Joe Biden: Illegal Immigrants Are 'Already Americans'

[aGameOfThrones]

WASHINGTON -- Vice President Joe Biden gave an impassioned defense of comprehensive immigration reform -- and the undocumented immigrants it would help -- during a speech on Thursday, saying it would boost the economy and improve foreign relations.

Speaking at a U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce event, Biden said undocumented immigrants should be given the chance to become citizens and contribute to the country.

"These people are just waiting, waiting for a chance to be able to contribute fully," he said. "And by that standard, 11 million undocumented aliens are already Americans, in my view. They just want a decent life for their kids and a chance to contribute to a free society, a chance to put down roots and help build the next great American century. I really believe that. That's what they're fighting for."

Biden's speech came as House Democrats attempt to reignite reform efforts that have been stonewalled in the lower chamber since the Senate passed its comprehensive immigration bill last year. On Wednesday, they launched a longshot maneuver called a discharge petition to try and force a vote on their version of the bill, though House Republican leadership has said it won't get a vote.

The White House was supportive of that move, and Biden's speech on Thursday reiterated the administration's backing of the Senate-passed bill upon which the House Democrats' legislation is based. Biden specifically cited its economic benefits. The Congressional Budget Office estimated last year that the bill would reduce the deficit by $685 billion over the next 20 years.

"The single most important thing we can do for our economy, for America's future, is to pass immigration reform now," Biden said. "It's the single most important thing we can do. I've heard for too damn long about how this was going to bankrupt us, that Social Security was going to take a nose dive and so on. ... Well guess what, it's a game changer financially for the country."

Biden urged House Speaker John Boehner to let members vote on an immigration bill, a plea House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) made as well, earlier in the event. They noted that reform must be passed this year in order to be combined with the Senate bill during the current Congress, making the issue more urgent than ever.

"It is more important to pass comprehensive immigration reform, to me and to my caucus, than to win the election in November," Pelosi said.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/...ants_n_5044613.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592

 

[Matthew5]

What makes one "American"? A social security card?

 

[aGameOfThrones]

What makes one "American"? A social security card?

The privilege to vote.

"These people are just waiting, waiting for a chance to be able to contribute fully,"

 

[oyarde]

In Joe speak , this means they are already welfare vote Democrats , so he thinks . You must learn to decipher Dem speak .

 

[Cabal]

The privilege to vote be taxed.

Fixt.

 

[oyarde]

Fixt.

Oh yes .

 

[Philhelm]

What makes one "American"? A social security card?

Someone who believes in individual, unsrestricted liberty and has violent disdain for tyranny.

 

[acptulsa]

The privilege to vote.

So native but illegal Americans, meaning felons, are no longer Americans?

Joe is so confusing...

 

[PRB]

Why is he wrong unless you're racist or statist and thinks the government gets to decide who is illegal and American?

 

[HOLLYWOOD]

Joe Biden: Illegal Immigrants Are 'Already Americans' Democrat Voters & Entitlement Leeches

 

[Philhelm]

This is one of those situations where, on principle, the United States should have a more open immigration policy. However, this means that we'll be even more outnumbered by people who don't give two shits about liberty as we know it. I don't believe that amnesty would be a net positive for the cause of liberty, even if amnesty itself would be a liberty-oriented position.

 

[gusbaker]

Why is he wrong unless you're racist or statist and thinks the government gets to decide who is illegal and American?

"Racist" and "statist", boy if you'd just said "isolantionist" you'd have all the ignorant "ists" in there that people use when they can't think of anything intelligent to say. Well if having a border and having border laws makes me "racist and statist" sign me up for both.

 

[PRB]

"Racist" and "statist", boy if you'd just said "isolantionist" you'd have all the ignorant "ists" in there that people use when they can't think of anything intelligent to say. Well if having a border and having border laws makes me "racist and statist" sign me up for both.

glad to know you're willing to admit you want the government to control who gets to be American, if that doesn't make you statist and racist, I don't know what does. If that's not intelligent, sign me up for it.

 

[DamianTV]

glad to know you're willing to admit you want the government to control who gets to be American, if that doesn't make you statist and racist, I don't know what does. If that's not intelligent, sign me up for it.

