Saying the government can't legislate with its heart, Gov. Jan Brewer said Wednesday she opposes the federal DREAM Act.
Brewer acknowledged the measure is aimed at helping children who were brought into this country illegally through no fault or action of their own volition. It is designed to provide a path to legal residency - and potentially citizenship - for those who go to college or join the military.
But the governor said she cannot support it because it amounts to a "reward (for those who) have broken the law in Arizona."
The governor, in Washington for a U.S. Supreme Court hearing on the state's "employer sanctions" law, said the fact that some of those affected were infants at the time they were brought across the border illegally doesn't change that. Nor does the fact that for many the United States is the only country they know.
"It's an unfortunate situation," Brewer said. "My heart does go out to those people. But they need to find citizenship through a legal manner."
Brewer said the United States is a "nation of laws."
"We cannot continue to sustain all of this stuff because you don't run a state, you don't run a country with your heart," the governor said. "You run it with laws."
The big hurdle for the law in the lame-duck Congress is the Senate where it takes 60 votes to avoid a filibuster. And Republicans, including Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, who had previously sponsored a version of the law, appear unwilling to deal with it in the closing days of the session.
Brewer also said she is willing to discuss enactment of "comprehensive immigration reform." But she said prior measures always have included "amnesty" for those already in the country illegally.
The governor said she is not ruling that out. But she said now is not the time.
"First, I believe everybody wants our borders secure," Brewer said. "Then we can deal with those other pressing issues."
disgusted posted at 4:38 pm on Wed, Dec 8, 2010.
OF COURSE SHE OPPOSES IT!!!! WHAT ELSE IS NEW??? She is the most HYPOCRITICAL, ARROGANT, SELF-SERVING POOR EXCUSE for a PERSON this side of "QUEEN SARAH"!!!! Her "heart" breaks?? How can it, she doesn't have one!! Oh, that's right, she purports to be "CARING AND CONCERNED" for the citizens of this STATE!! Perhaps that is what she has offered to the FAMILIES of TRANSPLANT PATIENTS who HAVE DIED AT HER {JAN BREWER'S} HANDS??!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS JAN!!
IceCat posted at 4:56 pm on Wed, Dec 8, 2010.
How can a three year old break the law? It wasn't these kids idea to come to the USA when they were infants or toddlers.
Brittanicus posted at 5:35 pm on Wed, Dec 8, 2010.
THE AFTERMATH CONSEQUENCES OF THE DREAM ACT.
Has anybody thought about the aftermath of the Dream Act if the bill is enacted? It's the amplification of Dream Act provisions, that when students become naturalized, that in reality is another-AMNESTY, which causes a CHAIN MIGRATION of immediate family members. A projection of 800.000 students could be eligible, but they could then sponsor their parents, brothers and sisters, grandfather and mother. That could even escalate more as other siblings, would have their own babies and the never ceasing chain immigration would be never ending nemesis. This has happened with each of the six amnesties since the 1986 Reform and Control Act, which after each law has passed, millions of family members have been sponsored, as long as their sponsor promises to financially support them. This is an empty promise because this is generally dropped after each family member is admitted, as the feds are under staffed for this massive task.
The initial sponsor could also find themselves jobless or neglect to carry out through with subsidizing that relative. In conclusion to the whole irrational situation, the oldest family members who are unlikely to have health insurance or not enough have no choice but to fall on the compassion of the hard pressed taxpayer. Any immigration law, whether the Dream Act or a mass Immigration reform has monolithic financial consequences on all Americans. Any person only has to gaze into the overcrowded classrooms of big cities, full to the rafters with non speaking foreign alien children. Go to any major city or even some towns and it’s evident that illegal immigration is rampant, as one only has to observe the crammed county hospital s, over exerted by a larger majority of foreign nations seeking help. Even the community food banks are now subject, to the destitute who came from across the Southern border, or stayed in the US after their visa expired.
