Marc Victor — high profile Arizona attorney who has been commenting on the Jodi Arias case via Arizona media outlets

I was invited to discuss the legal immigration plan supported by the Gang of 8 on the Attorney For Freedom Show a couple of days ago, and you can listen to the recording here.

Marc Victor is a high profile attorney in Arizona who realizes immigration ought to be fixed, and while I don’t agree with all of his ideas — I felt it was important to address what I do and do not support with regard to immigration reform since Victor has several Libertarian and Republican listeners.

I did take the opportunity to nail the Texas U.S. Senators who are missing in action — from the state that shares 64% of the entire southern border length with Mexico.  Where are they?  Texas John Cornyn is on the Finance committee that oversees ports of entry, trade and tariffs — yet he is nowhere to be found on the push for legal immigration.

We also spoke about Cuban immigrants receive government benefits once their wet foot touches dry land because Libertarians do not like any hints of welfare programs/government benefits.  I reminded Victor that most immigrants do not receive the government benefits that are afforded to Cuban immigrants.  Indeed Texas U.S. Senator and Cuban-American Ted Cruz has had family that benefited from Cuban privileged amnesty via the Cuban Adjustment Act, and it is unfortunate that the freshman will not follow the steps of Senator Marco Rubio of Florida.  At least Rubio is working towards legal immigration — and Ted Cruz is not.

Tune into the May 1st, 2013 recorded show with regard to immigration here.

Where are Texas Senators Ted Cruz and Jon Cornyn at when they have 64% of the border length and a whopping 24 ports of entry? How on God’s green earth were  the Texas U.S. Senators not able to be part of the legal immigration reform discussions when Texas shares most of the border length with Mexico?  Here’s a snap shot of the bordering states:

Texas: 1,255 miles/64% of border length and has 24 ports of entry

Arizona: 354 miles/18% of border length and has 8 ports of entry

New Mexico: 180 miles/9% and has 3 ports of entry

California: 165 miles/8% of border length and 6 ports of entry

Another question:  Why didn’t Cuban Republican Senator Marco Rubio support a path to citizenship that emulates the  privileged Cuban amnesty

Mexicans continue to get the shaft.

offered to his people?  Are immigrants really that different?  Or, do we really believe we are created equally?  It is a fact that the majority of those being deported are of Mexican descent so naturally we believe Rubio doesn’t feel the pain we feel.  [Mexican-Americans account for almost 70% of the Latin population pie while Cuban-Americans account for 3% of the pie.] Why should Rubio feel the angst and pain we feel?  His people benefit from amnesty so of course he isn’t in a hurry to help the Mexicans and other Latino groups who don’t receive privileged amnesty.

Since Mexico is considered more corrupt than Cuba — wouldn’t it make sense to support a Mexican Adjustment Act that emulates the Cuban Adjustment Act?

More importantly, who would ever want to support a policy reminiscent of ‘taxation without representation’ or anything of the sort?  Do people really want to go back to the archaic days before the Boston Tea Party?  Those who contribute to state and federal tax revenues ought to have the option to vote and be represented if they are contributing to years and years of taxes.

Those of Mexican descent are indigenous and natives yet they get treated as if they are lepers and the reason more than likely has to do with the fact that they make up the majority of the Latino population pie.

Just in and fresh off the wire:

APNewsBreak: Immigration bill could exclude many

WASHINGTON (AP) — Bipartisan immigration legislation emerging in the Senate could prevent hundreds of thousands of immigrants in the U.S. illegally from ever becoming citizens, according to a Senate aide with knowledge of the proposals.

The bill expected to be unveiled next week would bar anyone who arrived in the U.S. after Dec. 31, 2011, from applying for legal status and ultimately citizenship, according to the aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the proposals had not been announced.

It also would require applicants to document that they were in the country before Dec. 31, 2011, have a clean criminal record, and show enough employment or financial stability that they’re likely to stay off welfare.

Those requirements could end up excluding hundreds of thousands of the 11 million immigrants in the U.S. illegally from the path to citizenship envisioned by the bill, the aide said.

Although illegal immigration to the U.S. has been dropping, many tens of thousands still arrive each year, so the cutoff date alone could exclude a large number of people. That may come as a disappointment to immigrant rights groups that had been hoping that anyone here as of the date of enactment of the bill could be able to become eligible for citizenship.

