reported in the 9/11 Commission Staff Report on Terrorist Travel. 

The lack of integrity in the adjudications process was the focus of clear concerns of the 9/11 Commission, and the 9/11 Commission staff noted in their report.

This paragraph is found on page 98 under the title “Immigration Benefits:”

“Terrorists in the 1990s, as well as the September 11 hijackers, needed to find a way to stay in or embed themselves in the United States if their operational plans were to come to fruition. As already discussed, this could be accomplished legally by marrying an American citizen, achieving temporary worker status, or applying for asylum after entering. In many cases, the act of filing for an immigration benefit sufficed to permit the alien to remain in the country until the petition was adjudicated. Terrorists were free to conduct surveillance, coordinate operations, obtain and receive funding, go to school and learn English, make contacts in the United States, acquire necessary materials, and execute an attack.”

Page 47 of the above-noted report contained the following paragraph:

“Once terrorists had entered the United States, their next challenge was to find a way to remain here. Their primary method was immigration fraud. For example, Yousef and Ajaj concocted bogus political asylum stories when they arrived in the United States. Mahmoud Abouhalima, involved in both the World Trade Center and landmarks plots, received temporary residence under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers (SAW) program, after falsely claiming that he picked beans in Florida. Mohammed Salameh, who rented the truck used in the bombing, overstayed his tourist visa. He then applied for permanent residency under the agricultural workers program, but was rejected. Eyad Mahmoud Ismail, who drove the van containing the bomb, took English-language classes at Wichita State University in Kansas on a student visa; after he dropped out, he remained in the United States out of status.”

The lack of integrity to the immigration system- especially the failures to adjudicate applications for immigration benefits in a manner that deters fraud has turned USCIS, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the division of the DHS (Department of Homeland Surrender) into the unwitting partner and enabler of international terrorists and transnational criminals including the Brothers Tsarnaev, the alleged Boston Marathon Bombers.
This is hardly a new concern.  During the summer of 2007, I wrote an Op-Ed piece for the Washington Times concerning that legislative nightmare entitled, Immigration bill a “No go.”

Here is a link to my Op-Ed in which I recommended that Comprehensive Immigration Reform legislation be given the far more accurate title of “The Terrorist Assistance and Facilitation Act.”

Here is a copy of my Op-Ed:

I was gratified and, in fact, greatly honored that Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the Ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee quoted from my Op-Ed (with attribution) on three separate days from the floor of the United States Senate during the contentious floor debate on Comprehensive Immigration Reform. 

You must understand that if Comprehensive Immigration Reform is ultimately enacted, there will be no face-to-face interviews and no resources to conduct field investigations to make certain that information contained in the applications that may well be filed by tens of millions of illegal and “undocumented” aliens is truthful.  There will be no way to determine how long the applicants have been in the United States nor will there be any way to determine their true identities or even, in many instances, their true countries of citizenship

Today we should all be gratified that Senator Sessions took to the floor of the United States Senate twice- 

before

 the members of the Senate voted on S.744 imploring them in no uncertain terms to not vote for that legislative betrayal and 

after

 the vote to make his consternation known in clear and unambiguous terms.  Both of his prepared statements are attached below- it is well worth your time to carefully read his statements.  Before getting to his statements I have provided links to some recent articles I have written that focus on these failures which have create national security vulnerabilities for the United States and hobble efforts to wage a successful “War on Terror.”

Here is a link to a video of a portion of courages remarks made by Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama from the floor of the United States Senate:
It is vital to remember that America’s immigration laws are utterly and totally blind as to race, religion and ethnicity of aliens who would seek entry into the United States and remain in the United States.  The guiding principle to the immigration laws is to prevent the entry and continuing presence of aliens whose presence would pose a threat to the safety and well being of America and Americans.  The laws are designed to save innocent lives and the jobs of Americans- yet you would never know it to listen to statements made by President Obama and those who support Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
Here are the links to my previous commentaries:
Immigration is not a single issue but a singular issue that impacts nearly every challenge and threat confronting the United States today!  

Our armed forces are charged with securing America’s borders externally while the DHS is supposed to secure those same borders from within.  The failures of the DHS to live up to its half of the equation are undermining the efforts, valor and incredible sacrifices of Americas men and women who serve in our military!The immigration laws are supposed to achieve two primary goals- to protect American lives and protect Americans’ jobs. 

Our nation is greatly benefited by the rich diversity of our people which is why I could never imagine living anywhere except New York City, arguably the most diverse city in our nation if not, in fact, the world.  However, my idea of diversity most certainly does not include members of MS-13, the Mexican drug cartels or members of other transnational gangs or members of al-Qaeda or other terrorist organizations!