We just cannot afford to subsidize every person who trespasses in this country without permission. We cannot afford yet another unnecessary tax and spend amnesty of any kind forced on us by Liberal Democrats as it has became a major obstacle in revitalizing this nations sinking economy. The Dream Act if passed will become another financial weighty trouble to this nation, from the obvious rise in overpopulation growth from chain migration. An example the rising costs attributed to the instant citizenship given to children of illegal aliens as then the Mother can then collect a wide range of benefits, including food stamps, section 8 housing under that child's name. There is a hope within the Republican Party that this law will be amended, and only able to benefit the baby with one parent a citizen. The Tea Party will exercise their power against any politician who panders to the Student Dream Act, until the whole text of the act is re-assessed as it copious with bad policies. Tea Party members should expand their anger at Senators such as Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX) who helped the Democrats salt down the E-Verify illegal labor verification program and cutting funding to the doubleelectrified border fencing. Each day more and more average Americans have seen through the corruption spawned in Washington and signing onto the membership of the TEA PARTY. This includes blocs of major minorities, who came to America through the front door, who are also completely enraged at the illegal immigration invasion.
BOMBARD your Senators with your furious words and your Members of Congress to oppose the DREAM Act Amnesty -- 202-224-3121 NumbersUSA for details. NumbersUSA will inform you of the truth.
EmperorSmith posted at 5:36 pm on Wed, Dec 8, 2010.
Not charging them with breaking a law, in fact we are quite generous ie a free ticket back to there home land.
samkat posted at 5:45 pm on Wed, Dec 8, 2010.
Brittanicus and Emperor: You are the only ones with positive comments on this article.
dragonwyk711 posted at 10:18 pm on Wed, Dec 8, 2010.
This terrible woman. No surprise to me that she is like this. I wish Arizona could wake up enough to send her down Mecham's road from the governors mansion.
Hell....she is worse that HE was.
Better use your ONLY term as governor to destroy as much of AZ as you can Brewer. ONE long an miserable term for AZ is all you will get.
abell posted at 6:38 am on Thu, Dec 9, 2010.
Brewer is right
disgusted posted at 6:55 am on Thu, Dec 9, 2010.
CANNOT WAIT for her to be IMPEACHED!!! Isn't that what becomes of Republican GOVERNORS in the State of ARIZONA?? Perhaps she could look back at RECENT HISTORY when YOU, as the ELECTED OFFICIAL, feels that YOU are ABOVE EVERYONE ELSE and uses YOUR ARROGANCE and SELF-IMPORTANCE to plaicate those few who line your pockets!!
KMA367 posted at 7:24 am on Thu, Dec 9, 2010.
These children should be blaming their parents for illegally entering this country and causing the situation they are in.
They should apply for temporary visa's and pursue citizenship. They should not be given free citizenship or priority in front of the many other legal immigrants who have followed the law and patiently waited for citizenship. It's a slap in the face to those hopeful legal immigrants who have respected this country by following the rules.
Poorman posted at 7:36 am on Thu, Dec 9, 2010.
Don't like Brewer at all, but shes right on this one its nothing buy a type of amnesty. We need to get our laws right,illegals shouldn't be in our military,nor should they be alowed to stay here like the Cubans are if the reach our shore. etc.Poster MKA367 got it right,good show.
abimopectore posted at 8:40 am on Thu, Dec 9, 2010.
The logic employed here by those against this bill runs as follows:
Even though you were a minor and in many cases still an infant or toddler, because your dad is guilty of stealing, you are also guilty; therefore, you should be punished like your parent.
This is truly amazing and shows without any possible retort the silliness and truly lack of legal insight in most these comments. What's even worse, for those whose parents have never been caught will have NOT even committed a criminal infraction but a civil infraction once they're apprehended. It stands to reason that a compromise will never be possible so long as this exemplary erudition is continuously and erroneously applied.
