O'Reilly falsely claimed Kennedy-McCain immigration bill would address border security only by increasing border patrol
SUMMARY: Bill O'Reilly falsely claimed that the Senate immigration bill "does not address border security in any meaningful way" because it would "add 2,500 border patrol [agents] a year and that's it." In fact, in addition to doubling the number of border patrol agents over the next five years, the bill would also increase interior enforcement and electronic surveillance and provide for construction of additional barriers and fences along the border.
During the April 10 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, host Bill O'Reilly falsely claimed that the Senate immigration bill, sponsored by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), "does not address border security in any meaningful way" because it would "add 2,500 border patrol [agents] a year and that's it." In fact, in addition to doubling the number of border patrol agents over the next five years, the bill would also, among other things, increase interior enforcement and electronic surveillance and provide for construction of additional barriers and fences along the border.
On March 27, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved an immigration bill based on Kennedy and McCain's proposed legislation, "Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act." In addition to providing a guest worker program and a path for illegal immigrants to attain citizenship, the Kennedy-McCain bill also calls for numerous other measures designed to increase border security. For instance, according to a fact sheet provided by Kennedy, the bill would:
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Double interior enforcement by adding "1,000 investigators per year for next 5 years"
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Create a "[n]ew [s]ecurity [p]erimeter" by "add[ing] new technology at the border to create [a] 'virtual fence' "
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"Tighten[] [c]ontrols" by "expand[ing] exit-entry security system at all land borders and airports"
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Call for the "[c]onstruction of [b]arriers" by "mandat[ing] new roads and vehicle barriers at borders"
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Call for the "[c]onstruction of [f]ences" by "provid[ing] additional border fences at specific vulnerable sectors"
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"[A]uthorize new permanent highway checkpoints near border"
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Demand a "[c]omprehensive [s]urveillance [p]lan" that would "mandate[] new land and water surveillance plan[s]"
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"Create[] new crime for construction, financing, and use of unlawful tunnels."
From the April 10 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:
O'REILLY: Now, what's happening in the debate is deplorable. Number one, if you want to secure the border and hold illegal aliens accountable for breaking immigration law, you're inhumane. You're inhumane. Americans seeking strict enforcement of immigration laws are bad people, and even worse, conservatives. But the open border crowd is humane and holistic. Just read The New York Times and other left-wing outlets.
Well, "Talking Points" is fed up with the bull. So, here's the truth. The Kennedy-McCain bill would not secure the border or stop rampant illegal entry. The bill provides for more border patrol agents, but little else on the security side. The [Senate Majority Leader Bill] Frist [R-TN] bill's a bit tougher, but not much. So, at this point, the Senate simply doesn't want to secure the border, period.
[...]
LINDA CHAVEZ (Fox News political analyst and chairman of the Center for Equal Opportunity): Michelle [Malkin], my point is that this is like a three-legged stool. You can't fix one leg. The stool will not stand. There really are three issues. One is border security. It certainly is the top of the list. The second is what to do about the 12 million people who are here. And the third is what to do about our own needs as a country for new faces, new workers. We have --
O'REILLY: OK. But, Linda --
CHAVEZ: -- a need for those workers.
O'REILLY: -- the Senate bill does not address border security in any meaningful way, neither the McCain-Kennedy nor the Frist versions. They add 2,500 border patrol a year and that's it.
CHAVEZ: Well -- absolutely --
O'REILLY: That's not going to cut it when you have hundreds of thousands of people coming across.
is new? Bill continues to lie, even though it is "Fair and Balanced". Why is there no mention from FNC about the Illegal Hiring by American Employers?
"Now, what's happening in the debate is deplorable. Number one, if you want to secure the border and hold illegal aliens accountable for breaking immigration law, you're inhumane. You're inhumane. Americans seeking strict enforcement of immigration laws are bad people, and even worse, conservatives. But the open border crowd is humane and holistic."
Is Oreally? saying that conservative is a worse word than liberal? He is accusing the left of horrible name calling. I didn't realize being called conservative is a bad thing to BO?
For shifting the debate to an issue of minor importance (undocumented Mexicans living and working in America) from the major issues (Iraq, the National Debt, Republican Incompetence, War Profiteering, Katrina and New Orleans, REAL homeland security, Lack of Checks and Balances, etc.).
Keep acting like Dumbocrats and the Republicans will keep the House AND increase their seats in the Senate. Stop playing the game by their rules. Tell them this is an issue WE (a Democratically controlled House and Senate) will address once issues of greater import are addressed (see above). Immigration is the 2006 version of gay marriage. That was a non-issue. This is a future issue that can wait. And get angry. Make it clear to the public the Republicans are playing politics with immigration. Which is smart. Undocumented immigrants cannot vote, so it's a riskless tactic. The only potential for blowback is in and among Mexican-American communities (which have probably been segmented and gerrymandered into the shape of a tostada; gotta love Tom DeLay’s sense of humor) to reduce the impact of a Mexican-American Democratic swing.
Glad people are saying that this issue IS A DIVERSION!! Complete waste of energy at this time. Must keep on keepin' on... and force these crooks out of office.