It is also vital that American workers never be made to compete with foreign workers for their jobs!  (This requirement is a component of the Immigration Laws that are not being enforced today!)

If our government’s failures to secure our nation’s borders and effectively enforce our immigration laws that are intended to protect our nation and our citizens concerns you or especially if it angers you, I ask you to call your Senators and Congressional “Representative. This is not only your right- it is your obligation! 

I also ask that you pass this e-mail along to your friends and neighbors- I am attempting to create a “Bucket Brigade of Truth!”

We the People must make it clear to our politicians that we are not as dumb as they hope we are!

We live in a perilous world and in a perilous era. The survival of our nation and the lives of our citizens hang in the balance.

This is neither a Conservative issue, nor is it a Liberal issue- simply stated, this is most certainly an AMERICAN issue!

You are either part of the solution or you are a part of the problem!

Democracy is not a spectator sport!

Lead, follow or get out of the way!


-michael cutler- 

Please check out my website:

https://www.michaelcutler.net/

       


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Call in and join the conversation!  The phone number is 310-982-4145

I hope you will be listening!  (Please tell your friends and neighbors!)

Here is a link to the program:

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Thursday, June 27, 2013

Senator Jeff Sessions Press Release:

Sessions’ Floor Speech Ahead Of Final Votes On Senate Immigration Bill

Thursday, June 27, 2013

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered a speech on the Senate floor today regarding the Gang of Eight immigration plan ahead of its final vote. Sessions’ remarks, as prepared, follow:

“The bill before us rides here on a high ideal, but is nowhere close to what it promises. It is fatally flawed. If passed, it will not work.

This flawed bill did not come about because of inadvertence, chance, error, ignorance, or mistake. It came about as a direct result of the fact that the forces that shaped it all had goals that were important to them, but these goals are not coterminous with the interests of the nation as a whole. The real politique Gang seemed fine with that. They openly reported for weeks that these interests were working through the legislation and their differences, and soon the Gang would have a bill that, having been blessed by the powerful interests they had invited to the meetings, would be delivered to the Senate for adoption.

They were so proud of this process that they, the magnificent Eight, would stick together, all for one, one for all, and defeat any amendment that dared to alter this ‘delicate agreement.’ They would consider amendments, of course, but nothing serious.

 

One would not want to disturb the delicate sensibilities of those sensitive folks. You know, folks who have come together for the common good:

·        Mr. Richard Trumka—union boss

·        Mr. Tom Donahue—leader of the big mules

·        Agribusiness conglomerates

·        La Raza

·        Immigration Lawyers Association

·        Our high tech billionaires who, having delivered magnificent computers, now desire to benefit us by their political genius

·        Meat packers

 

You must know friends that, when the Gang of Eight said there was a delicate balance—a fragile agreement—they weren’t talking primarily about the agreement among themselves—that was secondary. They were referring to the special-interest forces that were in the room writing the bill. Those interests, those forces, had signed in blood. The Gang then signed in blood to fight off any serious ideas that would violate the secret pact.

Although the Gang and the cabal that had confederated and combined together to set the immigration policy of the United States were desperate to keep it secret, there was another dominant force behind the legislation. That was President Obama. His team was there every step of the way, surely providing much of the drafting work. We know this because Ms. Munoz couldn’t keep it a secret. She made sure to reveal to the New York Times that she and President Obama were there every step of the way—much to the discomfort of the Gang—especially the Republicans who had been anxious to declare the bill was written by entrepreneur job creators, e.g., the Chamber of Commerce. This, presumably, would cause Republicans to relax knowing that what’s good for the Chamber of Commerce is good for America.

And, with a very favorable Judiciary makeup—four of the Gang being on the Committee—they started executing the plan. Senator Schumer on occasion would give Republican Gang members a pass—they could break ranks and vote with the people on an issue as long as there was enough votes to kill the pesky amendment. And so it was.

Oh, one more important thing. The money. There would be money to run campaign-like ads all over America to promote the bill, to promote senators, to protect senators. And, who knows, maybe to provide political contributions to those who vote right.

The combine had it rolling until last week, when the wheels almost came off. Senators and the American people saw it had more holes than Swiss cheese.

 

Clearly, the bill lacked the simple conviction that, after amnesty, the lawlessness must end.

·        The metrics—the standards for enforcement at the border were weakened

·        E-Verify was pushed back for five years

·        Interior enforcement was farther diminished

·        The Citizenship Service was set up to fail

·        Entry/exit visa system was destroyed

·        Border enforcement promises would never be achieved

 

In panic, the Gang sought help to save the day. They would throw money at the border. Though the bill was filled with holes, the most public was the border. The people were fixated on the border. Promise them anything on the border. Agents, fence. We don’t have to ever build it or hire them. We can stretch it out over years. Just make a dramatic promise—that’s enough.

