The Failed Republican Legacy on Immigration

Despite having majorities in Congress for twelve years and a President in the White House for the last seven years, Republicans ignored the issues of border security and immigration reform until it became politically convenient. To distract from their failure to address the issues and to distract from their failed economic policies, Republicans turned immigration into a wedge issue for electoral gain that has relied on scapegoating people and dividing Americans.

From border walls that were never funded to trying to criminalize immigrants, their families, and even clergy, the Republican legacy on border security and immigration reform amounts to failure and scapegoating.

BUSH ADMINISTRATION WEAK ON BORDER SECURITY, REPUBLICAN CONGRESS DID NOTHING

THE REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION FAILED

• Congressional Research Service Briefing Shows Bush Trailing on Border Security: A CRS briefing noted that the Bush Administration trailed the Clinton Administration “on a series of measures of border security” including increasing the number of Border Patrol agents and pilots, and during the first five years of his Administration, President Bush caught and returned less illegal aliens than “any five-year period during Mr. Clinton's administration, the briefing says." [Washington Times, 5/25/06]

• For Years, Administration’s Catch and Release Policy Left Gaping Hole In Nation’s Security, While Targeting Mexicans. When OTMs, or "Other Than Mexicans" as the Border Patrol classifies them, are captured, they are given a court summons and told to return in three months while Mexicans are immediately deported. A full 85 percent of “OTMs” don't show up for their court dates. According to the Border Patrol, some 465,000 OTMs have taken advantage of this "catch and release" policy to settle here in the US. [Christian Science Monitor, 7/26/05]

• Through First Five Years of Bush Administration, Apprehensions of Illegal Immigrants Dropped, Deportable Aliens Declined, and Audits of Employers Dropped. In the first five years of the Bush Administration, apprehensions of illegal immigrants dropped by 30%. The number of deportable aliens located in states other than TX, NM, AZ and CA declined by 36% under Bush, reaching an all-time low of 21,113 in FY 2004. Under the Bush DHS enforcement rate, it would take 228 years to apprehend all of the illegal immigrants currently residing in the non-border states. Audits of employers suspected of using illegal immigrants dropped from 8,000 under Clinton to less than 2,200 in FY 2003, and only 46 employers were convicted of illegal immigrant employment in FY 2004. [Third Way, 5/14/06]

• DHS Report Card: Bush Administration Gets A “C-” On Border Security. The Democratic Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security’s annual report card on the Department of Homeland Security gave the department a “C-” on its policies on border security. [Democratic Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security, Annual Report Card, 2/06]

• Department Failed To Provide Radiation Screening And “State-Of-The-Art” Technology At Our Borders. “The Department promised that it would deploy effective technology to secure and enhance border security, including providing border security personnel with more radiation detection equipment to detect attempts by terrorists to transport Weapons of Mass Destruction across U.S. land borders and ports of entry. To date, however, the Department has not kept its promise to equip its border inspectors and agents with ‘state of-the art’ technology that would enable its personnel to effectively secure U.S. borders.” [Democratic Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security, Annual Report Card, 2/06]

• DHS Has Wasted Millions On Failed Border Security Programs. “Since the inception of the Department of Homeland Security, millions of tax dollars have been wasted as a result of failed border security-related technology initiatives undertaken by the Department. The Department already has two failed border security technology programs behind it, the discontinued Integrated Surveillance Intelligence System (ISIS) and the America’s Shield Initiative.” [Democratic Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security, Annual Report Card, 2/06]

• Bush Administration Underfunded Border Security Called For By 9/11 Act. The Bush Administration “continued to fall short of fully-funding the level of Border Patrol Agents, detention bed space, and Immigration and Customs Agent resources called for by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (9/11 Act). . . Funding in the President’s fiscal year 2007 budget is 25 percent short of what is needed to hire the 2,000 Border Patrol Agents required by the 9/11 Act.” [Democratic Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security, Annual Report Card, 2/06]

THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS FAILED

• Republicans Voted Against Fulfilling 9/11 Commission Recommendations on Border Security and Immigration. In 2005, House Republicans voted against an alternative proposal to improve border security and immigration enforcement by fulfilling the 9/11 Commission’s border security recommendations. The alternative proposal would have hired more border agents, ended the “catch and release” practice by authorizing 100,000 additional detention beds and incorporated state-of-the art surveillance technology, including cameras, sensors, radar, satellites, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in order to ensure 100% border coverage. [HR 4437 , Vote #660, 12/16/2005; Failed 198-221; R 0-219; D 197-2; I 1-0; Reps. Conyers, Thompson and Reyes Dear Colleague, “Fulfilling the 9/11 Commission’s Recommendations,” 12/16/05]

• Republican Congress Provided Only Half of Mandated Border Agents, Killed Democratic Attempts to Meet Full Mandate. The 9/11 Act of 2004 called for 2,000 new Border Patrol Agents in 2006 but the President’s budget for 2006 provided funding for only 210 new agents - 1,790 agents short. Throughout 2005, Democrats fought for the funding for the promised 2,000 new agents. On three separate occasions in 2005, House Republicans voted against Democratic efforts to provide full funding for the 2,000 new Border Patrol Agents that Congress had earlier promised. The Republican Congress ended up funding 1,000 new agents for 2006 - 1,000 below the level promised in the 9/11 Act. [H.R. 1268, Vote #160, 5/5/05; H.R. 2360, Vote #174, 5/17/05; H.R. 1817, Vote #188, 5/18/05]

• 2001-2005: Republicans Killed 5 Separate Attempts to Increase Border Security Funding By Over $2 Billion. On five separate occasions, Democrats have made attempts to increase border security funds, in sum by over $2 billion, only to see their attempts killed by Republicans [Obey Press Release 5/15/06]:

o $223 million: 2002 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill [RC 454, H Res 296, 11/28/01]; $300 million: 2004 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, HR 2555 [RC 301, H Res 293, 6/24/03]; $750 million: 2005 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, HR 4567 [RC 243, H Res 675, 6/16/04]; $400 million: 2006 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, HR 2360 [RC 175, H Res 278, 5/17/05]; $400 million: 2006 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill, HR 4939 [RC 56, HR 3, 3/9/05]

• 2005: Republicans Voted Against 650 Border Patrol Agents. In 2005, 34 Senate Republicans voted against increasing funding for immigration and customs enforcement by $389.6 million, enough to hire additional border patrol agents and to operate unmanned aerial vehicles along the U.S.-Mexico border. According to Republican Sen. Larry Craig, the proposal included enough funding for 650 border patrol agents and 168 Immigrations and Customs Enforcements agents and enforcement officers, along with 250 immigration investigators. [HR 1268, Vote 105, 4/20/05; AP, 4/21/05; Craig Press Release, 4/20/05]

• 2004: Republicans Voted Against $236 Million for Border and Port Security. In 2004, Senate Republicans killed a motion to increase homeland security funding by $2 billion, including $236 million for port and border security. [HR 4567, Vote 169, 9/9/04; CQ, 9/9/04]

• 2003: Republicans Voted Against $238.5 Million for Border and Port Security. In 2003, Senate Republicans killed a motion to increase homeland security funding by $1.75 billion, including $238.5 million for port and border security. [HR 2555, Vote 291, 7/22/03; New York Times, 7/23/03]

• 2003: Republicans Voted Against $750 Million for Border Security. In 2003, Senate Republicans killed an amendment to increase homeland security funding by $3 billion, including $750 million for border security. [H J Res 2, Vote 3, 1/16/03; CQ, 1/16/03]

• Real ID Act Passed Unfunded Mandates Down To States. States claim that the new federal mandates could cost them up to $1 billion a year. Congress is proposing to contribute only $100 million toward the costs. "It would have been nice if they had consulted with the states," said Kevin Hall, a spokesman for Gov. Mark Warner of Virginia. Hall calls the new law a "massive, unfunded federal mandate." Montana legislators voted to ignore the law before it even passed. [Winston-Salem Journal, 7/25/05]


