WND -by John Bennett U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, in remarks that largely have escaped notice, has claimed that “creating a mechanism for [illegal aliens] to earn citizenship and move out of the shadows… is a matter of civil and human rights.”
Holder also said that the federal government will work hard “to safeguard the rights of language minorities.”
These claims are likely to add fuel to the growing controversy over the Senate amnesty proposal developed by the so-called “Gang of Eight.”
Holder made these remarks in an April 24 speech to the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund Awards Gala. MALDEF’s notable activity includes suing Sheriff Joe Arpaio and opposing Arizona’s immigration law.
Holder said, “[I]t is long past time to reform our immigration system in a way that is fair; that guarantees that all are playing by the same rules…”
However, one of the primary criticisms of amnesty is that it does not treat all immigrants according to the same rules. Instead, according to critics, amnesty would reward illegal aliens by allowing them to bypass established procedures required for legal entry.
Holder framed the amnesty proposal in grand terms:
“The way we treat our friends and neighbors who are undocumented – by creating a mechanism for them to earn citizenship and move out of the shadows – transcends the issue of immigration status. This is a matter of civil and human rights.”
Steven Camarota of the Center for Immigration Studies tells WND, “[T]he idea that people have a right to come and live in the United States is very problematic.”
He points out that, for centuries, sovereign nations have regulated “who may enter their territory.”
Camarota also rejects the “rights” language because amnesty favors non-citizens at the expense of citizens, particularly those who are less affluent.
For instance, three members of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights recently wrote to the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, warning her of the harmful impact amnesty would have on the black community.
Amnesty “will likely disproportionately harm lower-skilled African-Americans by making it more difficult for them to obtain employment and depressing their wages when they do obtain employment,” the letter cautioned.
Peter Kirsanow, an attorney and member of the commission, tells WND that Holder’s remarks represent “a bizarre understanding of – if not an insult to – the history of the civil rights movement in this country.”
Nonetheless, Holder’s speech emphasized his desire to legalize illegal aliens.
Holder complained, “Far too many people are relegated to living in the shadows – without the rights, dignity, and legal protections they deserve.”
Political scientist Peter Skerry writes that given their access to health care, home ownership, and jobs, “the undocumented have not exactly been cowering in the shadows,” and that illegals should “step forward and assume responsibility for their decisions.”
In his speech, the attorney general stated that the federal government will work hard “to safeguard the rights of language minorities.”
“Language minority” is the term used in the Voting Rights Act to officially define “people who are of American Indian, Asian American, Alaskan Native or Spanish heritage.”
The Voting Rights Act “requires jurisdictions with significant language minority populations to provide non-English ballots and oral voting instructions.”
The groups listed were specifically selected for favoritism by the federal government because, in part, “[t]here wasn’t evidence of other groups having difficulty voting.”
Holder advocated for the current amnesty proposal, and appealed to what he described as the immigrant “dream.”
Immigrants are driven by a “hope for a better life and their dream for a brighter future for their children,” he said.
Holder mentioned his own cultural tradition as well, noting, “I’m proud to say I was raised in a home infused with traditions and values that my father and all my grandparents brought with them from the great island of Barbados.”
The attorney general’s comments come at a time of increasing skepticism towards the Senate amnesty proposal, which is under renewed doubt given the immigration system’s treatment of the Boston terrorists.
Judicial Watch recently reported that older brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev could have been deported, given his arrest in 2009 for domestic violence.
Those honored at MALDEF’s award ceremony were Girl Scouts CEO Anna Maria Chavez, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Alejandro Mayorkas, and former Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2013/04/holder-amnesty-is-a-civil-right/#tZogO1brkzXvwrxr.99
My grandparents immigrated to this country Legally and were required to learn the English language and laws of the United States before becoming American citizens. Holder is guilty of wanting amnesty for Illegal Aliens and welfare for them as well. We are talking millions of people here for these hidden agendas of this criminal corrupt government. More violations of the U S Constitution. More criminal acts. When does this end people? We are supposed to control the government through our Constitution which will keep these corrupt criminals in check and punished. When are we going to defend this great country against these internal enemies and put teeth back into our Constitution and Bill of Rights? ?
“Far too many people are relegated to living in the shadows – without the rights, dignity, and legal protections they deserve.”
Well they can always go back to Mexico and walk in the sun again. Here they’re felons.
How much “amnesty” do you get when you break the law?
It should not be done until it is ”fair” to the citizens they’ve already got a lead on, as for instance, the Obamacare will NOT fine the employer if this is a new amnestied legal – – – but it WILL fine the employer of the regular citizen! Holder needs to get real.
Maybe it is time for all forms of the govt. to be “playing by the same rules” as holder says. Think about it, who is responsible for the high unemployment and low paying jobs here in america, just think 1 in 5 – or is it 1 in 4 -are on govt. assisstance for one reason or another. It isn`t because us americans are lazy by any means. These border jumpers are a major reason why we have jobs that do not pay a liveable wage. Just look at many of these farm/agriculture jobs that hire these wetbacks, they even give them guys room and board along with a reasonable wage. Atleast I know they do around here where I am from anyway. I don`t to of offensive by any means towards those wetbacks, but they got their country and we got ours here in amwerica and they are a big part of the reason that we got the problems that we have here.
Then you move up the pay scale to the American engineers, medical professionals, etc that have been replaced by “skilled” wetbacks, mostly Asian. Funny how they never replace American CEOs and other big shot executives with cheap foreign labor, even though they could be had for probably 1/10 what these greedy scumbags take in.