A president, a turkey pardon, and talk of amnesty?… http://t.co/J3xJne3pQQ
— Silvio Canto, Jr. (@SCantojr) November 30, 2014
immigration
Part 3: Meet Jorge Bonilla, Candidate for Congress in FL – 9
Previous: Part 1 and Part 2 of the interview with Jorge Bonilla.
Our interview with Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, Jorge Bonilla, with his thoughts and views on the U.S. border and immigration…
Part 3: The U.S. Border
BB: Mr. Bonilla, what are your thoughts and ideas on how to handle the U.S. border security problem? What should be done about the massive illegal immigration problem in our country?
JB: Border security, is above all else, national security. Before we have a democratic conversation regarding the fate of the undocumented, we must address the border, ensure it is secure, and reform our visa system, which accounts for over 40% of our illegal immigration problem. We seemed to have an alternative in place, we just need to be sure it is funded and implemented. Once that is accomplished, we can begin to talk about everything else.
In August, The Heritage Foundation presented a list of U.S. border and immigration questions voters should be asking their Congress members. I felt it was a very good list to present to Jorge Bonilla to answer for this part of the candidate’s interview…
The Heritage Foundation: 5 Immigration Questions for Your Congressman
1. How can we afford an amnesty for illegal immigrants?
JB: I’ve read many different studies on the economic impact of legalizing the undocumented. I think that there might be a net long-tern positive impact under the right conditions, but am unsure that Washington is willing to do what it takes to ensure those right conditions.
2. If illegal immigrants win amnesty, how is that fair to the 4.5 million who are waiting to enter the United States legally?
JB: It is my personal belief that any proposed “pathway to citizenship” must first take into account those immigrants who arrived here via legal means.
3. Can we ensure that a House-passed immigration bill doesn’t become a vehicle, in a deal with the Senate, for blanket amnesty?
JB: It seems that the House and the Senate are at currently at an impasse, so it is up to the people to hold their representatives accountable; this is true on both sides of the issue.
4. Does Congress need to pass new legislation to secure the border and strengthen interior enforcement?
JB: In my view, these goals could be accomplished within existing legislation and the will to enforce it.
5. Is there any guarantee that we won’t face this problem again with millions of new illegal immigrants in the future?
JB: There is none whatsoever, which is why we need to ensure we have legislation in place that actually works, as well as the will to enforce it.
Sen. Marco Rubio Discusses Immigration Reform on Limbaugh – UPDATED
Sen. Marco Rubio is making the rounds on TV and radio to discuss his part in the Senate’s immigration reform, just as illegal immigration is on the rise again. I did hear him on Limbaugh this afternoon and he sounds as if he is being very levelheaded and focused. We can debate the details, and the always misplaced trust the republicans put in the democrats keeping their word on these bipartisan deals that always end up being not only one-sided but lopsided, but something needs done, and Rubio is willing to give it a serious try.
Audio of Sen. Rubio’s interview on the Rush Limbaugh radio program today:
Not to be outdone or up-staged, Obama went to Las Vegas today, against the wishes of his own democrats working on the Gang of 8 bill, to push his own memes over immigration in front of a gathering of unions. Whatever happens, Obama wants full credit for any immigration plan. Whatever happens, the unions want those workers. Whatever happens, the democrats want those future votes embedded in cement.
Sen. Rubio was understandably miffed about some “bidding war” being set-up by Obama…
More: Marco Rubio: Let’s Look Beyond President Obama
More at HotAir: “Rush Limbaugh and Marco Rubio on immigration reform”
UPDATE:
Senator Rubio Comments On President’s Immigration Speech
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s immigration speech earlier today:
“I am concerned by the President’s unwillingness to accept significant enforcement triggers before current undocumented immigrants can apply for a green card. Without such triggers in place, enforcement systems will never be implemented and we will be back in just a few years dealing with millions of new undocumented people in our country. Furthermore, the President ignored the need for a modernized guest worker program that will ensure those who want to immigrate legally to meet our economy’s needs can do so in the future. Finally, the President’s speech left the impression that he believes reforming immigration quickly is more important than reforming immigration right. A reform of our immigration laws is a consequential undertaking that deserves to be subjected to scrutiny and input from all involved. I was encouraged by the President’s explicit statement that people with temporary legal status won’t be eligible for ObamaCare. If in fact they were, the potential cost of reform would blow open another big, gaping hole in our federal budget and make the bill untenable.”
