New Democratic Ad Calls on Republicans to Stop Delaying Border Security...

[MaineDem]

For Immediate Release
July 6, 2006
Contact: Damien LaVera - 202-863-8148

New Democratic Ad Calls on Republicans to Stop Delaying Border Security and
Immigration Reform

Washington, DC - One day after the New York Times reported that President Bush
has signaled his willingness to back away from his support of comprehensive
immigration reform and join extremists in the Republican Congress who support
an enforcement-only approach to the issue, the President's Commerce Secretary
brought the Bush Administration's failed leadership on immigration and border
security to Battle Creek, MI. Secretary Carlos
Gutierrez and Michigan Republican Congressman John Schwarz today participated
in a closed press roundtable on immigration issues.

The meeting comes as Congressional Republicans are holding town hall-style
hearings across the country designed to distract from their failure to secure
America's borders, enact comprehensive immigration reform, and take the steps
necessary to keep America safe. In response to those hearings, the Democratic
National Committee (DNC) yesterday released a new Spanish-language radio ad
that demands that Republicans in Washington stop delaying the passage of
comprehensive immigration reform and join Democrats in working to pass border
security measures that are both tough and smart.

"The people of Michigan deserve better than what they've seen from Bush
Republicans like Secretary Gutierrez and Congressman Schwarz who are playing
political games with border security," said DNC spokesman Damien LaVera.

"These sham hearings by House Republicans and the President's decision to cave
to extremists in his party cannot hide the fundamental truth that Americans
simply cannot trust Republicans with their security. By blocking Democratic
efforts to increase funds for border security, port security, the COPS program,
and many other key homeland security programs, Congressional Republicans have
consistently fought Democratic efforts to secure our borders and make America
safer.

"It is time for Republicans to join Democrats in fighting for comprehensive
immigration reform that strengthens our borders, protects U.S. workers and
their wages, reunites families and allows hard-working immigrants who pay taxes
and obey the law the opportunity to earn the right to apply for the
responsibilities of citizenship."

The 9/11 Commission gave the Republican Congress failing grades, including a
"D" on border security. Despite the Commission's recommendations, Republicans
in Congress have blocked seven Democratic measures to enhance border security
resources over the last four and a half years. If these Democratic amendments
had been adopted, there would be 6,600 more Border Patrol agents, 14,000 more
detention beds, and 2,700 more immigration agents along our borders than now
exist. Yet each time, the Republican Majority rejected these efforts to make
our borders more secure.

The text of the new DNC ad, which features Texas Democratic Congressman and former U.S. Border Patrol agent Silvestre Reyes (TX-16),, along with an English translation of the ad follows. To listen to it, click on the following link: http://a9.g.akamai.net/7/9/8082/v001/democratic1.download.akamai.com/8082/audio/radio/ads/20060705_reyes_border_security_ad_SPA.mp3

Translated Text In English
Title: Border Security
Length: :60 seconds
Language: Spanish

Audio:
Paid for by Democratic National Committee. www.democrats.org. This
communication not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. The DNC
is responsible for the content of this advertising.

For more than 26 years I served on the border, fighting to keep our enemies and
drug dealers out. And for years in Congress, I've called on Republicans who
control everything in Washington to take action to secure America's borders.

But for six years Republicans have done nothing. Worse, they have blocked
Democrats' efforts to increase border security.

Now, instead of acting to secure our borders and pass immigration reform;
Republicans are holding hearings, just so they can keep scapegoating
immigrants. They think that's how they'll win elections in November.

We can't trust Republicans with our security or with immigration reform.
Democrats want to act now.

This is Congressman Silvestre Reyes. Join Democrats in calling on Republicans
to stop playing games with immigration; and start securing our borders.

Text In Spanish
Title: Seguridad Fronteriza
Length: :60
Language: Spanish

Audio:
Pagado por el Comité Nacional Demócrata. www.Democrats.org Este comunicado no
está autorizado por ningún candidato ni comité de candidato. El DNC es
responsable por el contenido de este anuncio.

Durante más de 26 años, preste servicio en la frontera luchando para mantener a
nuestros enemigos y a narcotraficantes afuera. Y durante años en el Congreso,
le he exigido a los Republicanos que controlan todo en Washington que tomen
acción para asegurar las fronteras de los Estados Unidos.

Pero en seis años los Republicanos no han hecho nada. Peor aún, han bloqueado
esfuerzos de los Demócratas para aumentar la seguridad fronteriza.

Ahora, en vez de actuar para asegurar nuestras fronteras y aprobar la reforma
de inmigración; los Republicanos están realizando audiencias solo para seguir
usando a los inmigrantes como chivos expiatorios. Asi piensan que ganarán las
elecciones en noviembre.

No podemos confiarle nuestra seguridad ni la reforma migratoria a los
Republicanos. Los Demócratas queremos actuar ahora.

Les habla el Congresista Silvestre Reyes. Únase con los Demócratas para exigir
a los Republicanos que dejen de jugar con la inmigración; y comienzen a
asegurar nuestras fronteras.

###


Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.
org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's
committee.