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Lawmakers Seen Dabbling With Comprehensive Immigration Reform Agriculture.com Four years ago, the drive for comprehensive immigration reform peaked with Senate passage of a bill that included a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants working in agriculture. The bill died in the House. Now, under President Trump, who ...

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Lawmakers Seen Dabbling With Comprehensive Immigration Reform - Agriculture.com

Illegal Transportation Deaths Stir Calls for Immigration Reform Outrage mounting here in the Lone Star State where at least ten people were found dead in the back of a sweltering hot tractor-trailer.

The victims passing away after spending hours locked inside a semi-truck in more than 100-degree weather. Dozens more remain hospitalized, recovering from extreme dehydration and heat strokes.

The state's Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick says the discovery reinforces the need for immigration reform. Patrick says cases of human trafficking exist because of some cities' sanctuary policies.

"This is just a horrendous tragedy that should never happen in America, but our policies from the last administration, and quite frankly, the Democrat policies today of an open border and sanctuary cities allows and enables these drug smugglers who don't care about human life to put people in this horrific situation," Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick.

The truck's driver has been charged with illegally transporting immigrants for financial gain, and could face the death penalty if convicted. He told police that he didn't know what the truck's cargo was.

Originally posted here:
Illegal Transportation Deaths Stir Calls for Immigration Reform - KFDX

No easy answers on immigration reform in wake of San Antonio tragedy

David Goins, WFAA 11:45 PM. CDT July 23, 2017

As of late Sunday, officials have not revealed where the overheated tractor trailer stuffed with 39 souls was headed.

Only that by the time it stopped at a Wal-Mart parking lot in southwest San Antonio early Sunday morning, nine people were dead.

It is a tragedy that has captured the attention of Texas lawmakers from both sides of the aisle.

While the special session continued Sunday at the Capitol, thoughts were mostly 80 miles to the south of Austin.

No one should have to die to come to America, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said. "This needs to end and I dont know how many more times we have to see this.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, one of the most conservative voices in state government, renewed his call for lawmakers in D.C. to step up and end the legal uncertainty he says creates the environment for tragedy.

We need legal immigration reform," Patrick said. "Thats up to both parties in Washington & it has been for a long time.

Congress did not pass comprehensive immigration reform under president George W. Bush in 2007 and then rejected a similar effort during the Obama administration in 2013.

San Antonio State Senator Jose Menendez on Sunday questioned if Congress will ever act.

We dont get comprehensive immigration reform because politically it makes it better to have this boogie man - this red meat check box to run against, Menendez said.

2017 WFAA-TV

WFAA

A call for change as human smuggling incidents surge in Texas

WFAA

'Horrific tragedy': What we know after 10 die from hot semi truck at S.A. Walmart

WFAA

S.A. smuggling deaths reminiscent of 2003 Victoria case

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After truck tragedy, state lawmakers call on Congress to recommit to ... - WFAA

The journey to a better life in this nation has long been treacherous and the torturous demise this week of 10 who were trying to sneak into the U.S. in a tractor-trailer with no air conditioning was a tragic reminder of that.

It also was a reminder of the fact that as long as our fellow humans are willing to risk their lives to set foot in this land and as long as there are traffickers willing to capitalize on those desires there is little that can be done to stem that tide.

It certainly puts the lie to the notion a border wall could have much impact on such illegal immigration. That is because of the great number of truck crossings made every day crossings that are fundamental to the growth of commerce in the U.S.

In 2016, 5.8 million trucks made Southern U.S. border crossings, according to data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Nearly that many more containers made the crossing on trucks. While those trucks are subject to a variety of inspections and U.S. regulations, there is no way all could be inspected.

A key question that must be answered, then, is this: How can we stop more tragedies like this one from occurring? Is it possible to stop those clamoring to escape danger and poverty in their home countries?

Clearly, telling people to only come into the country legally is not working. Those paths are few. And as the ringleaders of these human smuggling rackets well know, desperate people do desperate things.

If people are willing to put themselves at such dire risk to be here, we must ask ourselves whether our Christian principles agree with turning our backs on them, or if those principles demand we find ways to help. And if that is the case, what can be done?

We believe it will take a functional legal mechanism for such immigrants to come here. If that existed, the need to take deadly risks would decline. Remember, immigrants are dying not only in tractor-trailers but when they attempt to cross U.S. Southern deserts.