(Update HT: Alberto)
Yoani Sánchez walks us through her “peculiar” passport (English subtitles)
A few days ago I came across this recent video of Cuban blogger Yoani Sánchez giving a camera a tour of her passport. It’s about the best illustration you could possibly ask for of the regime’s deliberate measures to keep the Cuban people from being exposed to life outside the communist bubble. Her passport is full of visas. Literally. There is nowhere to put a new stamp. And yet she hasn’t been able to use a single one of them to board a flight out of Cuba.
I downloaded the video and added it to my own YouTube channel for the sake of being able to add English subtitles. SO… here it is. If you don’t hve closed captions enabled, just click the “CC” icon in the YouTube player and select the English track. Subtitles should appear.
The weekend in Cuba news: Cheesehead wrestler, migration spike, judo gold
NEWS
Wisconsin wrestler to face Cuban opponent in opener
Olympic wrestler Ben Provisor drew the No. 17 spot and will face Alexi Bel of Cuba in the opening round of the Greco-Roman 74-kilogram weight class at the ExCeL Arena on Sunday.
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/165021846.html#!page=0&pageSize=10&sort=newestfirst
Cuban emigrant interdictions skyrocket
The number of Cubans being stopped at sea before entering the United States is the highest it’s been in almost five years, according to U.S. Coast Guard statistics.
http://www.keysnet.com/2012/08/04/468813/cuban-emigrant-interdictions-skyrocket.html
Cuban Ortiz wins women’s heavyweight gold
Cuba’s Idalys Ortiz improved on her bronze medal of four years ago to win the women’s Olympic heavyweight judo title on Friday, ending the title holder’s five year unbeaten run in the process.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-08-03/sports/sns-rt-us-oly-judo-juw79kbre8721de-20120803_1_78kg-category-judo-heavyweight-gold
Key political risks to watch in Cuba
Cuba is moving along with reforms aimed at boosting its economy, but has also laid out new taxes that angered many and pose a threat to the growth of small businesses critical to the government’s economic plans.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/08/03/cuba-risks-idINRISKCU20120803
OPINION
It’s up to Cuban-Americans to save Hispanics from las mentiras, or the lies of the Dem left.
Ted Cruz’s victory in Texas, as well as the success of Marco Rubio, put Cuban-Americans on the front page of American politics. These wins also give us an opportunity to craft a message to Hispanics — a message that emphasizes individual freedom, self-reliance, a skepticism of the state, and the value of family in our culture.
We hear it over and over again that Cuban-Americans are different. We are often called the “other” Hispanics. The media calls us “reactionaries” or “right-wingers” or makes fun of our disdain for communism.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/08/its_up_to_cuban-americans_to_save_hispanics_from_las_mentiras_or_the_lies_of_the_dem_left.html
Guest Commentary: Time for U.S. to end the Cuban embargo
Most folks don’t know it, but there is now a legal way for U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba. It is called the People to People Program, and it is available through a select number of U.S. travel groups. Among them are the Grand Circle Foundation, ElderTreks, Friendly Planet, and National Geographic Expeditions.
http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_21221143/guest-commentary-time-u-s-end-cuban-embargo
HISTORY
Ocala Rifles head off to war in Cuba
The saga of F.D. Pooser, the former county tax collector who resigned after being denounced by a Marion County grand jury for failure to collect taxes and for shortages in his collections, wasn’t quite over by the end of 1897.
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120805/COLUMNISTS/120809878
NEWS
Wisconsin wrestler to face Cuban opponent in opener
Olympic wrestler Ben Provisor drew the No. 17 spot and will face Alexi Bel of Cuba in the opening round of the Greco-Roman 74-kilogram weight class at the ExCeL Arena on Sunday.
Cuban emigrant interdictions skyrocket
The number of Cubans being stopped at sea before entering the United States is the highest it’s been in almost five years, according to U.S. Coast Guard statistics.
Cuban Ortiz wins women’s heavyweight gold
Cuba’s Idalys Ortiz improved on her bronze medal of four years ago to win the women’s Olympic heavyweight judo title on Friday, ending the title holder’s five year unbeaten run in the process.
Key political risks to watch in Cuba
Cuba is moving along with reforms aimed at boosting its economy, but has also laid out new taxes that angered many and pose a threat to the growth of small businesses critical to the government’s economic plans.