BUSH PLAN: NOT MUCH OF A PLAN

• Bush’s Immigration Outline Would Drive Down Wages, Create Underclass of Workers. President Bush’s 2003 outline for immigration reform ignored the reality of the millions of undocumented workers inside the United States, and would have created a guest worker program with no path to legalization. That approach was criticized in 2003 because it would create a permanent underclass of second-class residents who are subject to abuse and would drive down wages and labor standards for all Americans. [White House Fact Sheet, 1/23/07; White House Press Briefing, 1/7/04; National Council of La Raza, 1/7/03; New York Times, 1/8/03]

• Eleven Years After Taking Control of Congress, and After Almost Five Years in the White House, Republican Administration Officials “Not Ready Yet.” Eighteen months after President Bush first called on Congress to enact immigration reform that includes a temporary-worker plan for foreigners, two top officials of his administration were no-shows for the Senate's first major hearing on the issue. No detailed explanation was given as to why Labor Secretary Elaine Chao and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff did not testify as scheduled, except that "they were not ready yet." [Arizona Republic, 7/25/05]


BUSH ADMINISTRATION GAVE IN TO EXTREMISTS,
BACKED CRIMINALIZATION AND VIGILANTES

• Bush “Strongly” Supported Passage of House Republican Bill That Would Have Criminalized Immigrants, Doctors, and Even Clergy. The Bush Administration released a Statement of Administration Policy saying, “The Administration strongly supports House passage of H.R. 4437 and appreciates the efforts of the House Judiciary Committee and the Homeland Security Committee in bringing this important legislation to the floor.” The National Catholic reporter wrote, “The bill also would criminalize the actions of doctors, teachers, social workers and ministers who aid undocumented immigrants at Catholic social agencies, hospitals, schools and parishes. Many could face felony charges and penalties including forfeiture of assets and jail terms from three to 20 years.” [Statement of Administration Policy, 12/15/05; National Catholic Reporter, 3/3/06]

• Chief Border Protection Official Wants To Form Border Patrol Inspired By Minuteman Project. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Robert C. Bonner said that Border Patrol officials were investigating whether the agency should form its own civilian force. Bonner said the idea was inspired by the Minuteman Project. “It is actually as a result of seeing that there is the possibility in local border communities, and maybe even beyond, of having citizens that would be willing to volunteer to help the Border Patrol,” Bonner said. [Los Angeles Times, 7/21/05]

o Bonner Himself Had Admitted “Danger” of Vigilantes to Immigrants AND American Citizens. “The Border Patrol does this every day, and they are qualified and very well-trained to handle the situation,” Bonner said in February 2005, pointing out that the Minutemen planned to carry firearms. “Ordinary Americans are not. So there's a danger that not just illegal migrants might get hurt, but that American citizens might get hurt in this situation.” [Associated Press, 7/21/05]

o LULAC Condemned “Minuteman” Vigilantism, Say They Spread Xenophobia. At a meeting of the League of United Latin American Citizens, the organization collectively condemned groups such as the “Minuteman Project” which seek to do the job of law enforcement officials. Paul Martinez, president of Las Cruces Council 120 of the League of United Latin American Citizens said, “These people do not represent the majority of New Mexicans,” he said. “They claim to be helping law enforcement and say they are patriots. What they are doing is raising tensions, spreading hate and xenophobia.” [Las Cruces Sun-News, 6/12/05]

• Bush Abandoned His Immigration Reform Partner, Mexican Experts Said Republican Anti-Immigrant Campaign Was Without Precedent. Fox and Bush began a close relationship after they took office, Fox in December 2000 and Bush a month later. They vowed to enrich ties and work together to address the legal status of at least 4 million Mexicans and other undocumented workers in the United States. But a chill followed the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Bush didn't push an immigration accord. "This is an anti-immigration campaign without precedent. It's Mexico against Republicans, (California Gov. Arnold) Schwarzenegger, the Minutemen in Arizona, Bush's entire Cabinet," said Primitivo Rodriguez, a Mexican political scientist who specializes in immigration. [Knight Ridder, 7/28/05]


