The Lies of Rubio, Obama, and the Gang of 8 on the Immigration "Reform" bill.

[OriginalShroom]

As usual, our elected officials are lying to us.

Every day I see and hear ads how "tough" Rubio's bill is.

Bullshit.

It has more holes than stripper's stockings.

Unfortunately, both of my Senators are going to vote for it. That's a given.

I can only hope that it dies a quick and painful death in the House.

Another question.. Why was the Governments of Mexico and Ireland allowed to have representatives sitting at the table when this bill was written?

Sen. Sessions on immigration bill's broken promises - latimes.com

The so-called Gang of Eight immigration plan now being considered by the Senate fails to live up to every major promise made by its sponsors. Far from improving the immigration system, their 1,000-page proposal would exacerbate many of its flaws. It would dangerously undermine future enforcement while imposing substantial burdens on taxpayers and taking jobs and pay from U.S. workers.


Indeed, the two unions representing our nation's immigration and customs officers and those who process immigration applications have strongly urged opposition.

The sponsors' promise of enforcement first was broken when lead sponsor Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) declared: "First, people will be legalized.... Then we'll make sure the border is secure." About 11 million immigrants who are here illegally — which includes 4 million who have overstayed their visas — would receive work permits, Social Security numbers and access to state and local benefits within six months of passage. The Department of Homeland Security merely has to submit a border plan, not accomplish that plan. Those legalized will then be free to compete for jobs at a time of low wages and high unemployment. It's amnesty first, not enforcement first.

Moreover, the bill allows the DHS or an immigration judge to stop any future deportation for humanitarian reasons, the public interest or family unity. Such open-ended waivers would all but ensure mass litigation and the end of immigration enforcement in America.

The sponsors promised that back taxes would have to be paid, but under the bill, if the IRS doesn't audit someone working off the books — which it isn't required to do — there will be no taxes to pay. There is no requirement that immigrants pay state or local back taxes or that employers pay back taxes.

The sponsors promised that people here illegally would have to learn English and civics, but the fine print reveals it will be at least 10 years before this is put into effect. And even then, the bill only requires those applying for permanent residency (a green card) to be pursuing a course of study "to achieve an understanding of English and knowledge and understanding" of civics. Furthermore, the secretary of Homeland Security can waive these already loose standards in many cases.

The sponsors promised that those "with a serious criminal background or who pose a threat to our national security" would be ineligible for legal status. But the bill allows the Homeland Security secretary, under certain conditions, to grant it to gang members; those with major misdemeanor criminal convictions (including felonies pleaded to misdemeanors) for serious crimes, including drug offenses, sexual abuse and prostitution; those with arrest records of any length; fugitives from deportation orders; or those who have been deported and illegally reentered.

The sponsors promised that people here illegally would not be eligible for public benefits. But, after the immediate grant of legal status, the legislation confers permanent residency within 10 years after passage (in many cases sooner), guaranteeing eligibility for federal benefits at a staggering long-term cost. In the short term, many would become eligible for state public assistance programs upon receiving the initial amnesty.

The sponsors promised the bill would prevent future visa overstays. The Government Accountability Office said in 2007 that without a biometric exit system, the DHS "cannot ensure the integrity of the immigration system by identifying and removing those people who have overstayed." The 9/11 Commission has said such a system is essential to national security. Congress passed six laws mandating the implementation of such a system at all air, land and sea entry points. But instead of finally requiring enforcement of these laws, the bill merely calls for a pilot system at a small sampling of airports, and excludes land ports of entry.

The sponsors promised that the bill would not significantly increase legal immigration. However, it will grant legal status to at least 30 million immigrants over the next 10 years if you add up the proposed surge in legal arrivals, approval of 4.5 million previous green card applicants, plus work authorization and legal residency for an estimated 11 million here unlawfully today. The number grows higher if you take into account the removal of annual caps on migration for immediate family members.

And, despite promised protections for U.S. workers, the bill would double the number of guest workers admitted annually. Such a large influx would be disastrous for the wages and job prospects of U.S. workers.

On every major front, this legislation fails to deliver on its core promises. It delivers only for the special-interest groups who helped write it. Should it pass, it would represent the ultimate triumph of the Washington elite over the everyday citizen to whom Congress properly owes its loyalty.

 

[waltky]

Rubio bill allows forging of passports...

Rubio Didn't Know His Own Immigration Bill Allows Someone to Forge 2 Passports Before It's a Crime
July 19, 2013 -- Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)--a Republican member of the bipartisan “Gang of Eight” who co-sponsored the Senate immigration bill and was one of 14 Republicans who ultimately voted for it--was unaware that his own bill allows a person to forge up to two passports without penalty. “Under the Senate immigration bill, how many passports can someone forge before it becomes a crime?” CNSNews.com asked Rubio Thursday on Capitol Hill.

“How many--you can’t forge any passports,” Rubio replied. ”That’s a federal crime now.”

CNSNews.com: “It’s actually a part of the bill that it’s up, that you can do two, and three and on it’s a crime. Why would that be a part of it?”

