In a letter to Mayor Joe Ganim, former City Councilman Tom White writes, “I urge you to reestablish communications personally with Donald Trump and explore the possibility of Bridgeport participating in an expedited effort to implement immigration reform in a community where it has direct impact on the lives of many residents.” White’s letter follows:
“We are a nation of immigrants, but we are also a nation of laws.”
These words are from President Bill Clinton’s State of the Union address in 1995. These words are often repeated to express how torn reasonable Americans feel about balancing our welcoming of immigrants and the need for laws to establish guidelines.
President Clinton went on to say “It is wrong and ultimately self-defeating for a nation of immigrants to permit the kind of abuse of our immigration laws we have seen in recent years and we must do more to stop it.” The Clinton administration and the following Bush administration followed the law regarding deportation of illegal aliens. The Obama administration modified its approach and significantly reduced deportations.
At the Federal level of government, there appears to be consensus that any consideration for reform of immigration policies must begin with deportation of criminal aliens.
At the local level, there has been an emotional response with little acknowledgement of laws by those who have organized efforts to adopt a designation of ‘sanctuary city.’ The term ‘sanctuary city’ has varying meanings from State to State but usually implies non-compliance with some immigration laws.
Rather than joining local officials in Connecticut and in other States who have followed their emotions and have acted defiantly, I urge you to act rationally and lawfully. Given how our Governor and Congressional delegation have distanced themselves from the Trump Administration, I urge you to reestablish communications personally with Donald Trump and explore the possibility of Bridgeport participating in an expedited effort to implement immigration reform in a community where it has direct impact on the lives of many residents. Perhaps you and President Trump can break the log jam of issues ranging from partisan politics to constitutional interpretations. Donald Trump appears to be an unconventional President. Perhaps this unconventional approach can lower barriers to solutions by focusing on the benefits to an economically depressed city such as Bridgeport.
Tom White, did it ever cross your mind to send this letter to our US Senators and Representatives? Joe Ganim has no voting power in DC. He already has an open line of communication with the ‘White’ House.
Joel, immigration is the responsibility of the federal government, but unfortunately our congressional delegation has distanced itself from the Trump administration and Joe Ganim may have a better chance communicating with President Trump just as some ‘progressive’ mayors did with President Obama.
Why would anyone listen to your ignorant, misogynistic, racist ass? Between 2009 and 2015 the Obama administration removed more than 2.5 million people through immigration orders, which doesn’t include the number of people who “self-deported” or were turned away and/or returned to their home country at the border by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
According to governmental data, the Obama administration has deported more people than any other president’s administration in history. In fact, they have deported more than the sum of all the presidents of the 20th century.
Oh well, Day starts with a personal insult, but it’s okay, he’s a black male and full of anger and defiance.
And, as usual, fails to get his facts straight.
The Bill Clinton administration deported the most illegal aliens, followed by George W Bush, Ronald Reagan, George HW Bush and Barack Obama.
The Obama administration did the most ‘removals’ as a result of court orders to remove criminal aliens.
Tom, can you please provide a link to your source for that cited data?
Reagan Believed In Amnesty, Signed 1986 Reform To Legalize Nearly 3 Million Immigrants
NPR: Legislation Signed Into Law By Reagan “Granted Amnesty To Nearly 3 Million Illegal Immigrants.”
According to NPR, legislation signed into law by Reagan in 1986 “made any immigrant who’d entered the country before 1982 eligible for amnesty” and “granted amnesty to nearly 3 million illegal immigrants.” [NPR, 7/4/10]
Reagan In 1984: “I Believe In The Idea Of Amnesty.” NPR noted that in a televised debate against Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale in 1984, Reagan said, “I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and lived here, even though sometime back they may have entered illegally.”
From NPR: Reagan “knew that it was not right for people to be abused,” [former Wyoming Sen. Alan K.] Simpson says. “Anybody who’s here illegally is going to be abused in some way, either financially [or] physically. They have no rights.”
Peter Robinson, a former Reagan speechwriter, agrees. “It was in Ronald Reagan’s bones — it was part of his understanding of America — that the country was fundamentally open to those who wanted to join us here.”
Reagan said as much himself in a televised debate with Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale in 1984.
“I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and lived here, even though sometime back they may have entered illegally,” he said. [NPR, 7/4/10]
Source: mediamatters.org/research/2013/02/01/10-myths-conservative-media-will-use-against-im/192494
Pete, I found a report in the Immigration and Naturalization Services website and used a small part of it. My response was to benefit Donald Day.
I see you are citing an opinion from a ‘progressive’ equivalent of Breitbart News (Media Matters).
Tom,
NPR news is the source. The compilation of the NPR info can be easily accessed on one page on Media Matters.
Your comparison is … (fill in the blank).
Last time I checked, Media Matters didn’t have anyone on staff who, when hired into federal gov’t, won praise from the KKK and American Nazi Party.
Under Bannon’s leadership, Breitbart ran headlines such as: “Bill Kristol, Republican Spoiler, Renegade Jew,” “Gabby Giffords: The Gun Control Movement’s Human Shield,” and “Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Crazy.”
Source: thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/305912-kkk-american-nazi-party-praise-trumps-hiring-of-bannon
Can you please provide a linked to the INS online page where you found your posted info?
Thank you, Pete!
Hartford is a “Sanctuary City.”
Hartford receives about $76 million in federal grants a year.
Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, a Rhodes Scholar, Yale Law-educated lawyer, and Naval Reservist said in the last week of January 2017 that Trump’s executive order won’t change the city’s approach to policing or willingness to provide services.
“It’s still very unclear what the Trump administration intends to do, or what the executive order signed today actually means, but nothing in our city ordinances is inconsistent with federal law,” he said in a written statement. “The city of Hartford never has and never will shield violent criminals from justice, regardless of immigration status. But we also don’t–and won’t–arrest or detain people simply on the basis of their immigration status, or ask victims or witnesses of crime about their immigration status, or deny services like our library system to anyone who lives peacefully as a member of our community.”
“To do otherwise would not only be at odds with our values as a city, but also at odds with public safety and common sense,” Bronin said. “We won’t be bullied into playing the role of an immigration enforcement agency actively targeting families who call Hartford home.”
That’s what MAYORAL LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE! Thank you, Mayor Bronin.
Source: www .courant.com/politics/hc-trump-connecticut-immigration-20170125-story.html
Donald Trump’s Chief Strategist Steve Bannon who was the executive chairman of Breitbart News, the crusading right-wing racist website has put out the dog whistle and its puppet Tom White has gotten the message to go on the attack against anything that’s not white and Christian. It’s let’s take our country back to the good old days.