But Republicans in the immigration negotiating group had sought strict criteria on legal enforcement and border security as the price for their support for a path to citizenship, which is still opposed by some as amnesty.

The new details emerged as negotiators reached agreement on all the major elements of the sweeping legislation.

After months of arduous closed-door negotiations, the “Gang of Eight” senators, equally divided between the two parties, had no issues left to resolve in person, and no more negotiating sessions were planned. Remaining details were left to aides, who were at work completing drafts of the bill.

“All issues that rise to the member level have been dealt with,” Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement. “All that is left is the drafting.”

Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois said the bill probably would be introduced on Tuesday.

The landmark legislation would overhaul legal immigration programs, require all employers to verify the legal status of their workers, greatly boost border security and put the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally on a path to citizenship. A top second-term priority for President Barack Obama, it would enact the biggest changes to U.S. immigration law in more than a quarter century.

Deals gelled over the past day on a new farm-worker program and visas for high-tech workers, eliminating the final substantive disputes on the legislation.

Next will come the uncertain public phase as voters and other lawmakers get a look at the measure. Already, some on the right have made it clear their opposition will be fierce.

Once the legislation is released, it will be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has scheduled a hearing for next Wednesday and will likely begin to amend and vote on the bill the week of May 6. From there, the bill would move to the Senate floor.

Both in committee and on the floor, the bill could change in unpredictable ways as senators try to amend it from the left and the right. The Gang of Eight — Schumer, Durbin, and Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and Michael Bennet, D-Colo. — have discussed banding together to defeat amendments that could significantly alter the legislation.

Even more uncertain, though, is the conservative-led House, where a bipartisan group is also crafting an immigration bill, though timing of its release is uncertain. Many conservatives in the House remain opposed to citizenship for immigrants who have been living in the U.S. illegally.

In addition to the new details on criteria for future citizens, other significant elements of the Senate legislation are also known, through comments from senators or aides, leaks or statements by outside groups.

The bill is expected to provide a 13-year path to citizenship for people living here illegally who qualify, but only after a new southern border security plan is in place, employers have adopted mandatory electronic verification of their workers’ legal status and a new electronic entry-exit system is operating at airports and seaports for tracking holders of temporary visas.

It would call for surveillance of 100 percent of the U.S. border with Mexico and apprehension of 90 percent of people trying to cross in certain high-risk areas.

Six months from enactment, people living in the U.S. illegally could apply for a provisional legal status, as long as the Department of Homeland Security has developed new plans for border security.

A new visa program for low-skilled workers would ultimately allow up to 200,000 workers per year into the country for jobs as janitors, construction workers, nursing home attendants and other occupations.

Farm workers already here illegally would get a faster path to citizenship than other immigrants, and another new visa program would allow tens of thousands of new workers into the country to labor in the nation’s farms, fields and dairies.

A visa program for high-tech workers now capped at 65,000 per year would nearly double, and foreigners getting advanced degrees in math, technology, science and engineering from U.S. institutions would more easily qualify for permanent residence.

A largely voluntary system called E-Verify that employers can use to check their workers’ legal status would be expanded and made mandatory for all employers.

Other details, however, are not yet known. In particular, activists are eager to learn the particulars on how much people would have to pay in fees and fines to ultimately get citizenship.

___

Follow Erica Werner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ericawerner

I believe gun control can take political capital away from fixing the broken immigration system, too, if Mexican-Americans do not have a strong grassroots political movement, and if Mexican-American politicians do not step up to the plate. 

Gone are the days for Latinos to hold up a victim card because IMMIGRATION IS A FEDERAL ISSUE.  Obama has the power to eliminate the “Arpaios” and the racial profiling goon squads in his 2nd term now.  This is exactly

Ranking by Population — Pew

why I voted for Obama in 2012 because I know he doesn’t have to worry about getting re-elected.  This is a hot button issue and again … the immigration issue is a federal one under the Supremacy Clause of our United States Constitution.  Be reminded that both Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush waited til they were re-elected into their 2nd term before addressing immigration.  Everyone knows that a 2nd term President no longer has to worry about being re-elected, therefore, the Obama administration has clout — particularly when the Democratic Party still holds the majority seats in the Senate.