Agree, 100%.
You bet Republicans know what "Distraction Issues" are, every bit as much as they know what "Wedge Issues" are; and all this noise about 'immigration' is both those things...
As a distraction from Iraq, FALSE (or FALSIFIED) 'pre-invasion intelligence', and Ethics; and as a wedge to divide and conquer an electorate in revolt; in revolt against Republicans who are entirely responsible for the lies and greed and death that surrounds the Iraq invasion, and all the other things...
Things which 'immigration' is supposed to distract from.
And as if Republicans didn't have enough help already (from Fox News Channel, which has been running crazy with this 'immigration' nonsense), they have the 'knee-jerk liberals' to fuel their fire...
If a Republican in the Administration, or in Congress, is under pressure from the above-named disgraces, all they have to do is begin chatting about 'distractionary' and 'wedge' issues: And the 'knee-jerk liberal' takes the bait, and goes headlong into the issue, so that by the time they've caught their breath after long and senseless orations on the nonsense, all who are within earshot have been successfully distracted from whatever disgrace it was that had pressured Republicans in the first place; and the 'wedge' has been driven, splitting off the 'knee-jerk liberal' from American Common Sense...
And the electorate has been divided, and conquered.
And Lies and Greed and Death take the Oath of Office, to thoroughly delight themselves and serve their Greed for Wealth and Lust for Power, Republican-style: Aided and abetted by the 'knee-jerk liberal'.
It's a recurring story, and becomes ever more sickening, with each re-telling.
The "Gay Marriage" nonsense was mentioned, as though that were nonsense in the past: It is not; it's an issue ready-to-go, and will be made one this summer (perhaps even sooner; next week or tomorrow even!); and when it happens (probably right at the height of the Lies and Greed and Death that is Iraq), you know who'll be there to aide and abet the distraction and 'wedge' of such nonsense as that.
(And while I'm typing: Of course, the king of these 'wedge' issues is always on the table, and always ready-to-go; you know what that issue is; it's signified by a word that begins with the letter "A"; it's a word that signifies an intensely personal surgical procedure; the "A" word signifies a surgical procedure that only a woman in the most distressing of circumstances wants performed, and that no person in their right mind would want to watch, and that Democrats publicly discuss and affirm every chance they get...
...or every time they're baited into it by Republicans.)
Illegal Hiring by American Employers! Why is this not being discussed here?
I don't care so much for illegal hiring. It is not paying social security taxes that is illegal , so our kids can retire when it is time.
you indifferent to Illegal Hiring? Are you a Businessman and not a Working Man?
Its becoming a daily thing.
"if you want to secure the border and hold illegal aliens accountable for breaking immigration law, you're inhumane."
Does O'Reilly ever talk about cracking down on the lawbreakers that HIRE illegals? The illegals are here, afterall, because there are businesses and others who are willing to hire them illegally. But all the conservative bobbleheads want to talk about is illegals breaking the law, not the people who hire them.
Wait, isn't this the bill that would make people who entered the US illegal less than two years ago return to their own country? Doesn't state the people who have been here illegally between 2 and 5 years report to a port and "register"? WOW! I'm so glad we have McCain and Kennedy here to protect us! I feel better now! Why haven't we thought of this sooner??
Protect us from what? I am wondering if you conservatives enjoy being scared. Because you do seem afraid of every little thing.
Hello all, I'm a long time reader but first time poster to MM. A couple of things that I want to address before jumping in to this discussion. I am Hispanic (from PR, so I don't have a real immigrant story to tell, despite being born outside the continental US) and I consider myself a left-leaning moderate. I find it interesting to read posts like Fantagor's and Peet's. I know that it may seem like a diversion away from the war, faulty intelligence, budget deficit, etc., but this is an issue that should have been addressed years ago. I agree that the focus (immigrants) needs to be shifted (border security, immigration reform, employers), but the issue cannot be ignored. The problem is that the media has such a short attention span that it cannot focus on more than one issue at a time. We're all to blame for that. God forbid we talk about immigration AND the war AND the budget. I haven't heard much talk regarding the wiretapping (outside of Feingold). I've heard even less talk about port security lately. If anything liberals should be happy that this has become such a big talking point. First of all, the issue is causing a large rift within the Republican Party. W has solidified his position as a lame duck with this and the ports deal. Secondly, most Americans are on the side of the immigrants, favoring a path to legality and even citizenship in some cases. Finally, the Republicans are pushing away the Hispanic vote. They really needed that 40% the last time out and I don't think it’s hard to see that they will be very lucky to repeat that performance moving forward. I really see this as an issue that the Democrats may be able to use to their advantage if they are able to turn the debate around to focus on border security and tougher penalties for businesses hiring these workers. I apologize for being so long winded in my first post; I'll try to be more concise in the future.
HEY I SEE THOSE PROTEST WORKED!!! THE RNC AND KARL ROVE TOLD THE HOUSE TOO DROP THE PART ABOUT PUTTING PEOPLE WHO HELP IMMIGRANTS IN JAIL. NOW WHO IS PLAYING UP TO THE RACES TO GET THE VOTE IN NOV. AND O8.