OPINION
It’s up to Cuban-Americans to save Hispanics from las mentiras, or the lies of the Dem left.
Ted Cruz’s victory in Texas, as well as the success of Marco Rubio, put Cuban-Americans on the front page of American politics. These wins also give us an opportunity to craft a message to Hispanics — a message that emphasizes individual freedom, self-reliance, a skepticism of the state, and the value of family in our culture.
We hear it over and over again that Cuban-Americans are different. We are often called the “other” Hispanics. The media calls us “reactionaries” or “right-wingers” or makes fun of our disdain for communism.
Guest Commentary: Time for U.S. to end the Cuban embargo
Most folks don’t know it, but there is now a legal way for U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba. It is called the People to People Program, and it is available through a select number of U.S. travel groups. Among them are the Grand Circle Foundation, ElderTreks, Friendly Planet, and National Geographic Expeditions.
HISTORY
Ocala Rifles head off to war in Cuba
In Marion County, the focus in early 1898 was on the revolution taking place in Cuba. Most of the Cubans who had populated Marti City, the cigar manufacturing district in West Ocala, were gone. They had moved to Ybor City at Tampa, where they had been promised more than Ocala could ever offer, to continue making cigars and continue fundraising drives to assist the Cuban rebels.
Today in Cuba news: Cubans going the Central America route; CubaDebate highlights Carromero’s driving record; Amnesty calls for end to cat-and-mouse games
NEWS
US-bound Cubans pour into Panama through Colombia
Led by smugglers armed with knives and machetes, Mayra Reyes and 14 other Cubans sloshed through swamps and rivers and suffered hordes of mosquitoes as they struggled across the notorious Darien Gap between Panama and Colombia, the only north-south stretch of the Americas to defy road-builders.
Cuban wins shooting gold with record-setting final
Cuba’s Leuris Pupo won gold in the men’s 25-meter rapid fire pistol event Friday and set an Olympic shooting record in the process.
Pupo tied a world record and set an Olympic mark with a score of 34 in the final round to beat India’s Vijay Kumar by four shots. Ding Feng of China won bronze with a score of 27. All three of the countries on the podium had never medaled in this event before.
Cuba says Spaniard has lead foot, highlights history of speeding before crash that killed Paya
Cuban officials are highlighting earlier traffic violations by a Spaniard involved in a car crash that killed prominent dissident Oswaldo Paya, saying he was notified recently that his driver’s license was being revoked.
Cuban dissident’s family insists another car was involved in fatal crash
The family of the late Oswaldo Payá says a mysterious red Lada was at the site of the crash and refuses to accept the government’s finding the dissident was killed in a one-car crash
OPINION
A Diversified GOP Hammers the Big Lie
Liberal Democrat Hispanics and their polling colleagues at Latino Decisions say Rubio doesn’t help Romney among Hispanic registered voters, but there is a better answer to that question. It was provided by Hispanic Republicans in Texas on run-off day, Tuesday the 30th.
Not only did Ted Cruz receive a mountain of votes in his 56.8% to 43.2% defeat of the Texas’ Lt. Governor but he received a mountain of Hispanic Republican votes as well.
NEWS RELEASES
Amnesty International: Cuba must stop ‘cat-and-mouse game’ with political activists
The Cuban authorities must end their ongoing harassment of political and human rights activists, Amnesty International said today after a former prisoner of conscience was released following his latest arrest and detention in a police station for 36 hours.
José Daniel Ferrer García, coordinator of the organization Patriotic Union of Cuba (Unión Patriótica de Cuba, UNPACU), was set free on Wednesday, two days after police arrested him in the eastern province of Holguín.
And, finally, here is the full text of a release from Cuba Archive. This is dated July 31, but I only came across it now.
Investigate the deaths of Cuba’s Oswaldo Payá and Harold Cepero
Miami, July 31, 2012. The circumstances surrounding the death in a car crash last July 22nd of Oswaldo Payá, Cuba´s foremost opposition leader, and Harold Cepero, a young member of his movement, are shrouded in suspicion and countless unanswered questions. Angel Carromero, from Spain and Aron Modig, from Sweden, both 27, survived the crash. While in detention they separately issued self-incriminating public statements validating Cuba’s official version of the crash (Carromero´s was filmed, Modig´s was in the presence of journalists from news organizations authorized in Cuba). They each faced long years of prison, apparently now “forgiven,” for violations to Cuba’s despotic national security and immigration laws disallowing “unconstitutional political activities.” Both are members of youth group of political parties from their respective countries that promote the peaceful democratization of Cuba. While Modig was released and able to leave the country, his account is compromised by his friend’s continued detention and facing charges of involuntary homicide entailing up to 20 years of prison.