More importantly, everyone knows how women and Mexican-American / Latinos helped Democrats maintain their power on November 6, 2012.  Women and Latinos made a resounding voting statement in 2012 and Democrats cannot afford to lose that momentum.

Remember when Congressman Luis Gutierrez threatened Latinos would stay home and not vote in 2012 because Obama didn’t pass immigration reform within his 1st term?  (I really like Gutierrez — I really do, but he is Puerto Rican and he needs to be careful with painting with a broad brush especially since Mexican-Americans have been working hard on getting out the vote.  Several did not think the “don’t vote” message was productive).  Mexicanos must get out the vote because that is the only way they can show Washington D.C. that we are paying attention and it is a way to flex our political muscle.

That said, it was interesting for me to see how Nakaruma quoted Cuban-Republican Sen. Marco Rubio.  Doesn’t he know Cubans only make up 3% of the entire Latino population?  More importantly, doesn’t Nakaruma know that Rubio supported the controversial SB 1070 and did not support the DREAM Act when we needed it the most?  The person to seek a quote from is Sen. Robert Menendez (also Cuban-American) who has taken the initiative to put an immigration reform bill on the floor.

Who are the ones mostly getting deported?  It’s isn’t the Cubans — it is the Mexicans who were deported in record numbers, therefore, it makes sense to talk to more Mexican-American leaders who are feeling the pain the most because they are the ones who have witnessed their extended families forced apart and deported.

Where are the quotes of Mexican-American Representatives as it relates to where most of the population is at in the southwestern part of the United States?  Raul Grijalva, Ed Pastor, Toney Anaya, Xavier Becerra, Loretta Sanchez, Linda Sánchez, and so forth? Had the Democratic Mexican-American woman and candidate via Amanda Aguirre been elected this past year, we would have seen her take the bull by the horns on this issue.

Make no mistake, we are now living in the Information Age where keeping track of the Mexican-American politician(s) is easier with regard to their voting records and the initiatives they have taken at the Hill.  I am a mere writer who has no political power — and the ones who have the power are those elected officials who have been elected to push policies that will fix broken things at the Hill. Again, Arpaio’s racial profile regime can end when Congress fixes the clearly broken system.

It is critical for the Mexican-American voters to keep track of their Mexican-American representatives (particularly in the southwestern part of the United States where Mexicans dominate in population growth).  Where is the strong Mexican-American congressional politician at  to take the lead on immigration since the  immigration issue is a federal issue under the Supremacy Clause?  We all know the Supreme Court reinforced the Supremacy Clause issue during the summer of 2012 when most of SB1070 was shredded and gutted. Chicanos must work harder and be more assertive.  It is a good idea for the DREAM Act students to assert themselves because the political game is all about the ante up while raising the call.  While the DREAMers ante up via protests, Mexican-American and/or Latinos who agree with reasonable immigration ought to find what both sides can agree on and build from there.  Note:  Mexican-Americans and Chicanos will more than likely not be for building a class of people who are paying into the federal tax reserve system without proper representation.

Can we address both gun control on automatic / assault-type of weapons and fixing the broken immigration system?

I believe we can do both.

Nonetheless, I am curious what readers think and believe this poll is necessary to ascertain intelligence.

Inauguration Day is coming up, and we should take a proactive position on policies instead of a reactionary one.

In the meantime … do pray for the safety of our United States President.  These are two tough issues, and I’m concerned about the volatility of both the gun and immigration issue under the Obama administration.    Do you know how many racists in Arizona love their automatic and assault rifle weaponry?  Two examples from Arizona I have are J.T. Ready and Shawna Forde that will point to my concern with regard to how wacko racists with guns can be.

In the meantime, please take the poll below.  I voted “no” because I think we can address both issues in a productive and reasonable manner.

There was no reason the Texas Senator could not take a lead on the DREAM Act because he represents a state where many of his constituents are of Mexican-American descent.

According to Talking Points Memo:

Sen. John Cornyn (TX), the ranking member of the Judiciary subcommittee, called the hearing a futile exercise and, following the lead of other Republicans, he took a swipe at President Obama for failing to pass immigration reform.

