Chertoff's "Tool Sharpening?"

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At a speech in Boston on Wednesday, Michael Certhoff described the plan for intensified immigration enforcement as "tool sharpening."

What is he trying to say? Tool sharpening means making knives or saws more efficient? What else could he sharpen? This comment is ominous and threatening. Do you use sharp tools to gather undocumented people?

Its likely that this intensified enforcement is the presidential administration's response to the defeat of the immigration bill. Bush was hoping for Congressional support. It could be that he is wanting to create havoc so that something will happen. Surely the business community will be behind him.

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Gov't to Step Up Immigration Enforcement
By SUZANNE GAMBOA
The Associated Press
Thursday, August 9, 2007; 7:31 PM


-- WASHINGTON _ The Bush administration plans to step up immigration enforcement by raising fines on employers who hire undocumented workers, overhauling temporary worker programs and speeding up deployment of border agents, according to a summary of the plans.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez planned to announce broad immigration changes at a news conference Friday.

Some of the initiatives are similar to proposals contained in recent immigration legislation, although they are not nearly as sweeping as the bill that failed to pass the Senate. Other measures are already under way.

An outline of the announcement, obtained by The Associated Press from a congressional aide, said the administration plans to expand the list of international gangs whose members are automatically denied admission to the U.S., reduce processing times for immigrant background checks and install by the end of the year an exit system so the departure of foreigners from the country can be recorded at airports and seaports.

In addition, employers will face possible criminal sanctions if they don't fire employees unable to clear up problems with their Social Security numbers.

Also, the Homeland Security Department will ask states to voluntarily share their driver's license photos and records with the agency for use in an employment verification system. The sharing is meant to help employers detect fraudulent licenses, according to the summary....

For complete article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/09/AR2007080901651.html