Bluox48 posted at 9:39 am on Thu, Dec 9, 2010.
Is there anything that Brewer does like or anyone she agrees with. She has the most negative attitude towards everything. I wish this type of person would understand the U. S. Constitution, where it says (among other things) "promote the general Welfare", but it does not just say that this us for US citizens exclusively. For an allegedly Christian place an awful lot of folks have lost the meaning and spirit of what Christ taught.
retired03 posted at 10:42 am on Thu, Dec 9, 2010.
Tough issue, but I don't believe for one moment that brewer is sad about these minor children. And I agree with others, guilty by assoiacation is not the way to treat these children. Last time I checked, this is the land of opportunitty. Does it matter that a given person's parents were illegal? What if this child found the cure for the common cold? would you kick him out because his parents were illegal? Given the reasoning that some haters in here have, yes, that would happen.... gotta follow the rule of law! - no matter what! Some in here have said this is brewers last term, sadly, I don't think so. If she is not in charge, others like her ... pearce comes to mind, will be. I think we are in for a long spell of ultra right extreme conservative people who could care less about you. They spew forth things like "for the good of arizona!" but what is arizona? It's people and these so called leaders are not people friendly. Arizona's claim to fame is it's mix of cultures and the reality is, that mix includes, importantly so, our mexican heritage. people like brewer, pearce etc. want to remove that.
free2speak posted at 12:10 pm on Thu, Dec 9, 2010.
Brewer & McCain Fault. That's all I have to say.
TruthSeeker posted at 12:37 pm on Thu, Dec 9, 2010.
DHS confirms it is cheaper to deport every illegal alien than allowing them to stay:
http://www.examiner.com/immigration-reform-in-national/dhs-confirms-cheaper-to-deport-every-illegal-alien-than-allowing-them-to-stay
EmperorSmith posted at 1:29 pm on Thu, Dec 9, 2010.
If we would have stopped this invasion this would not be an issue
Butters posted at 3:26 pm on Thu, Dec 9, 2010.
I was beginning to thing that the left wing wack jobs who frequently posted on the forums died with the rest of the left wing wack jobs who got fired on November 2nd, but I was wrong. I see there are still a few bucketmouths who post here who care more about illegal aliens than America's LEGAL CITIZENS. I hope Disgusted and some of the other left wing treehugging liberal wack jobs have the balls to post their addresses so we can tell the illegals to go live there and sponge off of THEM and NOT US.
Butters posted at 3:33 pm on Thu, Dec 9, 2010.
KMA367, big 10-4 on your post. Illegal alien children should be holding their illegal alien parents responsible for the illegal immigration acts they committed. We had and continue to have nothing to do with forcing illegals to come here. Of course if your a liberal left wing wack job, you never take any personal responsibility for your own actions, including holding your parents accountable for breaking the law. It's always easier to bllame others while the government steals our money and gives it to the undeserving illegals.
KMA367, Butters signing off...I'll be clear on your final...OUT!
Butters posted at 3:35 pm on Thu, Dec 9, 2010.
For those of you left wing liberal treehugging wack jobs who don't like my previous posted comments, to you I say BITE ME!. Skrew being PC.
Slabside posted at 5:48 pm on Thu, Dec 9, 2010.
Good job Jan! This is why you were elected governor. We need a person with your strength of character to stand up to the PC crowd infesting our country. Stick to your guns iron lady!!![beam]
samkat posted at 5:54 pm on Thu, Dec 9, 2010.
The dream act (can't see any reason for caps on such a repulsive subject) is nothing but out and out amnesty. First it is open ended and has no cut off date purposefully. Now, if you back up on the dates, a 35 year old would have been in this country for a long time. Why is it that these people have not already started the paperwork on their own? Then, we have the chain migration factor. The minute they get their green card they are eligible to sponsor every living soul they can conjure up as a blood relative for entry in to the country. The estimated costs for everything rolled up is in the trillions of dollars. The liberals gloss over these facts just as they did Obama care. PS: Is everyone aware that all males, legal or illegal is required to sign up for the selective service they day they trun 18. If they entered the country after that date, and before age 26, they are still required to register. There are are few exceptions and failure to register is a federal felony. If you doubt my word go to the Selective service website or stop by your local post office and pick up a copy of the selective registration form. Of course, the liberals will overlook that requirement just as they overlook the initial immigration violations.