“Unfortunately, the Democrat majority seems to have embraced President Obama’s ‘mañana’ approach to immigration reform,” Cornyn said in a statement.

A message to the Texas Senator:

We are all for legal immigration, Senator Cornyn, and not every Latino ethnic group is able to receive Cuban Amnesty because no Republican leadership in any of the high Hispanic populated states are taking leadership for legal immigration reform.  Mexicans that make up a significant part of your state are still waiting for you to take a lead on the Mexican Adjustment Act you should have taken “ayer.” 

P.S.  You are no longer an amigo to those who had hoped you would support the DREAM Act vote of 2010.

 

Arizona’s controversial immigration measure has inspired numerous boycotts — and on Tuesday, it provoked another, when Senate Republicans refused to show up at a hearing on the measure. The hearing took place one day before the Supreme Court begins to weigh its constitutionality, leaving Democrats to spar with the author of the measure and paint the GOP as “absent” — literally — on immigration reform.

The hearing comes ahead of an election in which the two parties are battling for Hispanic voters, who strongly oppose the S.B. 1070 law and who lean Democratic by a huge margin. The Democrats’ hearing reflects an effort to highlight this divide, in part because they used the occasion to make an impassioned case for the DREAM Act.

Sen. John Cornyn (TX), the ranking member of the Judiciary subcommittee, called the hearing a futile exercise and, following the lead of other Republicans, he took a swipe at President Obama for failing to pass immigration reform.

“Unfortunately, the Democrat majority seems to have embraced President Obama’s ‘mañana’ approach to immigration reform,” Cornyn said in a statement.

There were only 6 Democratic Senators who did not vote in support of the DREAM Act, however, there were 39 Republican Senators  below who voted against the DREAM Act in 2010.  They showed no mercy and compassion before they took their Christmas vacations in 2010.   Will Senator John McCain and Senator Jon Kyl retire with the legend of being anti-children and anti-immigrant? Hell, Senator Orrin Hatch clearly doesn’t stand by the principles of the Utah Compact.  Isn’t this nation great because of the immigrants that landed on Plymouth?

Below is a list of United States Republican Senators who will receive an F on an immigration score card currently being prepared in light of the 2012 Presidential Elections.  An immigration score card will be circulated to all High Hispanic populated states and our media contacts.  We encourage the below United States Senators to pass the DREAM Act and fix the broken immigration system before they take their Holiday or Christmas vacation in 2011.  The judgment that is passed on our children will be reciprocal.

Below are all of the Republicans Senators who voted Nay during the DREAM Act vote in December 2010:

Alexander (R-TN),
Barrasso (R-WY),
Bond (R-MO),
Brown (R-MA),
Brownback (R-KS),
Burr (R-NC),
Chambliss (R-GA),
Coburn (R-OK),
Cochran (R-MS),
Collins (R-ME),
Corker (R-TN),
Cornyn (R-TX),
Crapo (R-ID),
DeMint (R-SC),
Ensign (R-NV),
Enzi (R-WY),
Graham (R-SC),
Grassley (R-IA),
Hutchison (R-TX),
Inhofe (R-OK),
Isakson (R-GA),
Johanns (R-NE),
Kirk (R-IL),
Kyl (R-AZ),
LeMieux (R-FL),
McCain (R-AZ),
McConnell (R-KY),
Risch (R-ID),
Roberts (R-KS),
Sessions (R-AL),
Shelby (R-AL),
Snowe (R-ME),
Thune (R-SD),
Vitter (R-LA),
Voinovich (R-OH),
Wicker (R-MS),

Note the 5 Democrats who voted nay. 60 votes were needed on the aye side for the measure to invoke cloture, which would have concluded debate on the matter so it could proceed to a vote for or against passage.

Not Voting – 4
Bunning (R-KY)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hatch (R-UT)
Manchin (D-WV)   *Note:  Democratic Senator Manchin chose to attend a Christmas Party instead of voting.

*Note: Senator Marco Rubio repeatedly voiced his opposition against the DREAM Act and the blood of Joaquin is on his hands, too.  He is the worst of them all because he knows that Cubans receive privileged amnesty and does nothing to fix the broken immigration system knowing full well that other Hispanic ethnic groups do not receive special benefits that have been afforded to his family who migrated from Cuba.