REPUBLICAN CONGRESS PLAYED POLITICS,
CHOSE PUBLICITY STUNTS OVER REAL POLICY

• Republican Immigration Bill “Fantasy” That Called for Self Deportation. Sens. Kyl and Cornyn’s proposed immigration bill would require the estimated 10.3 million to 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States to submit themselves to "mandatory departure" back to their home country before they could apply to return legally to the United States. Sen. John McCain, who is sponsoring a competing bi-partisan bill with Sen. Kennedy, called plan a “fantasy” saying, “to think that they're going to come out of the shadows and say, 'Send me back to Guatemala; I've been living in Phoenix for 50 years,' borders on fantasy.” [Arizona Republic, 7/25/05]

• Houston Chronicle Called Republican Hearings a “Roadshow” Designed to Kill Time Until the Election. “Just when [House Republicans] should be drawing a deep breath and holding a conference with the Senate to reconcile their deeply different views of immigration policy, the Republican House thinks it's time for a road trip. For the August recess, they're planning public hearings in border states. These immigration hearings won't approximate their counterparts in Washington, where committees try for some diversity among the witnesses. The hearings won't even be about House legislation. Instead, they will address the Senate immigration bill. This roadshow is a Republican party, with their witnesses and politics already at the table. Held six months after the House created its punitive, enforcement-only bill, the traveling circus can't be called a fact-finding tour. Its purpose is to inflame fearful voters against any comprehensive immigration policy. And it might kill just enough time so that a useful conference on the House and Senate bills would be impossible before the November midterm elections.” [Houston Chronicle editorial, 7/3/06]
• GOP Congress Wanted To Wait Until Elections For Fence Bill Signing To Make It A Political Issue. "The White House is pleading with Congress to send over the bill authorizing 700 miles of fence on the U.S.-Mexico border so the president can sign it immediately, but Republican leaders on Capitol Hill want to wait until closer to the election and to have a public signing ceremony. 'Send us the damn bill. We'd like to autograph it,' said a senior administration official . Congressional Republicans, though, are convinced the issue is a political winner and want to hold onto the bill so it will be signed closer to next month's congressional elections. ... 'It's a timing issue: We want it signed closer to the election when folks are paying attention and those who want to take advantage of the messaging opportunity can do so, and the White House is aware of this," said an aide to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Tennessee Republican. House Republican leadership aides confirmed that strategy." [Washington Times, 10/18/06]

• But the GOP Didn’t Even Fund the Fence, Only Offered "Down Payment" On Fence Construction; Billions More Needed To Build. "GOP leaders have singled out the fence as one of the primary accomplishments of the recently completed session. Many lawmakers plan to highlight their $1.2 billion down payment on its construction as they campaign in the weeks before the midterm elections." [Washington Post, 10/6/06]

• Funds For Fence Can Be Allocated To Other Projects. "There also are questions of whether the fence will be more of a symbol to be used in elections than a reality along the border. For one thing, shortly before Congress adjourned, the House and Senate gave the Bush administration leeway to distribute the money allocated for the fence to other projects, including roads, technology and other infrastructure items to support the Department of Homeland Security's preferred option of building a 'virtual fence.'" [Washington Post, 10/12/06]

Comprehensive Immigration Reform "Dead"

• Scripps News: Comprehensive Immigration Reform "Dead." "Comprehensive immigration reform appears dead for the year, as House Republicans on Thursday announced plans to push ahead with border security measures and leave everything else for another time." [Scripps News, 9/7/06]

• Rep. LaHood: "We've Given Up On Immigration." "Rep. Ray LaHood, an Illinois Republican, noted that the unfavorable political landscape leaves GOP leaders little choice but to fight it out on defense and terrorism. 'People aren't paying attention to the economy. We've given up on immigration. We need to send people home with some significant accomplishments, and we have no other choice,' LaHood said. 'We have no other issue.'" [Washington Post, 9/17/06]

• Bush Lowers Expectations: No "Timetable" For Immigration Reform. "I'll continue working -- I don't know the timetable. My answer is, as soon as possible, that's what I'd like to see done." [President Bush, 9/15/06]