Rich posted at 6:46 pm on Thu, Dec 9, 2010.
Facts? Here's one for you. It is simply not possible to extradite all of them or even a large portion of them. Just take 14 million and divide it by 365, That's how many you have to catch, try, jail and deport, daily to do it in a year. Frankly, given available manpower, give the 10% of the population who are unemployed a job, the majority will still die of old age before you're done. And your government would have collapsed under the expense, long before you got anywhere close to ten percent of them. If you doubt it do the math, assuming you can. It isn't your "facts', it isn't even statistics, it's arithmetic. If you haven't figured that out, and have a high school degree, you cheated on your math tests.
So the question really becomes what kind of a world do you want to live in when you retire? A world where you live behind locked doors with a gun to hand, or a prosperous world where productive, educated people create prosperity? If the first, start taking shooting lessons, and don't stop because the eyes go as you get older. If the second, educate the kids no matter who they are or where they come from, if all your 'facts' and 'statistics are absolutely true, it doesn't make a rat's behind worth of difference. It's your old age, I'm too old to really care.
wdgnas posted at 6:47 am on Fri, Dec 10, 2010.
i once again repeat myself. wasn't it saint ronald of reagan, that republican of republicans, that signed the immigration reform and control act of 1986?
wdgnas posted at 6:55 am on Fri, Dec 10, 2010.
the new "don't ask, don't tell", the az employers sanctions law that is before the supreme court now. who is behind that? the illegal immigrants or the businesses that hire them.
Poorman posted at 9:21 am on Fri, Dec 10, 2010.
I'm not a Gov.Brewer fan,but i;m with her on this one.This is nothing but a way to get amnesty.We need to get our laws in order,illegals should not be allowed to serve in our armed forces as this is not their legal country.Also the law letting Cubans stay here if they touch our shores needs to be done away with.The law with regards to childrens citizenship if born here needs to be changed or done away with.
Dale Whiting posted at 9:45 am on Fri, Dec 10, 2010.
Governor Brewer, where can the following verse be found?
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Hint: NOT IN ARIZONA
alfalfa posted at 11:00 am on Fri, Dec 10, 2010.
Dale Whiting
Since when is poetry used to determine US or Arizona policy? That , or any poem, has no relevance on this discussion.
azrepublican posted at 11:10 am on Fri, Dec 10, 2010.
Rich, concerning your statement about how much cheaper it would be to educate them all vs deporting them, DHS confirms cheaper to deport every illegal alien than allowing them to stay.
On December 3, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs, Nelson Peacock, responding to request from several U.S. Senators, including Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), wrote: “Our conservative estimate suggests that ICE would require a budget of more than $135 billion to apprehend, detain and remove the nation’s entire illegal immigrant population.”
In July 2010, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) released the results of a study which examined the costs of illegal immigration at the federal, state and local levels. The study found that U.S. state and local governments shell out $84.2 billion annually in various services (law enforcement, schools, social services, etc.), with California taxpayers alone, spending $21 billion on illegal aliens every year.
The same study found that $29 billion is spent every year in federal funds on illegal aliens.
So, while it would cost a one-time fee of about $135 billion to deport every single illegal alien in the country, it is actually a bargain considering the fact that it already costs us $113 billion annually to keep them here.
In other words, the mass deportation would pay for itself in a little over a year.