Dear Senator Marco Rubio,

The immigration tide is turning since the downfall of Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce who launched a wave of anti-immigrant state laws across the nation that began with Arizona’s harsh anti-immigrant law you supported.

We recently learnt that you want the GOP to tone down the anti-immigrant rhetoric; however, we need more than just lip service from you.  You see…the problem and the reason for Republican State lawmakers implementing their anti-immigrant bills that comes with the nasty and hateful rhetoric has much to do with the broken immigration system.   There is no question the system is broken, and all Republican lawmakers are drumming to the same beat and to the tune of : “It is the responsibility of the government to fix the immigration system.”  That’s where you come in as a federal lawmaker.  As a federal lawmaker, it is your duty to step in and help fix the broken federal immigration policy that will continue to respect the Supremacy Clause that keeps our States united while protecting the United States Constitution.  It is simply unreasonable to have 50 different immigration laws throughout the country while maintaining sound relationships and trade agreements with our neighbors.

We are asking for more than just lip service and a mere request to tone down anti-immigrant rhetoric.  We would like for federal lawmakers like you to fix the broken immigration system.  You can do so by simply calling Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey and work with the legal immigration reform bill he has implemented.  His office should be willing to work with you on getting a reasonable plan underway. Senator Menendez needs one Republican sponsor – and I believe you can be that sponsor.

So far all we have seen from you is your enforcement-only support for large government and bureaucratic ideas via national e-verify.  E-verify puts additional burdens on the small business owner.  We know that enforcement only policies do not work, and this is proven when we have already achieved 100% of operational goals under the Bush Secure Fence Act of 2006.  It is now time to also work on a plan that will bring my people out (and several others in the international community) from the shadows of society.

I don’t believe you can quite empathize with our pain, since you are of Cuban descent and may not understand how harsh anti-immigrant laws affect us.  Perhaps it is because you are taking advantage of how several in Florida have benefitted from privileged Cuban amnesty under the Cuban Adjustment Act (CAA).  Several ethnic communities across the globe do not receive a privileged amnesty, and it can start with you, Mr. Rubio.  You have the power to help other immigrants with the power afforded to you, and all you have to do is reach across the aisle with Senator Robert Menendez and work on fixing the broken system.  Unlike Idaho Republican Congressman Raúl R. Labrador who wants to do away with the CAA, the Tequila Party fully supports Cuban immigrants coming into our country under the CAA just as we do other immigrants who flee their corrupt nations to achieve the American dream.

Our Tequila Party has the support of your own Floridian Cuban immigrants who hurt to see you take an anti-DREAM Act and enforcement-only approach on the immigration system.  Cuban-Americans fully recognize that those of Cuban descent only make up 3% of the total Hispanic population pie, and they are concerned about Mexican-American and Cuban-American relationships.  Those of Mexican descent make up almost 70% of the Hispanic population pie, and this is why your own constituents have reached out to us.  They want us (Tequila Party leaders) to help free Cuba with the strength of our “Mexican-American” numbers.  We are fully prepared to help and direct our efforts to  “FREE CUBA / CUBA LIBRE” but that is contingent upon whether or not Cuban senators step up to the plate during a tough Latino-American era.  Senator Bob Menendez has already taken that first step because he has not forgotten about the struggles of immigrants.  José Martí once said: “He who could have been a torch and stoops to being a pair of jaws is a deserter.”  As such, there are several international immigrants who do not benefit from immigration privileges or amnesty and we believe you have the ability to be a torch.

Legal Immigration Reform is past due and we are late as record numbers get deported.  We are asking that you get on the right side of the immigration issue right now because the Latino community has been asking you to get on the right side for months.  History will record in this difficult anti-Latino era who was compassionate and who was not in the time of our need.

Please contact Senator Menendez to hammer out a reasonable secure borders and legal immigration reform plan.  Time is of the essence since we are hearing news that Republican of Texas — Congressman Lamar Smith thinks President Obama is not deporting enough of my people, and we know Smith is not speaking the truth.  We see the two forces at play hurting, yet helping the anti-immigrant agenda, and we will continue to do what we can with fervor to help those who are weak, defenseless and scared.

Regards,

The National Tequila Party Movement