“Everyone deserves a fair shot and a fair shake, and everybody should play by the same rules.”
This equality motto has been a central theme of President Obama’s re-election campaign.
However, one prominent PA voice on illegal immigration slammed Obama’s recent executive order to halt deportations of some younger immigrants who came to the country as children, calling it de facto amnesty that allots unfair benefits to some.
In a statement Sunday, Rep. Barletta (R-Luzerne), chairman of the 112th Class Immigration Caucus, claimed that Obama has “discarded any pretense of acting fairly.”
“Thanks to President Obama, some illegal aliens will be rewarded for breaking American immigration laws with federal permission to stay in the United States permanently.”
The issue is Barletta’s wheelhouse. He rose to national prominence as Mayor of Hazleton, PA in 2006 for his tough anti-illegal immigration measures, including fines for landlords who rented to them. The rules were later overturned in federal court.
“The president not only ignored the will of Congress, which has wisely and repeatedly refused to grant such amnesty, and the separation of powers enumerated in the United States Constitution. He changed the rules and unfairly punished American citizens and those who are legally in this country.”
The DREAM Act, congressional legislation aimed at easing the path to citizenship for such residents, passed the House last session but failed to achieve cloture in the Senate.
Barletta further called the amnesty an expansion of presidential power and an attack on the U.S Constitution.
For the first few years of his term, Obama’s administration frequently noted that it had actually increased the pace of deportations. Most observers agree that the reversal – like Obama’s endorsement of gay marriage a few weeks ago – is an attempt to rally the Democratic party base in an election year.
Governor Tom Corbett was asked about the order after Mitt Romney’s appearance in Cornwall, Pa Saturday. He emphasized that he hadn’t had the chance to look thoroughly at the policy and offered just a “quick observation” about it.
“The first question in my mind well was can he do that or does Congress have to do that?…I don’t know if he has the authority,” he said. “Clearly it’s an election year; if he really felt that way why didn’t he do it in the first year, or the second year, or the third year?”
But, he seemed at least open to the idea of a citizenship path for children of illegal immigrants.
“That’s a tough question. I’ve spent time in – I actually went to law school in San Antonio, so I understand the issue from that standpoint. I think that conceptually, we need to be looking at that and work on it,” he said. “But to me, that’s a congressional decision rather than a presidential one.”
About 5.7 percent of PA’s population is Hispanic or Latino, according to the 2010 census. the National average is 16.7 percent.
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10 Responses
I’m voting for every challenger and not a single incumbent. I guess that means Stilp gets my vote for Congress.
At least it will be entertaining to see what he does in Washington with that pig bus and inflatable pigs he has.
Even if Barletta wanted to, he can’t soften his position on this. It’s all he has.
Oh wait, he is also ranting about gangs.
The two biggest issues facing PA right now, apparently. Gangs and Hispanics…
Good luck in the fall Lou.
Barletta is on the losing side on this issue. The public supports Obama’s decision bt almost 2 to 1.
Toss Barletta and his year round tanned, country club 1% bigotted @ss.
Stilp for Congress!
I hope, for the sake of our electoral chances, that the national GOP follows the Gov’s lead on this. It’s not a bad policy, but, without question, it is an overstep of executive authority.
Just one way to clean the dirt from the halls of Congress is by recognizing the Pro-Constitutional TEA PARTY? Even though it’s a part of the Republican Party, it is more responsive to the testimony of the U.S. Constitution than the right wing elitist’s agenda. The TEA PARTY is most certainly the most prominent part of the GOP, overwhelming both entrenched parties. It holds a great deal of promise, to the disillusioned Democrats, Republicans, Independents and the rest of the hurting American people, Of a government failing in bending to the will of the people and finding some kind of compromise, for standing issues gathering dust. It represents every American and has its individuality from the corruption, bribes and rot that THE TEA PARTY distinguishes itself from the parties in control.
The TEA PARTY believes in the freedom bequeath on us by one of the greatest manuscript that rules us all—THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. The Tea Party does not divide or Balkanize the American people, but is open to all people of color, race or religious faith. But its ideology illustrates a comparable difference between the ever warring parties. They have no kinmanship with the Democrats, who have backing of the ultra socialist enigma of the Liberals that has scarred this proud land. The TEA PARTY believes in the individual freedoms, but more so in the ‘Rule of Law’. Not Obama’s scheme of things, to pass his laws by decree, and not through the Senate and House of Representatives.