The international community must investigate if these deaths resulted from state-sponsored operations or involved state agents. If suspicions prove well founded, Cuba should be held accountable at all levels –bilaterally, multilaterally, and at all appropriate international instances and bodies.
Urgent action is required to demand:
the safety and wellbeing as well as procedural fairness for Angel Carromero;
unrestricted access to Carromero by the Payá and Cepero families, trusted third parties, and the media at a safe location –outside of Cuba or at a trusted embassy in Havana– with no pressure from Cuban authorities and after toxicology tests have ruled out the presence of drugs;
transparency from the families and colleagues of Cepero and Modig as well as from the governments of Spain and Sweden regarding events surrounding the crash, including release to the public of records of all calls made and text messages sent by Carromero or Modig the day of the incident;
comprehensive investigations of the deaths of Payá and Cepero conducted by reliable independent international experts granted free and full access to all witnesses and material evidence;
autopsies of the bodies of Payá and Cepero by a trusted pathology team in a facility outside of Cuba.
That the Cuban regime employs terror and violence to silence its detractors is well established. Torture of prisoners —including with psychotropic drugs— is commonplace. Thus, there are no guarantees that self-incriminating testimony was not made under duress and/or in exchange for leniency in the severity of the penalties. If the government has nothing to hide, it should have no problem allowing the above.
The official newspaper of Cuba´s Communist Party, Granma, has repeated its absurd claim that the revolution has never been responsible for even one extrajudicial killing, disappearance, torture, or kidnapping. Yet, the dictatorship’s disregard for the sanctity of life and universally held norms of conduct is illustrated in its own laws as well as in first-hand accounts of its citizens and decades of reports by international human rights’ organizations and entities. Our Truth and Memory project has to date documented 27 forced disappearances and 4,652 lives lost to Cuba´s firing squads and in extrajudicial killings, including of many persons in detention or prison. This excludes many more deaths of detainees from lack of medical care and in reported suicides, for which Cuba is also held responsible. This information challenges the Cuban regime to disprove each and every one of these cases.
Furthermore, Cuba Archive has received reports of a considerable number of deaths from “accidents” of detractors of the Cuban regime —in Cuba and in several countries— surrounded by mysterious circumstances and strongly pointing to state-sponsored killings. Examples are summarized in our Report Cuba: Strange accidents and other unexplained deaths; those resulting in death appear in our electronic database of documented cases (see www.CubaArchive.orgfor both). The sudden illness and death of Laura Pollán, leader of Cuba´s Ladies in White, deserves to be highlighted and calls for an independent investigation. (See our release of 10/25/2011.)
That the international community has not held Cuba’s government accountable for even its more evident and egregious human rights’ violations has only emboldened it further. As long as it enjoys sustained impunity and is legitimized by the civilized world, it will continue to employ terror and violence to silence its detractors.
Cuba Archive Truth and Memory Project -Free Society Project/www.CubaArchive.org
Investigate the deaths of Cuba’s Oswaldo Payá and Harold Cepero
Miami, July 31, 2012. The circumstances surrounding the death in a car crash last July 22nd of Oswaldo Payá, Cuba´s foremost opposition leader, and Harold Cepero, a young member of his movement, are shrouded in suspicion and countless unanswered questions. Angel Carromero, from Spain and Aron Modig, from Sweden, both 27, survived the crash. While in detention they separately issued self-incriminating public statements validating Cuba’s official version of the crash (Carromero´s was filmed, Modig´s was in the presence of journalists from news organizations authorized in Cuba). They each faced long years of prison, apparently now “forgiven,” for violations to Cuba’s despotic national security and immigration laws disallowing “unconstitutional political activities.” Both are members of youth group of political parties from their respective countries that promote the peaceful democratization of Cuba. While Modig was released and able to leave the country, his account is compromised by his friend’s continued detention and facing charges of involuntary homicide entailing up to 20 years of prison.