MISSISSIPPI WEB SITE

2007

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STEVEN A. McCALEB
103 ALVERADO DRIVE
LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI 39560
PHONE & FAX: (228)-868-8428


Awarded 19 June 1969


 

E-MAIL: mccaleb4thdist@aol.com

WEB SITE: www.mississippiwebsite.com

IMMIGRATION BILL

"We're going to continue to enforce the law. It's going to be tough," Michael Chertoff said. "We don't really have the ability to enforce the law with respect to illegal work in this country in a way that's truly effective."

IF THIS IS THE ATTITUDE OUR HOMELAND SECURITY CHIEF, I WOULD SAY "WE THE PEOPLE" OF AMERICA ARE IN DEEP TROUBLE.

SECURING OUR BORDERS SHOULD BE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION, AND SO FAR AS I CAN TELL ALL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE GETTING IS LIP SERVICE.

IF OUR CHIEF OF HOMELAND SECURITY, MICHAEL CHERTOFF CANNOT GET THE JOB DONE, PERHAPS HE SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH SOMEONE THAT CAN DO THE JOB THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT.

OF COURSE WE THE PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE HOMELAND SECURITY CHIEF CAN ONLY DO WHAT THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION TELLS HIM TO DO.

 

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., left, speaks during a news conference on the defeat of the immigration reform legislation, Thursday, June 28, 2007, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Joining Specter from second from left are, Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
Susan Walsh/AP Photo
Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., left, speaks during a news conference on the defeat of the immigration reform legislation, Thursday, June 28, 2007, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Joining Specter from second from left are, Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

 

WASHINGTON --

The homeland security chief on Sunday scolded the Senate for failing to pass an immigration bill and said it will be difficult for the government to crack down on illegal workers.

"We're going to continue to enforce the law. It's going to be tough," Michael Chertoff said. "We don't really have the ability to enforce the law with respect to illegal work in this country in a way that's truly effective."

Last week, President Bush's plan to legalize as many as 12 million unlawful immigrants while fortifying the border and strengthening enforcement collapsed in the Senate. The measure fell 14 votes short of the 60 needed to reach final passage. Three-quarters of the Senate's Republicans voted to derail the bill.

Chertoff said Senate opponents deprived his department of the ability to ensure stricter enforcement by requiring companies to enter in a system to check their employees' work status.

"That would be the single greatest additional weapon we could use if we're serious about tackling this problem," he said. "But we will do what we have to do with the resources we have at our disposal."

Chertoff expressed hope that an immigration overhaul was not dead for the year. Lawmakers in both parties have said further action was unlikely this year, dooming its prospects as the 2008 presidential race intensifies.

"I think we're going to say to the members of Congress who think they have a better way that they should produce legislation and pass legislation, which they have not done for the past two years," Chertoff said.

Chertoff spoke on "Fox News Sunday" and "This Week" on ABC.