Congressman Baird votes no on House amnesty bill

Monday, March 22, 2021
Jim Baird

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Indiana Fourth District Congressman Jim Baird (R-Greencastle) voted no on H.R. 6, or the American Dream and Promise Act.

“As our country faces a crisis along our southern border, a crisis that President Biden has created, it is unthinkable that Congress would grant amnesty and encourage millions of more migrants to illegally enter the country,” Baird said. “President Biden and Congress should work together to resolve the crisis at the border by first securing our border. After the border is secured, and only after, can Congress then begin debate on comprehensive immigration reform.”

The crisis at the southern border is getting worse with estimates predicting illegal border crossings reaching a 20-year high, Baird said in a press release. There were more than 100,000 illegal border crossings in February. There are reports of more than 13,000 unaccompanied migrant children currently in U.S. government custody.

More concerning, the congressman said, is the Customs and Border Protection agency informing Congress that four people, whose names are listed on the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Database, were apprehended while trying to cross the border.

The House of Representatives passing H.R. 6 will only exacerbate this crisis, Baird said, and signal to others that it is okay to illegally cross our nation’s borders.

Baird said the bill would do the following:

-- Grant green cards and amnesty on a mandatory basis to more illegal immigrants that were originally established under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

-- Grant green card status to those who entered the country illegally.

-- Create loopholes that would allow criminals convicted of violent crimes and gang members to receive green cards.

-- Applicants with multiple misdemeanor convictions, even if the crime was violent or resulted in death or bodily injury to receive a green card

-- Block consideration of serious, violent crimes committed as a juvenile when adjudicating an application.

-- Gang member exclusion is very onerous – only the DHS Secretary can provisionally deny an applicant based on gang membership, and the denial is subject to an appeals process.

-- Include an expansive waiver of the criminal exclusions.

-- Allow individuals deported under the Trump Administration to apply for green cards by eliminating the physical presence requirement.

Comments
View 17 comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.
  • The crisis at the southern border is getting worse with estimates predicting illegal border crossings reaching a 20-year high, Baird said in a press release. There were more than 100,000 illegal border crossings in February. There are reports of more than 13,000 unaccompanied migrant children currently in U.S. government custody.

    I wonder if the media can verify this? Ooops- to do so would require 2 things:

    1. Access

    2. Non agenda driven reporting.

    I never thought that #1 would be tougher than #2. I love government controlled media.

    -- Posted by beg on Tue, Mar 23, 2021, at 10:17 AM
  • beg - government controlled media? Take off your tin foil hat and maybe stop going to your Qanon meetings, your life will improve, I promise.

    -- Posted by BJCP96 on Tue, Mar 23, 2021, at 2:03 PM
  • Your personal attacks are:

    1. Off base. I am of the practical sense party. But you are following the leftist/ liberal playbook so I understand why that path was chosen.

    2. Prevents an intellectual conversation over the issue I was addressing ( evidently poorly).

    3. Per the above, I will assume I communicated poorly as I was trying to point out the irony of the current administration severely limiting access to cover border issues. Even the liberal media is complaining. This isn't fake news, tin foily, or Qanon. It is an observation of a current event that isn't thru the lens of an agenda.

    I will attempt to do a better job of communicating in the future.

    Enjoy the rest of your Tuesday and stay safe.

    -- Posted by beg on Tue, Mar 23, 2021, at 3:05 PM
  • Beg, you are a fine communicator. Don't let BJCP96's insulting attacks get to you. Remember, he once wrote that he was bitten by a liberal/democrat bat and can no longer see himself in a mirror.

    However, as bad as things are for BJCP96, he still has a good sense of humor!

    -- Posted by Prince of Stardust Hills on Tue, Mar 23, 2021, at 8:11 PM
  • Prince of Stardust Hills, I've always wondered what person decided to develop a trailer park community (Stardust Hills), then proceed to build a huge two story plantation-style house to live IN THE TRAILER PARK? Am I right about that? That's something I always found funny!

    -- Posted by Raker on Tue, Mar 23, 2021, at 11:20 PM
  • NEVER say "trailer park!" A tornado might hear you!

    And while I'm not sure, do I sense just a hint of jealousy? Seriously, Raker, admit it; you're not happy concerning where you now live, and you want to move up. I've seen it over and over; you've had your eyes on Stardust Hills for some time. Make the move friend. There's a pre-manufactured home not too far away from me for sale. Don't be bashful; enjoy the good life!

    -- Posted by Prince of Stardust Hills on Wed, Mar 24, 2021, at 1:43 AM
  • Sorry Prince, but I'm on team Van Bibber. They have lakes!

    -- Posted by Raker on Wed, Mar 24, 2021, at 8:03 AM
  • Prince- "NEVER say "trailer park!" A tornado might hear you"

    Now THAT is funny!

    -- Posted by BJCP96 on Wed, Mar 24, 2021, at 8:30 AM
  • Raker, it's obvious you have never been south of Interstate 70 when it comes to touring Putnam County! Lakes? Van Bibber is a pond compared to what southern Putnam County offers!

    Why don't you come on down to Cloverdale and see what you're missing, or in your case, come on up! While you're visiting, checkout Stardust Hills. The homes are palatial when compared to Van Bibber, but the local folks are friendly and anything but snobs. And as I've told you before, Cloverdale in the only place in the entire state where 231 crosses Interstate 70, where the largest horse barn in Indiana is located, and we have a truck stop with a diner!

    Need more? Cloverdale has a great McDonalds, a MOTEL 6 where the lights are always on, and there is a grocery store within walking distance of Stardust Hills for those days when your car won't start. So, again, come on down, or as in your case, climb on up, and give southern Putnam County a visit!

    -- Posted by Prince of Stardust Hills on Wed, Mar 24, 2021, at 9:17 AM
  • BJCP96 don't encourage him, you'll only make it worse!

    -- Posted by Raker on Wed, Mar 24, 2021, at 9:31 AM
  • Raker: Do you seriously believe the Stardust Hills "trailer park" predates the "plantation style house"? That house was built in 1870! You can stop laughing now.

    -- Posted by Ben Dover on Wed, Mar 24, 2021, at 10:20 AM
  • Ben dover that's what I was asked prince about it, it's really not that important just a funny observation, no need to be a jerk. I still think it's a funny contrast to the neighborhood. And I still enjoy sticking it to you nasty trolls, so at least there's that!!!

    -- Posted by Raker on Wed, Mar 24, 2021, at 10:57 AM
  • This should be added to the playbook as a case study.

    -- Posted by beg on Wed, Mar 24, 2021, at 8:59 PM
  • Beg I'm sorry it seems like you're suffering some sort of dementia, because your comments are sounding like crazy nonsense these days.

    -- Posted by Raker on Wed, Mar 24, 2021, at 10:04 PM
  • Understanding the perspectives behind that conclusion gives me great confidence my comments are practical and spot on.

    Thanks for the validation!

    -- Posted by beg on Wed, Mar 24, 2021, at 11:14 PM
  • Wow! Tweedledum voted no. I'm shocked.

    -- Posted by Queen53 on Thu, Mar 25, 2021, at 10:43 AM
  • Queen,

    Do you like being called names by others in the same you call people names?

    Do you know what the entirety of the bill was? Do you know if no was a bad vote or good vote? Is there anyway to know at this point? Is there anyway to know if you don't fully know the bill?

    I personally don't have the answers because I haven't read the bill and thought thru the ramifications. The only thing I am aware of is there are issues at the borders and media is being restricted from full access to inform the public.

    Enjoy your

    -- Posted by beg on Thu, Mar 25, 2021, at 12:08 PM
Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: