Hillary supports legal status for illegals with jobs; also supports CITIZENSHIP for illegal children who go to college

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Our immigration system is in crisis. The laws we currently have on the books are inadequate and no longer serve our best interests. As a nation, we place a premium on compassion, respect, and policies that help families, but our immigration laws don't reflect that.

Hillary has consistently called for comprehensive immigration reform that respects our immigrant heritage and honors the rule of law. She believes comprehensive reform must have as essential ingredients a strengthening of our borders, greater cross-cooperation with our neighbors, strict but fair enforcement of our laws, federal assistance to our state and local governments, strict penalties for those who exploit undocumented workers, and a path to earned legal status for those who are here, working hard, paying taxes, respecting the law, and willing to meet a high bar.

Hillary strongly believes we need to do more to know who is in our country by securing our borders and ensuring that employers comply with the law against hiring and exploiting undocumented workers. She supports deploying new technology that can help stop the flow of undocumented immigrants into the country and an employer verification system that is universal, accurate, timely, and does not lead to discrimination and abuse by employers.

Along with these changes, Hillary believes we need to repair those broken portions of our immigration system that irrevocably damage families and force citizens and lawful immigrants to choose between their newly adopted country and living with their spouse or children. We have a national interest in fostering strong families. This is why she introduced an amendment during consideration of the immigration reform bill that would have taken steps to protect the sanctity of families. Our American values demand no less.

And Hillary understands that our immigration policies have a direct impact on American workers. She opposes a guest worker program that exploits workers and creates a supply of cheap labor that undermines the wages of U.S. workers. Hillary believes all workers deserve safe conditions and decent wages. She supports an Ag Jobs program, which will keep our agricultural industry vibrant while enabling agricultural workers to receive the fair wages and labor protections they ought to receive.

When Hillary is president, comprehensive immigration reform will be a top priority.

Ready to Lead

Hillary has advocated for policies to help smooth the transition of legal immigrants once they arrive in the U.S. so that they can add to our economy and culture.

* She championed the Legal Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act, which would give states the option to provide federally funded Medicaid and SCHIP benefits to low-income legal immigrant children and pregnant women.

* She wrote the Access to Employment and English Acquisition Act to meet the growing demand for English language courses and other job skills.

* She strongly supports the DREAM Act, which provides a path to citizenship through military service or higher education for children who were brought to the U.S. by their parents.

* She offered an amendment to make family reunification the guiding principle of our immigration system.

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/immigration/

[almaty 19]

Along with these changes, Hillary believes we need to repair those broken portions of our immigration system that irrevocably damage families and force citizens and lawful immigrants to choose between their newly adopted country and living with their spouse or children. We have a national interest in fostering strong families. This is why she introduced an amendment during consideration of the immigration reform bill that would have taken steps to protect the sanctity of families. Our American values demand no less.

obama is on board with this ...

[Ban Hammer 13,360]

scratch what i said previously then - i'll vote for mickey mouse if it comes down to her and mccain.

[BabyBlueSusie 1]

[Alex+R 0]

I'm cool with this.

[almaty 19]

if it is hillary and mccain.. i am sure there be an independent running...

you can always vote libertian.. right brother rich?

[Alex+R 0]

Charles, what did you *think* her stance on immigration was? (Other than wide.)

[Ban Hammer 13,360]

Charles, what did you *think* her stance on immigration was? (Other than wide.)

that's funny.

i didn't think it was as lenient as mccain's but it appears so. to get my vote the candidate must:

- not believe in amnesty or rewarding illegals, in fact the candidate better plan on increasing arrests and deportations and support legislation that requires a national identity check to preclude fraud and illegals.

- promise to get us out of iraq

- make the economy a top priority.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Alex, I agree. I'm cool with this too.

