Children Of Illegal Immigrants

A last-ditch Democratic effort to establish a path to citizenship for some children of illegal immigrants failed in the Senate on Saturday, likely derailing any attempt at sweeping immigration reform in Congress for the foreseeable future. The bill, known as the Dream Act, had passed the House, and its advocates and Democratic sponsors hoped that they could muster enough Republican votes to bring the legislation to the floor. Instead, it fell victim to a GOP filibuster, one in which a handful of Democrats also blocked the bill.

If some conservatives believe Rick Perry is soft on illegal immigration, what would they make of Chris Christie's statement three years ago asserting that undocumented immigrants aren't criminals? In 2008, when Christie was the U.S. attorney in New Jersey, he told a church forum that “being in this country without proper documentation is not a crime.” Christie, who was appointed to that position by President George W. Bush, went on to say that an immigrant lacking documents is a civil wrong.

If some conservatives believe Rick Perry is soft on illegal immigration, what would they make of Chris Christie's statement three years ago asserting that undocumented immigrants aren't criminals? In 2008, when Christie was the U.S. attorney in New Jersey, he told a church forum that “being in this country without proper documentation is not a crime.” Christie, who was appointed to that position by President George W. Bush, went on to say that an immigrant lacking documents is a civil wrong.

Unable to escape the ire of his party, Rick Perry on Wednesday backed away from a controversial remark that questioned the compassion of people who opposed granting in-state tuition to the children of illegal immigrants. At Thursday's Republican presidential debate in Orlando, Fla., the Texas governor defended his decision to sign into law a policy that allows the children of illegal immigrants to pay in-state college tuition by suggesting that opponents of the policy "don't have a heart.

Theodore R. Mitchell has stated that the children of illegal immigrants should be allowed to enter the UC system, if qualified, but with payment based on in-state residency ("Busted From College Because of Where They Were Born," Opinion, April 15). Vicente Fox, president of Mexico (whom I greatly admire), has stated that he represents all Mexicans; i.e., those in Mexico and those in the U.S., both legally and illegally. I agree that those qualified students should be allowed to enter the UC system.

Finally, someone who is willing to address the controversial issue of immigration. I was starting to believe elected officials were afraid to speak out on this topic. Congressman Elton Gallegly is proposing legislation to update a portion of the 14th Amendment. This new legislation includes keeping U.S.--born children of illegal immigrants from automatically qualifying for costly medical and welfare services. This is not a racist issue because it is not limited to any one race, and will benefit Americans of all races.

Unable to escape the ire of his party, Rick Perry on Wednesday backed away from a controversial remark that questioned the compassion of people who opposed granting in-state tuition to the children of illegal immigrants. At Thursday's Republican presidential debate in Orlando, Fla., the Texas governor defended his decision to sign into law a policy that allows the children of illegal immigrants to pay in-state college tuition by suggesting that opponents of the policy "don't have a heart.

Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) has proposed a constitutional amendment that would deny U. S. citizenship to children born in this country to illegal immigrants. Gallegly, in legislation introduced Tuesday, proposes that only children born to mothers who are citizens or legal residents be granted citizenship--a move that he said would save taxpayers billions of dollars a year in welfare payments.

The picture and article from your June 20 front page presented juxtaposition. There is Robert Dole, nominee presumptive of the Republican Party, standing between George Argyros and Donald Bren, two of the wealthiest men in the state. Their millions (billions?) stem from manipulating land deals--not exactly by the sweat of their brows. The accompanying story recounts a speech earlier in the day wherein Mr. Dole decried the cost of educating the children of illegal immigrants. These children, whose only crime is that they were born in poor country, are to be denied the opportunity of an education which might enable them to better their lives.

Re "Suit says converted prison not fit for children of immigrants," March 7 Detaining the children of illegal immigrants while they wait out appeals is not only unjust but inhumane. The Bush administration might be thinking of keeping families together, yet having children in cell-like rooms and wearing government-issued garments is not the way to make up for the disturbances to their families. There is no doubt that immigration laws need to be in effect, but somehow this is punishing children for a crime they did not commit.

