Sunday, April 30, 2006
Immigrant Boycott 'Terrible'
New York Gov. George Pataki is blasting a nationwide boycott by illegal aliens planned for Monday, calling it a "terrible" idea.
"I think it's just terrible," Pataki told WABC Radio host Larry Kudlow on Saturday. "You don't take a demonstration to the streets for a political cause that's going to threaten our schools and close down businesses."
The New York Republican suggested that if illegal immigrants participate in a work boycott, they might be fired.
"They have to show up for work if they want to continue to have a job," he said. "There are far better ways to gain the support of the American people than shutting down businesses and looking to disrupt entire communities."
On the larger question of immigration reform, Pataki said that border enforcement should be the priority.
"First of all, clearly the most important thing is that we have to control our borders," he told WABC. "When the first act of tens of thousands of people coming to this country is to break the law, it just sends the wrong message" to grant illegals amnesty.
The New York governor, whose state has the fourth largest population of illegals, said national security is another top concern, explaining:
"You can never be secure if there are thousands of people crossing the border and you don't know who they are, why they're coming here, how long they're going to be here or where they're going to go."
New York Gov. George Pataki is blasting a nationwide boycott by illegal aliens planned for Monday, calling it a "terrible" idea.
"I think it's just terrible," Pataki told WABC Radio host Larry Kudlow on Saturday. "You don't take a demonstration to the streets for a political cause that's going to threaten our schools and close down businesses."
The New York Republican suggested that if illegal immigrants participate in a work boycott, they might be fired.
"They have to show up for work if they want to continue to have a job," he said. "There are far better ways to gain the support of the American people than shutting down businesses and looking to disrupt entire communities."
On the larger question of immigration reform, Pataki said that border enforcement should be the priority.
"First of all, clearly the most important thing is that we have to control our borders," he told WABC. "When the first act of tens of thousands of people coming to this country is to break the law, it just sends the wrong message" to grant illegals amnesty.
The New York governor, whose state has the fourth largest population of illegals, said national security is another top concern, explaining:
"You can never be secure if there are thousands of people crossing the border and you don't know who they are, why they're coming here, how long they're going to be here or where they're going to go."