He has of late undermined THE PEOPLE’S LAW, by executive order to allow under certain circumstances that the children of illegal parents can stay. The Democratic DREAM ACT has stunned the American people, that 800.000 children of illegal aliens are being allowed stay. But nothing has obscured the law, which says the parents can stay. They are STILL ILLEGAL AND THEY ARE DEPORTABLE IF CAUGHT. In the next two weeks, this misnomer in the law will be clarified by the Supreme Court whether Arizona has the right to police its own residents, in its own sovereign state. Whatever the courts decide the outcome will cause a firestorm of controversy, as Department of Justice U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and his minions have threatened any obedient state to bend to the government.
With his unfettered intimidation, how come Holder and his attorneys have not undertaken to investigate certain factors of the’ Rule of Law’ determining that although the federal government has the overall power, but Arizona as a sovereign state should have no right of policing enforcement, especially when decades of non-compliance or at best minimal enforcement has encouraged the mass movement of illegal migrants and immigrants. Illegal migrants from South of our border and illegal immigrants from other parts of the world, who have broken our laws to enter. Both entities have settled here stealing welfare and corrupted the processing system as millions still patiently wait for an employment visa. The procedure has become corrupt with corporate campaign contributions, that over 1 million of lowly skilled workers are imported annually.
Two very important laws must be imposed at once, so no more foreign invaders are encouraged to break the immigration ‘Rule of Law’. ‘THE LEGAL WORKFORCE ACT’ must be passed and advanced, so illegal aliens can no longer steal jobs from the millions of Americans unemployed. The ‘BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ACT (H.R.140) must be compulsory so babies smuggled into America, so parents cannot take benefit from welfare, once the child become an immediate citizen. Half a million pregnant women enter the United States looking for handouts annually, for their children. Let your Senator or Congressman/Women know how you will vote, by giving your name to the politician’s aides and that you want them to sponsor E-Verify and the Birthright Citizenship bills. Citizen voters should phone Congress at the central Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a strong willed, tough lawman, of Maricopa County, Arizona announced that his volunteer law enforcement investigation has found probable cause that Obama’s long-form birth certificate and his Selective Service registration form are forgeries? Arpaio has been ruthlessly attacked by the Department of IN-JUSTICE, the Liberal media and radical interest groups. Not to be found in National Press, is a WORLD NEWS DAILY video coverage of a court case that took place today in front of Judge Terry Lewis. It suggests that President Barack Omama is ineligible for the position in the Oval office, which excludes him from being named on the Democratic election ballot in November.
If you want to read the facts concerning the lawlessness traitorous actions within Washington, then bookmark the ‘AMERICAN PATROL’ website. Investigate other headlines today as, California – the 34% Unemployed Teenager State, Obama’s amnesty hurts America, children and minorities hurt most, Border Patrol group calls for Holder’s resignation, Former Obama Prof: President ‘must be defeated’ in November, Obama’s campaign website downplays de facto amnesty news, Illegal alien triggers fatal pileup on Dallas freeway, Obama’s campaign website downplays de facto amnesty news, Obama’s amnesty hurts America, children and minorities hurt most, Marxist-controlled union goons target Latino voters for Obama, Cops say U.S. mayor smuggled weapons to Mexican drug cartel etc., AMERICAN PATROL is a up to date disclosure site of the nationwide E-media and newspapers, blogs and commentary that the Liberal press prefers to keep from the public. Daily, the truth is revealed about illegal immigration and the corruption in Washington and state Capitols.
Does it surprise anybody that Corbett did not take the time to read Policy? A good Governor would study the issues that may effect the people that voted him into office!
Good point Cherylann…
Everyone came here from somewhere.
This new executive order by Obama only addresses children who were brought here, grew up here, and are now facing deportation with likely no where to return to. It’s a path to citizenship for them.
Anyone who opposes this has very little compassion in my opinion. What do they expect these young adults to do? Return to Mexico where they have never lived and don’t have a home to go to?
Shame on the far right for the heartless position they are taking on this.
This guy only has one platform… Intolerance. That might play well with the 1% GOP Golf Club owners like himself, and in portions of Hazelton, but not so much down here in Central PA.
Immigration reform is way down on the list of priorities for us here. Two words:
Gene Stilp
Go Gene!!!
It’s a shame Barletta’s ancestors were granted access to America. Perhaps we should send him back to Italy!