Congressman Lou Barletta (R. PA-11) has a long record of being a bigoted anti-immigration hater. From his time as Mayor of Hazleton, PA:
http://www.nytimes.com/...
A federal judge in Pennsylvania yesterday struck down ordinances adopted by the City of Hazleton to bar illegal immigrants from working or renting homes there, the most resounding legal blow so far to local efforts across the country to crack down on illegal immigration.
The decision, by Judge James M. Munley of Federal District Court, presents a new roadblock to local officials who want to take action against illegal immigration after broad federal legislation to address the issue failed in the Senate last month.
Judge Munley ruled that ordinances first passed last July by the Hazleton City Council interfered with federal law, which regulates immigration, and violated the due process rights of employers, landlords and illegal immigrants.
The ruling resonated beyond Hazleton because the town was the first in the country to pass such measures, after its mayor, Louis J. Barletta, vowed last year to make the city “one of the toughest places in the United States” for illegal immigrants. Many other local initiatives were modeled on Hazleton’s ordinances, which were never put into effect because of the legal challenge.
“Whatever frustrations officials of the City of Hazleton may feel about the current state of immigration enforcement,” Judge Munley wrote in the 206-page decision, “the nature of the political system in the United States prohibits the city from enacting ordinances that disrupt a carefully drawn federal statutory scheme.” - New York Times, 7/27/07
To his current position as a Tea Party Congressman:
http://thehill.com/...
Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Pa.) said he didn’t choose illegal immigration as his defining political issue when he implemented an Arizona-style bill while mayor of a small Pennsylvania city — but that issue has followed him to Washington.
“It wasn’t something I ever thought about doing or had an urge to do. [The city ordinance] came out of pure frustration with Washington and the federal government,” Barletta said.
s mayor of Hazleton, in northeastern Pennsylvania, Barletta said that in 2005 he was the first mayor to propose illegal immigration legislation with the Illegal Immigration Relief Act, an ordinance that took business licenses away from employers of illegal immigrants and landlord licenses away from those who harbored illegal immigrants.
Barletta said he saw first-hand as mayor how illegal immigration negatively affected the quality of life in a small community. - The Hill, 6/20/11
You get the picture. But recently, Barletta let the cat out of bag about why immigration reform scares him:
http://frontpagemag.com/...
“Anyone who believes that they’re going to win over the Latino vote is grossly mistaken,” said Representative Lou Barletta (R-Penn.). “The majority that are here illegally are low-skilled or may not even have a high school diploma. The Republican Party is not going to compete over who can give more social programs out. They will become Democrats because of the social programs they’ll depend on.” - Front Page Mag, 6/19/13
Wow. Barletta's words are not only bigoted but just might be the most honest thing he's had to say on this issue. He's been trying to scare people into being against immigration reform:
http://www.usatoday.com/...
For some time, we have heard from pro-amnesty forces that the issue of illegal immigration dealt solely with people who are afraid to come out from the shadows. We were assured that once the veil was lifted, there would be a windfall of tax revenue and improved security and safety for all Americans.
But now, sadly, Boston has shown us what the truth can be, and how violent it can be.
The Tsarnaev brothers, accused mass murderers in Boston, were in this country by legitimate means. But still, even though their family had sought asylum from their former homeland in the Russian Federation, they returned to visit. This raises a larger question about the rules of asylum and why someone would want to return to a place he had purportedly sought to escape in the first place.
And that brings us to the three college friends of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the surviving accused bomber. These three sought to aid their friend in his hour of need and shield him from police investigation of the mass murders. One of the three, Azamat Tazhayakov, had been kicked out of school for academic reasons. Despite the invalidation of his student visa on this basis, he was allowed to leave the United States and then return. This is an alarming breakdown in our national security.
Let us also remember that one of the hijackers on Sept. 11, 2001 was present legally on a student visa. Worse, two of the hijackers on that day received notification of their student visa approval long after their deaths. Twelve years later the problems still persist. - Rep. Lou Barletta (R. PA-11), USA Today, 6/3/13
Barletta has long been calling for an overhaul of the immigration system but his past remarks make it hard for anyone with a brain to take him seriously:
http://abcnews.go.com/...
Republican leaders have repeatedly warned party members against harsh immigration rhetoric following a dismal showing with Latino voters in November, but the message doesn't seem to have resonated with some in the GOP.
Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA), for example, just compared undocumented immigrants to extra water on a sinking ship.
"Why are we even talking about a pathway to citizenship when our borders aren't even close to being secure?" Barletta told The New York Times during a discussion on possible outcomes of the immigration reform debate currently taking place in Washington.
"Let's not take on any more water on this sinking ship," he said. "Let's patch the holes. Then we'll decide what do we do with all this water that's here." - ABC News/Univision, 4/1/13
With remarks from Republicans like Barletta, it's no real mystery why Latinos vote for Democrats in large numbers. And what's worse is Barletta serves on the House Border Subcommittee:
http://standardspeaker.com/...
U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-11, Hazleton, has been named to the Homeland Security Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency.
Part of the panel's oversight responsibility is to see that the department has the resources it needs to protect our nation's borders and keep terrorists from entering the United States, Barletta said in a press release.
"I have said for years that our current immigration laws are not enforced," he said. "I am pleased to now be in a better position to move us forward, particularly when there is so much misguided talk about amnesty for illegal immigrants before our borders are secure."
The committee also works to identify potential opportunities to eliminate duplicative or unnecessary programs, find efficiencies that will contribute to the department's ability to meet its vital missions, and identify areas for cost savings.
"This is an excellent opportunity to be able to oversee Homeland Security's day-to-day operations and make sure it operates in the most efficient and effective manner," Barletta said. "The principal responsibility of government is to protect its citizens, and this role will help me see that we are fulfilling that promise in the best ways." - Standard Speaker, 6/19/13
I seriously hope a strong a Democratic candidate steps forward and unseats this racist douche. Democrats and pro-immigration activists should certainly make Barletta a top target in next year's election.