Rubio: “Well, first of all, I think what you’re talking about is the way the law is described vis-a-vis, umm, waivers that people can get. And as I said, I mean, there are elements of that bill that continue to be, need to be improved, and I myself have disagreements about the way the waiver structure was put in the bill, and my hope is that it can be improved through the House process when they do their own bill.” However, Section 3707 of the immigration bill (S. 744) is titled, "Reform of Passport, Visa and Immigration Fraud Offenses." It makes no mention of any “waivers," but it does specifically amend Section 1541 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code, which currently requires criminal penalties for issuing “any” unauthorized passports. As amended by S. 744--the Senate immigration bill Rubio co-sponsored--a person would not be dealt criminal penalties until they forged "3 or more passports." Printed on Page 777 of the bill, the language says: "SEC. 3707. REFORM OF PASSPORT, VISA, AND IMMIGRATION FRAUD OFFENSES.

"(a) TRAFFICKING IN PASSPORTS.—Section 1541 of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: § 1541. Trafficking in passports (a) MULTIPLE PASSPORTS.—Subject to subsection (b), any person who, during any period of 3 years or less, knowingly—(1) and without lawful authority produces, issues, or transfers 3 or more passports; (2) forges, counterfeits, alters, or falsely makes 3 or more passports; ‘(3) secures, possesses, uses, receives, buys, sells, or distributes 3 or more passports, knowing the passports to be forged, counterfeited, altered, falsely made, stolen, procured by fraud, or produced or issued without lawful authority; or (4) completes, mails, prepares, presents, signs, or submits 3 or more applications for a United States passport, knowing the applications to contain any materially false statement or representation, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both." (See S 744.pdf)

The immigration reform bill passed the Senate June 27 on a 68-32 vote. All 52 Democrats, 2 independents, and 13 Republicans besides Rubio voted for passage, including Senators Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), Kelly Ayotte (N.H.), Jeff Chisea (N.J.), Susan Collins (Me.), Bob Corker (Tenn.), Jeff Flake (Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Orrin Hatch (Utah), Dean Heller (Nev.), John Hoeven (N.D.), Mark Kirk (Ill.), John MicCain (Ariz,) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska).

- See more at: Rubio Didn't Know His Own Immigration Bill Allows Someone to Forge 2 Passports Before It's a Crime | CNS News

See also:

McCain: I Don't Know How Many Passports We Let You Forge
July 18, 2013 -– Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), a member of the “Gang of Eight” that helped write and pass the immigration reform bill in that chamber, said he did not know how many passports a person could forge under the proposed law before being charged with a crime.

On Capitol Hill on Wednesday, CNSNews.com asked McCain, “Senator McCain, can I ask you a question about the Senate immigration bill? Under the bill, how many passports can someone forge before it becomes a crime?” McCain said, “You’re going to have to ask our folks that, I don't think that we stand for any forgeries."

CNSNews.com followed-up, “Can you tell me why that would be part of the bill in the first place?” McCain answered, “ I cannot tell you that it is part of the bill."

In the legislation that passed in the Senate, Section 3707 amends Section 1541 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code. The section, appearing on page 777 of the bill, explained in detail that a person can be charged for a crime if they forge "3 or more passports," meaning that they potentially would not be charged if they falsely made only one or two passports. The criminal charges and penalties do not kick in until after "3 or more passports" are falsely made, issued, or transferred, etcetera.

MORE

Related:

Leahy: Senate Immigration Bill Says Forging Two Passports Is Not a Crime
July 18, 2013 -- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt) admitted Wednesday that under the Senate immigration bill, forging up to two passports is not a crime, adding that the bill leaves the decision whether to charge someone with passport fraud up to the discretion of prosecutors.

On Capitol Hill on Wednesday, CNSNews.com asked Leahy, "One of the provisions has to do with passports, that’s an important component. Do you know how many passports someone is able to forge before it’s a crime?” Leahy said, "Well, it depends upon which interpretation is being used. You could have one form which is two, but then there are other criminal conduct that would be involved with that." "Cause you give prosecutors a certain amount of discretion, you have two or three different crimes you have committed, so then it's [up to] prosecutorial discretion which one they will charge. I mean, I spent eight years as a prosecutor. One of things you learn [is] the importance of that."

Leahy made the remarks in an interview with CNSNews.com after he was asked how many passports someone could forge before it was a crime under Senate Bill 744, which passed on a 68-to-32 vote June 27. All Senate Democrats and 14 Republicans voted for the bill. While not a member of the bipartisan "Gang of Eight" group of senators who sponsored the bill, Leahy was a staunch supporter and voted for passage. “With this legislation, we honor our American values,” Leahy said in a press release on the day the bill cleared the Senate. “We honor the search of our forbearers for freedom, for prosperity, and for the promise that America has held out to so many for so long. Today is a good day for the Senate, and for the country. Today, with the help of many Senators, we will address a complex problem that is hurting our families, stifling our economy and threatening our security.”

In June, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Ia.) introduced three amendments “that would tighten criminal laws that are being weakened in the comprehensive immigration bill being debated by the Senate,” but amendment #45 regarding passport fraud was rejected by the Senate Judiciary Committee on an 8-10 vote . Title 18, Section 1541 of the U.S. Code provides for fines and imprisonment up to 25 years for granting, issuing, or verifying "any passport" without proper authority. But Section 3707 of the nearly 1,200-page Senate immigration bill amends that section to impose criminal penalties only after a person fabricates "three or more" phony passports.

- See more at: Leahy: Senate Immigration Bill Says Forging Two Passports Is Not a Crime | CNS News

 

[Mr. H.]

Shades of the ACA...