After taking heat from the rest of the GOP presidential field in the last two debates, Texas Gov. Rick Perry tried to take the offensive against his main rival Thursday night by questioning Mitt Romney's views on education and accusing him of misrepresenting Perry's stance on Social Security. Reviving a charge that has dogged Romney since his 2008 presidential campaign, Perry said the former Massachusetts governor had switched positions on issues of importance to Republican voters — and thus, he implied, would be an undependable nominee.

Finally, Texas Gov. Rick Perry became the piñata he complained that he felt like after the last debate. And the fireworks between the front-runners, Perry and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, exploded again, this time over the issue of immigration, a serious problem for Perry, whose nuanced record is far more lenient than the conservative wing of his party would like. Perry, as a border governor, has fallen afoul of many Republicans for embracing a version of the Dream Act, which allows children of illegal immigrants to qualify for in-state tuition at public universities and colleges.

The Arizona Senate rejected five immigration bills Thursday, including two that would have barred automatic citizenship for U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants. The measures, which were intended to force the U.S. Supreme Court to resolve the issue, failed on votes of 12 to 18 and 11 to 19. "We finally stood up for what is right for the state of Arizona," said state Sen. Steve M. Gallardo, a Democrat from Phoenix. "We cannot solve a federal problem on the floor of the Arizona state Senate.

A last-ditch Democratic effort to establish a path to citizenship for some children of illegal immigrants failed in the Senate on Saturday, likely derailing any attempt at sweeping immigration reform in Congress for the foreseeable future. The bill, known as the Dream Act, had passed the House, and its advocates and Democratic sponsors hoped that they could muster enough Republican votes to bring the legislation to the floor. Instead, it fell victim to a GOP filibuster, one in which a handful of Democrats also blocked the bill.

If he is elected in 2012, as he has been the last eight times he's run, Michael D. Antonovich will have spent 36 years on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors before he terms out in 2016. He and his four fellow supervisors each represent more people than some U.S. senators do, and their policies may have a more direct impact on their constituents' daily lives. Antonovich stepped into public office on the Los Angeles Community College Board in 1969, then to the Assembly and back to his native turf on the county board.

When Republicans assume control of the House in January, Rep. Steve King (R- Iowa) will become chairman of the subcommittee on immigration. His first order of business, he says, will be to pass legislation denying "birthright citizenship" to the U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants. "I think we will have the votes in the House to put an end to the anchor babies in this country," he told the website Newsmax.com. Set aside, for a moment, the obstacles: Revoking a right enshrined in the Constitution cannot be accomplished by legislation, and besides, such a bill would never get through the Senate.

Finally, Texas Gov. Rick Perry became the piñata he complained that he felt like after the last debate. And the fireworks between the front-runners, Perry and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, exploded again, this time over the issue of immigration, a serious problem for Perry, whose nuanced record is far more lenient than the conservative wing of his party would like. Perry, as a border governor, has fallen afoul of many Republicans for embracing a version of the Dream Act, which allows children of illegal immigrants to qualify for in-state tuition at public universities and colleges.

I am happy to wake up in the state of California. I am happy even though Prop. 38 lost and Prop. 39 won. I am happy even though I continue to pay property taxes to support California's public schools although in my 19 years of formal education and in my children's combined 13 years of formal education, only one of those years was spent in a public school. I am happy even though the state can now raise my property taxes by a 55% majority (how ironic that Prop. 39 only passed by 53%) to support the public schools.

Immigration issues, including questions about who should have U.S. citizenship, have hurt President Obama's standing with voters, according to the latest Quinnipiac University national poll. The poll, carried out during the first week in September, found that respondents had a strong anti-immigrant tilt, favoring, by 68% to 24%, stricter enforcement of immigration laws rather than integrating illegal immigrants into society and, by 48% to 45%, an end to the constitutionally guaranteed practice of granting U.S. citizenship to children born of illegal immigrants.

Welfare payments to children of illegal immigrants in Los Angeles County increased in July to $52 million, prompting renewed calls from one county supervisor to rein in public benefits to such families. The payments, made to illegal immigrants for their U.S. citizen children, included $30 million in food stamps and $22 million from the CalWorks welfare program, according to county figures released Friday by Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich. The new figure represents an increase of $3.7 million from July 2009 and makes up 23% of all county welfare and food stamp assistance, according to county records.