Common Sense Locked Out
With Governor Lincoln Chafee determined to ease the way for illegal immigrants in Rhode Island society, some legislators will surely increase their attempts to affect the relevant aspects of Rhode Island law through legislation, as Rep. Peter Palumbo (D, Cranston) has promised to do:
Palumbo also said he will introduce another bill, or package of bills, when Governor-elect Lincoln D. Chafee goes forward with his announced plan to repeal Governor Carcieri’s executive order on illegal immigration. The bill, or bills, “will mimic the executive order to take its place legislatively,” Palumbo said.
The stunning stretches of parliamentary procedure that similar legislation received last year (see here and here) suggest that the legislative route may not work. The prospects, this year, are made more dim by the fact that any legislation that passes will likely require enough support to override a gubernatorial veto.
Perhaps the makeup of the General Assembly changed just enough for a new dynamic on immigration, but I doubt it. All that’s left is for residents to speak up and make it increasingly difficult for the state’s political leaders to cater to their ideologies and favored special interests.
The value of introducing such legislation, even if it doesn’t pass or override a veto, is that it highlights the issue for public debate and furthers the education of the voting public on the issue.
Besides, Chafee will be a one-term Governor. The fight isn’t over yet.
Chafee’s relief that Kilmartinn’ use of the Safe Communities law won’t endanger undetected illegal aliens is a blatant example of using the state government as a harboring entity.
This would be a felony if committed by an individual.
For the state to give its imprimature to the protection of illegal aliens from applicable Federal law is shameful and nothing but an extension of the sanctuary movement,which is nothing more than total disprespect for the law.
You can’t pick and choose the laws you’ll follow and expect society to stay healthy.This is not a totalitarian state.We are bombarded constantly by left wing activists about how horrible our immigration laws are.
Trying to change them is legitimate-working to undermine them isn’t.The immigration laws,unlike the segregation laws of yesteryear,are applicable to anyone,not a particular racial/ethnic/religious group.
We are lied to by activists,clergymen,and politicians who say different.
when an attorney and former Housing Court judge like Roberto Gonzales says ICE is equivalent to the Gestapo,he is flat out full of crap.
One could only wish he had experienced the real Gestapo before making such an evil comparison.Or maybe the KGB.
He’d be singing a different tune.Same for the rest of the enablers of illegal aliens.
I think we overlook that it is fundamental to Democratic philosophy to increase the number of immigrants of any stripe. This will impel them to actions which may very well be illegal. Inside every Immigrant is a Democrat waiting to get out.
warrington-is that last line your opinion or what you believe the Democrats think?
I don’t agree that immigrants are necessarily liberal nor potential Democrats.
I would say this is quite opposite what I’ve observed in the communities of Asian/African/East European immigrants.
It also applies to a lot of Latin American immigrants-those who avoid the blandishments of ethnic pimps(and a lot of those ethnic pimps are not Latino at all).
Joe Bernstein wrties:
“warrington-is that last line your opinion or what you believe the Democrats think?”
I have little experience with Asian immigrants, but Cubans I have known to be an exception (this seems to stem from Kennedy and the Bay of Pigs).
My point is what Democrats think, and those thoughts are not without foundation. Not so long ago, I would have rather arm wrestled with a back hoe than attempted to find a Republican Irish, Italian, or Jew. Shortly after their immigration, they all seemed universally Democrats. This I ascribe to “ward heeler” politics.
The relatively recent “suburbanization” of these groups seems to have altered that situation. This leaves Democrats seeking new immigrants. They have had “positive experience” with them in the past.
Until recently, Black Republicans were rare. Not withstanding that the “Party of Lincoln” did so much for them. When polled individually,their attitudes are very conservative.
I am not sure whether liberal, or conservative, attitudes controlled Democratic enrollment. If you lived in a large city, with a Democratic Machine”, perhaps it was just expedient. I have known Cubans who mnoved to Boston and New York. They switched their voter registration to “independant”, thinking that a Republican registration might hamper them in obtaining government employment.
With Governor Lincoln Chafee determined to ease the way for illegal immigrants in Rhode Island society,
Justin
That is a huge assumption. More likely the incoming Governor wishes to make sure the legal immigrants will not be discriminated against and profiled for law enforcement treatment. Removing the politically based executive order signed by the outgoing (count the minutes) Governor will assure those who are legally in this country that they can live and work without fear. It’s morning in Rhode Island. Happy New Year.
Not a SINGLE documented case of a legal immigrant being harrassed or unjustifiably profiled has surfaced since the Governor’s order.
BTW if a LEGAL resident alien is arrested by the police and has a criminal record,they should call ICE to determine if the person is a deportable(as opposed to illegal)alien.
Phil needs to get educated on the facts.
Hey Phil, in Chafee’s own words, he said he had no problem with Kilmartin’s implementation of the ICE fingerprint checks because it wouldn’t affect illegals that had no prior contact with ICE. Sounds like easing the way to me.