This is where comprehensive immigration reform comes in. Our system is broken. It sets artificial quotas on how many immigrants will be welcomed and the laws, as currently enforced, set a premium on punishing the immigrants but virtually leaving alone those who employ them. Meanwhile, industries are in need of workers because Americans simply refuse to do many jobs.

Comprehensive reform could fix all this. Unfortunately, Congress is more interested in scare tactics and punishment than fixes the House recently passed a bill further criminalizing undocumented entry and imposing penalties on so-called sanctuary cities.

Of course human trafficking is a scourge that should be tackled with the full force of the law. But immigration law itself also demands immediate attention.

See the article here:
Editorial: Tragic human smuggling deathsshow need for immigration reform - Longview News-Journal

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick believes this is a prime example of why Texas needs to do away with sanctuary cities.

Cori Coffin, KVUE 6:14 PM. CDT July 23, 2017

AUSTIN - Texas lawmakers are reacting to the news after authorities discovered dozens of people stuffed into the back of a big-rig. So far, nine people are confirmed dead. San Antonio police suspect it was a human smuggling operation.

KVUE sat down with Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick to get his take on the situation. Patrick believes this is a prime example of why Texas needs to do away with sanctuary cities. The hope of coming to a 'sanctuary city' is leading people into dire situations with human traffickers.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (Photo: KVUE)

"It's a humanitarian crisis -- and in my view, murder when you stuff people when it's 100 degrees or more in the back of a truck," explained Patrick. "And who knows how long they were in that truck. I've always said -- I've said this for years: no one should have to die to come to America. We need legal immigration reform. That's up to both parties in Washington -- it has been for a long time -- so that people can come here in dignity. We need to control who comes here. But those who come here, we want them to come here in dignity -- not have to live in the shadows -- and embrace our country."

Patrick is looking to the federal government to overhaul immigration in America. It's something both Republican and Democrat-majority administrations have tried and failed at. Patrick envisions a simpler system to get people in dangerous situations, into the United States quicker.

"We need to streamline the opportunity to come to America legally," he added. "Citizenship may take longer, but you should be able to come here in a reasonable amount of time, with background checks and with jobs waiting for you. Maybe a family that can take you in."

Patrick also told KVUE if Congress can implement a successful immigration system, he believes most illegal immigration would disappear. He said 'sanctuary cities' undermine that effort, empowering smugglers to take advantage of those who are desperate.

State Senator Jose Menendez (D-San Antonio) also wants to see comprehensive immigration reform in America. He spoke about the Bracero program of the 1950s, which allowed migrant workers to come into the country for day labor.

"And because they knew they could go and come back, because of this work program, they didn't look for desperate ways to get here at any cost -- at any price," explained Menendez. "They knew there was a way, a legal way, to come into the country, do some work, and leave... We're the wealthiest, most free country in the world. And we're surrounded by places that need help. And I think we could do a better job of being better neighbors."

Senator Menendez believes along with comprehensive reform, it's important to not make people who already live here, victims as well. He also says he would like to see harsher penalties for human traffickers to fight the problem.

On the other side,District 51 Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, who is part of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, believes politics shouldn't be the first thing looked at in a situation like this.

"I know that people will talk about immigration and policy in a partisan and political way. I don't really think that that helps the situation at this particular moment. It's just so heartbreaking. It really illustrates in a very, very drastic way people that are coming to this country -- people who lost their lives -- because they're desperate to come here, he said.

According to ABC News, in this month alone, Border Patrol has reported at least four truck seizures in and around Laredo. Two weeks ago, agents found over 70 people from Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala and El Salvador, all crammed into a truck with no way out.

And it's not just U.S. authorities dealing with these issues, law enforcement in Mexico are seeing it too.Last year, 110 people were found trapped inside a truck after it crashed while speeding in the state of Veracruz.

It's the kind of reality Rodriguez feels needs to change, calling for justice for San Antonio's victims.

And you have some bad actors who tried to bring them here and then leave them in appalling conditions and treated like less than human. We really have to think of tragedies like this from a very human perspective, Rodriguez added.

2017 KVUE-TV

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'No one should have to die to come to America': Lawmakers react to apparent immigrant smuggling case - KVUE