Incidentally, in 2007, the DHS estimated the cost of deporting all illegal aliens to be approximately $94 billion.
http://www.examiner.com/immigration-reform-in-national/dhs-confirms-cheaper-to-deport-every-illegal-alien-than-allowing-them-to-stay
azrepublican posted at 11:11 am on Fri, Dec 10, 2010.
Rich, The same way all law enforcement already catch criminals is to wait until they fall under the eye of the law and then identify, arrest, and adjudicate them. You said you were connected with law enforcement didn't you? The only problem is that there is a powerful lobby that fights every method we come up with that would facilitate the identification of people in our country illegally.
We can very easily develop an identification system that is foolproof and make it mandatory to prove you are a United States Citizen before you can do anything. No drivers license, no education, no welfare, no housing, no work, no food. We make laws that have teeth. If someone knowingly hires, houses, or abets in anyway someone not a US citizen and here illegally then there are real consequences for them. The problem so many see as insurmountable will take care of itself. It really isn't all that complicated, and it wont take a lot of resources to accomplish.
The city of Oakland recently cut their law enforcement down to half what it was, and they have one of the highest per capita of violent crime problems in this country, but they harbor many thousands of illegals that are milking the city dry. They are a self avowed sanctuary city. Los Angeles would be bankrupt if not for the bailouts that keep pouring yours and everyone's tax money into that city. That would seem to me to be the opposite what they should be doing. That is why I left. So don't even try to suggest to me that any real solution would be cost prohibitive because that is a very old myth no one will buy anymore. A little common sense will do the job if only the special interest lobby's would stop dragging us even further down the toilet. Van Jones says America may be in for civil war and that our future is going to be less prosperous. Can any one doubt why?
abimopectore posted at 1:13 pm on Fri, Dec 10, 2010.
The web and internet is dangerous, especially when trying to put honest facts together. Azrepublican has been bamboozled into believing some unverified fact. This has occurred to many others now since all the agenda-driven websites are citing the following December 3 report regarding:
"On December 3, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs, Nelson Peacock, responding to request from several U.S. Senators, including Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), wrote: “Our conservative estimate suggests that ICE would require a budget of more than $135 billion to apprehend, detain and remove the nation’s entire illegal immigrant population.”
There is no second, third, fourth, etc... news agency that will verify this, except on sensational agenda-oriented sites. The only supposed news site that contains this information is examiner.com, which is truly NOT a news agency but a website that's used for news stories by anybody who signs up for an account. In fact, I'll provide the link to this story which you can easily get if you go to news.google.com and type "Nelson Peacock" to get all recent news on this person. Here's the site url:
http://www.examiner.com/immigration-reform-in-national/dhs-confirms-cheaper-to-deport-every-illegal-alien-than-allowing-them-to-stay
The author of this story is a known "copy and paster" and sometimes fabricator of news whether it's factual or not. He's not a person who goes to the source to see if these things actually were said or stated. I've searched everywhere to find a corroborating source and I'm unable to verify it's truthfulness.
This is why this debate regarding immigration will never reach a compromise because it's imbued with false facts, mere passions, a lack of reasonable discussions, and folks who can't admit they're wrong when they fabricate things. Unfortunately, our Governor is one of them.
Rich posted at 1:33 pm on Fri, Dec 10, 2010.
"Since when is poetry used to determine US or Arizona policy?"
Every time a politician makes a speech, issues a press release. The same principles apply, the closer to good poetry it is, the more likely it will be accepted. Classic poetry shapes, and throughout history has shaped many political decisions, just reference how many times poets are quoted in the Congressional Record.
"That , or any poem, has no relevance on this discussion."
Actually it is probably the most relevant post in this discussion, detailing a promise we, as a country made to the world, and one that a bunch of demagogic nut balls want to renege on.
azrepublican posted at 2:38 pm on Fri, Dec 10, 2010.
abimopectore, you can attack the posters but not the facts. Illegal immigration is costing American taxpayers billions every year. It would be much cheaper to send them all back to Mexico and seal the border than to continue decade after decade services to people who cannot pay their own way.