 
Thus, it happened. The Corker-Hoeven substitute was conceived, and cloture was invoked and Senator Reid filled the tree. In the glow of promised border security, the crumbling line of support firmed, the assault was stopped.
 
Now, colleagues, this vote is for movement to final passage. It is a procedural vote. If cloture is invoked, the bill will pass later this afternoon. We have had only procedural votes since last Tuesday. Not a single amendment has been voted on. And, if cloture is achieved, there will be none. In 2007, there were 46 votes. This time there have been only nine. Three of those were tabling votes on key Grassley and Cornyn amendments.
 
The promises of an open and fair process have been as hollow as the promises that this bill is the toughest ever and will end the lawlessness in the future. It’s amnesty first and plainly lacks any mechanism, any commitment, to enforcement. Yes, money has been promised for the border in the distant future, BUT:

·        The E-Verify workplace enforcement system is terribly flawed;

·        The entry/exit visa is much weaker than current law;

·        Interior enforcement is much weaker (I would encourage everyone to read the passionate letters of our federal and local law enforcement officers, pleading with us not to pass this bill which they say will hurt enforcement and undermine national security);

·        The method of processing those given legal status will not work;

·        Far from having fines pay for the cost of the amnesty, it is a huge budget buster;

·        The Obamacare provision means that it is thousands of dollars cheaper to hire RPI workers than citizens; earmarks have been added to attract votes.

 

Friends, there is no need to pass this 1,200-page bill today. It is fatally flawed. It will not work. I urge that this Senate not yield to the pressure. Refuse to cut off debate and amendments. A ‘no’ vote is not a vote to kill the bill or to end the hope for needed immigration reform. A ‘no’ vote says, let’s stop for a while. Let’s continue to work through all these problems and produce a bill that will work. That will respond to the pleas of the American people for a lawful immigration system, that serves our national interests and of which we can take pride.

How can we vote for a bill that our own CBO says will reduce average wages in America for 12 years, increase unemployment for 7 years, and reduce per capita GNP growth over 25 years? A bill that will admit 30 million people to permanent legal status in the next 10 years? That will dramatically increase the annual immigration flow, and will double the guest worker flow?

All this at a time of high unemployment, falling wages, and surging welfare, disability, and dependency.

 
I urge my colleagues to vote ‘no’ on cloture to not let this bill pass today, but require that it be subjected to more amendments and more study in the time to come. We can make legislation that will actually work, but this one cannot work as it is. We should not let it go to final passage today.”

Sessions Issues Statement Following Senate Passage Of Immigration Bill

Thursday, June 27, 2013

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate passage of the immigration bill:

 

“Sponsors of this legislation—despite the array of financial, establishment and special interest support—failed to hit their target of 70 votes. The more people learned about the bill the more uneasy they became. Failure to reach 70 votes is significant, and ensures the House has plenty of space to chart an opposite course and reject this fatally flawed proposal.

So while the bill passed the Senate, this is just the beginning.

The legislation adopted today guarantees three things: immediate amnesty before security, permanent future illegal immigration, and a record surge in legal immigration that will reduce wages and increase unemployment.

There will be no border fence, no border surge, nothing but the same tired illusory promises of future enforcement that will never occur. Americans have begged and pleaded time and again for Congress to end the lawlessness. But this amnesty-first bill is a surrender to lawlessness. As ICE and USCIS officers have warned, it will decimate immigration enforcement and erode the constitutional rule of law upon which our national greatness depends. And it remains unfair to the legal immigrants who put enormous time and expense into following the rules our nation has established.

This legislation demonstrates that the governing body in Washington has become severed from the people it is supposed to represent. It is a broken promise 1,200 pages long.

 
The Senate’s loyalty must be to the American people—immigrant and native-born alike—who work hard, pay their taxes, fight our wars, and obey our laws. 21 million Americans cannot find full-time work. Medium household income is almost ten percent lower today than it was in 1999. But this proposal would double the number of guest workers for businesses and provide permanent legal status to more than 30 million mostly-lower skill legal immigrants in the next ten years. This huge increase in the legal immigration flow will reduce wages and raise unemployment, and displace those who have suffered the most economically. As wise observers have said, we are a nation with an economy—not an economy with a nation.

We can create a lawful immigration system that makes us proud. But for that to happen, this bill must never become law. We must return to the drawing board and produce legislation that serves the just and legitimate interests of the nation, its people, and all who wish to call America home.”


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