Have to count me into it as well. But there are two sides. I am frustrated by the number of immigrants coming here "illegally" and demanding services and preferencial treatment, and have to admit that there is a strong desire to stop this from happening. The other side is Govt fucks up everything it touches, get Govt out of anything that has to do with Human Right Distribution. My logical and emotional sides are in complete conflict, and I think that goes for many people. The only conclusion I can come to is the same as having either too much Govt or too little Govt, both result in problems, but very different set of problems. Perhaps a better conclusion would be to have a balance between the two? This is where my emotional and logical sides are in agreement. On a linear scale, we can have either unlimited immigration, or zero immigration. I think that my emotional response of frustration stems from an unbalance where we have closer to unlimited immigration control instead of its opposite, zero immigration. But again, absolute solutions cause absolute problems and a workable solution needs to be one of Balance between the two.

My great grandparents immigrated to this country, as did many others. They came here legally, learned English and encouraged their children to speak English over their own native languages, and became a functional part of society. I also think that if I were to move to Russia, China, or Germany, when I moved there I would be expected to learn Russian, Chinese, or German. I would also not be able to expect them to cater to me because I did not speak their language. Trying to stay outside the confines of the law but as a societal norm, I think that is pretty reasonable. So if thats reasonable, why does it feel like illegal immigrants are being completely unreasonable by coming here en masse and making an effort to displace our existing society instead of becoming a part of it?

 

[gusbaker]

glad to know you're willing to admit you want the government to control who gets to be American, if that doesn't make you statist and racist, I don't know what does. If that's not intelligent, sign me up for it.

Well, considering the childlike mentality I've found from some on this site I can atleast understand the "statist" comment, no matter how incorrect it may be, but how does enforcing border laws make someone "racist". Are you a liberal? You sure sound like it.

 

[Carson]

Yes, many of them were before they came. At least the Canadians and the Mexican's. Opps, And what about those South American's. Can't forget them.


Still if I was going to try and pull off the job of Vice President, I would hope I would be upholding the immigration laws. It troubles me that so many people feel all touchy feely about playing the illegal aliens into the hands of the criminals in the government and business.

I remember when people that truly needed workers brought them in legally and they worked along side of us for the same wages and benefits. Playing them the way they do has helped them strip all of us of decent wages and benefits.


Off topic here. Ever notice how the government can come down hard on some people that travel out of the country and do things in foreign countries. I'm not saying it's right!

Or did I just answer my own question.

But other can illegally invade and blow people to bits and charges are never brought.


P.S. When they came in to the grade schools to trick people into destroying their children because there wasn't going to be enough room on the roads and water and stuff, they shouldn't have been opening up the gates to legal and illegal immigration. Who does such a thing?

 

[PRB]

Well, considering the childlike mentality I've found from some on this site I can atleast understand the "statist" comment, no matter how incorrect it may be, but how does enforcing border laws make someone "racist". Are you a liberal? You sure sound like it.

if not wanting the government to decide who is legal to live in this country makes me a _____, then yes, fill it in with whatever word you want. Including words I used on you (just try to be consistent in your application)

 

[PRB]

Have to count me into it as well. But there are two sides. I am frustrated by the number of immigrants coming here "illegally" and demanding services and preferencial treatment, and have to admit that there is a strong desire to stop this from happening.

such a statement implies you're ok with Americans doing the same.

The other side is Govt fucks up everything it touches, get Govt out of anything that has to do with Human Right Distribution. My logical and emotional sides are in complete conflict

Understandable.

, and I think that goes for many people. The only conclusion I can come to is the same as having either too much Govt or too little Govt, both result in problems, but very different set of problems. Perhaps a better conclusion would be to have a balance between the two? This is where my emotional and logical sides are in agreement. On a linear scale, we can have either unlimited immigration, or zero immigration. I think that my emotional response of frustration stems from an unbalance where we have closer to unlimited immigration control instead of its opposite, zero immigration. But again, absolute solutions cause absolute problems and a workable solution needs to be one of Balance between the two.

if there's no government, immigration wouldn't be a problem. there was no border patrol before the Federal Reserve.

My great grandparents immigrated to this country, as did many others. They came here legally, learned English and encouraged their children to speak English over their own native languages

your ethnocentricity and cultural bias is showing.

, and became a functional part of society.

it's your business if people are functional?

I also think that if I were to move to Russia, China, or Germany, when I moved there I would be expected to learn Russian, Chinese, or German.

those countries don't claim to be lands of the Free, we do, so we need to keep it that way.

 

[dillo]

I dont think its fair to call illegals leeches, doesn't illegal mean they can't get government benefits? Im not supporting amnesty, but lets watch out about classifying people into a group.

 

[gusbaker]

if not wanting the government to decide who is legal to live in this country makes me a _____, then yes, fill it in with whatever word you want. Including words I used on you (just try to be consistent in your application)

You didn't answer my question, how does wanting to enforce border laws make me or anyone else racist?