EmperorSmith posted at 2:39 pm on Fri, Dec 10, 2010.
Maybe if he was the author of the poem.
EmperorSmith posted at 2:40 pm on Fri, Dec 10, 2010.
Sorry I should not have assumed gender.
azrepublican posted at 2:42 pm on Fri, Dec 10, 2010.
This is a fact: On December 3, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs, Nelson Peacock, responding to request from several U.S. Senators, including Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), wrote: “Our conservative estimate suggests that ICE would require a budget of more than $135 billion to apprehend, detain and remove the nation’s entire illegal immigrant population.”
This is a fact: In July 2010, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) released the results of a study which examined the costs of illegal immigration at the federal, state and local levels. The study found that U.S. state and local governments shell out $84.2 billion annually in various services (law enforcement, schools, social services, etc.), with California taxpayers alone, spending $21 billion on illegal aliens every year. The same study found that $29 billion is spent every year in federal funds on illegal aliens.
abimopectore posted at 2:57 pm on Fri, Dec 10, 2010.
azrepublican,
If you read my statement correctly, you would realize I wasn't completely stating what you wrote was necessarily incorrect. I just couldn't find any corroboration. However, just because you found it on the web somewhere doesn't make it true, even a fool would realize this.
You can parrot the statement all you want, but it does not make it a fact. Why don't you corroborate it, like from the source itself? Is it because the statement you write is something you want to believe so much that you're willing to stake out your position on mendacity instead of truth?
azrepublican posted at 8:37 am on Sat, Dec 11, 2010.
The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) report is a matter of record that can be found here: http://www.fairus.org/site/News2/545579341?page=NewsArticle&id=23190&security=1601&news_iv_ctrl=1761
As to the cost of removing all the illegals, the Nelson Peacock response that it would cost $135 billion to apprehend, detain and remove the nation’s entire illegal immigrant population is much higher than the real cost would be. As I stated to Rich in another article, we can very easily develop an identification system that is foolproof and make it mandatory to prove you are a United States Citizen before you can do anything. No drivers license, no education, no welfare, no housing, no work, no food. We make laws that have teeth. If someone knowingly hires, houses, or abets in anyway someone not a US citizen and here illegally then there are real consequences for them. The problem so many see as insurmountable will take care of itself. Most illegals would repatriate themselves. The rest would be scooped up as law enforcement becomes aware of them and sends them packing. It really isn't all that complicated, and it wont take a lot of resources to accomplish.
Masterrogue666 posted at 12:50 pm on Mon, Dec 13, 2010.
"But the governor said she cannot support it because it amounts to a reward (for those who) have broken the law in Arizona" -- Well stated, and quite true. No one should be rewarded. They grew up knowning they are ILLEGAL, so they become guilty after the fact. Usually, it's not just one law that gets broken, too. They also take funds that are meant for US citizens! The US can't be expected to take care of the entire world people!!!
smellsofpoo posted at 5:50 pm on Mon, Dec 13, 2010.
Wow, this has been going on for a long,long time. Yes Illegal entry was and still is a major problem. The new low is the smuggled children here. Tough. They were not old enough to choose but their law breaking parents did. Now they demand another "Back Door" amnesty? Hell no, send them all back. Its still ILLEGAL!! get it?
rrjenn posted at 12:38 pm on Sat, Dec 18, 2010.
DREAM Act dies a quiet death in the lame duck
December 18th, 2010 8:55 am PT
On a rare Saturday lame duck session the Senate voted to kill the DREAM Act- ending Democrats bid to give tuition breaks and amnesty to children of undocumented immigrants.
The vote this morning fell short of the 60 votes required (55-41) and witnessed Democrat defections.
The passionate floor debate by Democrats failed to resonate with emboldened Republicans .
Now immigration advocates will most likely have to wait another year before they get a chance to reform a broken program.