One of the things that bothers me about this immigration debate is that it's being used by old-school nativists to whip up anger and resentment against immigrants in general. I know we on VJ like to say this is about illegal immigrants and no immigrants per se, but that's because we as a community (VJ) understand immigration and all (or most) the subtleties of being in and out of status. Outside VJ, you have a world where ignorance abounds and the nativists (people like Lou Dobbs) are taking full advantage of it and trying to whip Americans into an anti-immigrant fervor.

To me, this is a litmus test issue. I will not vote for a candidate that plays a part in this. That rules out most GOP candidates, with the exception of McCain, Huckabee and Rudy. They have all demonstrated compassion for immigrants in the past and that means a lot to me.

[Alex+R 0]

Alex, I agree. I'm cool with this too.

One of the things that bothers me about this immigration debate is that it's being used by old-school nativists to whip up anger and resentment against immigrants in general. I know we on VJ like to say this is about illegal immigrants and no immigrants per se, but that's because we as a community (VJ) understand immigration and all (or most) the subtleties of being in and out of status. Outside VJ, you have a world where ignorance abounds and the nativists (people like Lou Dobbs) are taking full advantage of it and trying to whip Americans into an anti-immigrant fervor.

To me, this is a litmus test issue. I will not vote for a candidate that plays a part in this. That rules out most GOP candidates, with the exception of McCain, Huckabee and Rudy. They have all demonstrated compassion for immigrants in the past and that means a lot to me.

Yeah, although I don't like how Huckabee is downplaying his past support for illegal immigrants' rights now. Be a man. But of course that's a bit irrelevant for me since there's no chance I'd vote for someone who believes in the Bible literally and has a host of wingnut views to complement that belief. I have other litmus test issues, like the right to choose and the war, that eliminate all the Republicans.

[natty bumppo 297]

Hillary has consistently called for comprehensive immigration reform that respects our immigrant heritage and honors the rule of law. She believes comprehensive reform must have as essential ingredients a strengthening of our borders, greater cross-cooperation with our neighbors, strict but fair enforcement of our laws, federal assistance to our state and local governments, strict penalties for those who exploit undocumented workers, and a path to earned legal status for those who are here, working hard, paying taxes, respecting the law, and willing to meet a high bar.

Well ... that statement alone rules out all illegals ... they don't have a chance of meeting this criteria

the taxes they pay legally are what ... sales taxes, property taxes (if they own property) ?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Obviously a decision is made based on more than one issue. This thread is about immigration, so I was focusing on that.

[Alex+R 0]

Obviously a decision is made based on more than one issue. This thread is about immigration, so I was focusing on that.

Yep. I'm just sayin'.

[natty bumppo 297]

Obviously a decision is made based on more than one issue. This thread is about immigration, so I was focusing on that.

Obviously HC is speaking out of both ends ... here is a path .... and yet the illegal can't take the path (by her own admission)

[rebeccajo 14]

Alex, I agree. I'm cool with this too.

One of the things that bothers me about this immigration debate is that it's being used by old-school nativists to whip up anger and resentment against immigrants in general. I know we on VJ like to say this is about illegal immigrants and no immigrants per se, but that's because we as a community (VJ) understand immigration and all (or most) the subtleties of being in and out of status. Outside VJ, you have a world where ignorance abounds and the nativists (people like Lou Dobbs) are taking full advantage of it and trying to whip Americans into an anti-immigrant fervor.

To me, this is a litmus test issue. I will not vote for a candidate that plays a part in this. That rules out most GOP candidates, with the exception of McCain, Huckabee and Rudy. They have all demonstrated compassion for immigrants in the past and that means a lot to me.

I'm not so sure about that one. The word 'illegal' around here seems to encompass many immigrants statuses.

And even if people do understand the subtleties, it's a hot topic around here for the wrong reasons, IMO. A lot of posters here are PO'd about the system because they've been in it and because they know they've gone about things the 'right' way. It's harder to see the issues objectively if you've got an (understandable) resentment against those who haven't played the game the same way you have.

Edited January 11, 2008 by rebeccajo