April 28, 2008 - 2:29pm
Christie clarifies illegal immigration statement
By Matt Friedman
Category: Governor
United States Attorney Chris Christie issued a statement today clarifying a remark he made at a public forum in Dover over the weekend.
At the event, sponsored by the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey and hosted by the United Methodist Church at Dover, The Star-Ledger quoted Christie saying that "being in this country without proper documentation is not a crime.”
In today’s statement, The U.S. Attorney’s office wrote that being here without proper documentation and sneaking across the United States border are not the same.
“U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie was asked a direct question on Sunday at a
community forum regarding whether being in the United States without proper documentation as a ‘crime.’ The U.S. Attorney responded that the simple act of being in the United States without proper documentation is not a criminal act under federal law. He further stated that this is typically enforced administratively by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement through deportation hearings. That is correct,” reads the statement.
“This is different from entering into the United States without going through the proper immigration channels, or entering through fraud. That is a federal misdemeanor under Title 8 U.S.C. Section 1325. He did not say, nor did he mean, that entering this country through any means other than the appropriate immigration channels is a lawful act. It is not.”
Contributors
Wally Edge
Marcellus Jackson, who resigned his seat as a Passaic City Councilman after admitting that he took $26,000 in bribes from an undercover FBI agent, ... >
Bob Torricelli
The financial debacle on Wall Street may change many things. Our international power, standard of living and individual security might all ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
Joe Biden promises to impose Catholic dogma upon the country, and calls it "patriotic". >
Debbie Holtz
The NJ 101.5 radio debate scheduled later this month was one Frank Lautenberg quickly agreed to - in fact his campaign was the first to confirm its ... >
Steve Lonegan
The sub prime mortgage melt down and its ensuing financial “crisis” has tested the mettle of all of us who believe in and support the free ... >
Dr. Joseph Marbach
For the past few weeks, I've watched with fascination as politician after politician have appeared on a beach or a boardwalk and declared their ... >
Rob Tornoe
To view a larger version of this cartoon, click here. >
Michael P. Riccards
Senator John McCain insisted that he and Senator Barak Obama should go on the road for a host of town hall meetings to discuss the issues in a ... >
Joey Novick
According to a Fairleigh Dickinson poll, Senator Frank Lautenberg leads Lobbyist Dick Zimmer by 16 points, 50-34 percent. Fourteen percent say ... >
Juan Melli
While New Jersey suffered from a crippling structural deficit, politicians created a slush fund to dole out tax dollars for their own personal gain.
... >
Carla Katz
As I drove home from a VP debate party on Thursday night, I surfed radio talk shows and heard countless callers say that Governor Palin ‘won’ the ... >
Poll
If Barack Obama becomes President, who should he pick for U.S. Attorney?
Matt Boxer
1%
Paul Fishman
18%
Paula Franzese
13%
Robert Gilson
1%
Deborah Gramiccioni
0%
Patrick Hobbs
2%
Lawrence Lustberg
5%
Ralph Marra
7%
Bill Matsikoudis
13%
Julien Neils
6%
Frank Vespa-Papaleo
9%
Walter Timpone
1%
Luis Valentin
0%
Ted Wells
10%
Someone Else
14%
PolitickerNJ Partners
Hot Topics
| Politicker INTERACTIVE | |
 |
The Pindell Report Keep up with the races in your state |
 |
Lawmaker Profile Follow the funding of your representatives |
 |
270 to Win Predict the road to the White House |
Most Active Stories
- Poll: Dead heat in 3rd district House race
- Republicans link Adler, Stender to budget slush fund
- Catholic Bishop bars Whitman from speaking to students
- Adler got money from account GOP calls a 'slush fund'
- McCain's New Jersey Democrats
- Don't mess with Lautenberg: 84-year-old Senator is ready for fist fight with labor leader
- McCain campaign disappoints us with a rather pathetic announcement of Democratic support
- Essex County Dems open their main Obama headquarters
- Burlington versus Trenton in 3rd District showdown
- U.S. Attorney's Office issues subpoena to Passaic mayoral candidate Ellen
- Dr. Bones goes to Washington
- PoliticsNJ.com Power List 2007
- DOHERTY: NEW SCIENTIFIC DATA JUSTIFIES REPEALING GLOBAL WARMING RESPONSE ACT
- Eleven arrested in bribery scandal
- Lyndhurst GOP, nearly all of them, switching parties
- Lobbyist arrested
- Governor Paralysis
- Who is the best State Party Chairman in New Jersey
- KYRILLOS, BECK, KEAN & HANDLIN VOW WORK TO KEEP SEASTREAK FERRY UP AND RUNNING
- Torricelli on COAH
Quote of the Day
October 10, 2008
"(Governor Jon) Corzine understands that his initial plan went too far, and he is now doing everything he can to hold down the increase the Turnpike Authority proposed to the lowest level possible in order to guarantee safe roads and enhance bridge safety." -- Corzine's "best positioning" on toll hikes, according to his pollster, Doug Schoen.
-Star-Ledger, 10/10/08
Recent Press Releases
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
TOO MANY WANT TO FLY THE COOP AT STAR-LEDGER― MUST READ
The Drivers of the Star-Ledger Crisis― NEW YORK OBSERVER
Colts Neck couple to host president today― Juan and Marta Gutierrez
Public purchase benefited Democratic Party donors ― JOSEPH FERRIERO
PolitickerNJ.com Jobs
Syndicate
Thank you for the clarification
I'm glad Mr. Christie clarified his comments. On the surface they were just too hard to believe. Perhaps the Star-Ledger was going for sensationalism. That would be hard to believe! NOT!
Ashcroft should run.
One of the great legal minds of the 20th century said, "If you don't know what the hell you're talking about, then shut the hell up." That was my father's quote. He attained a formal education up to 7th grade at PS# 18 in Paterson, NJ. More pols should pay attention to the older, wiser portion of our population.
Still double talk if you ask me
I like Christie when he is doing the job he is suppose to be doing. But this is just like Obama and his gun and god statement in San Francisco. And just like Obama, Christie is doing a two step to try and get out of saying this very stupid statement. Being in this country without permission is a crime, plain and simple. It ain't rocket science son. Stick to being a great prosecutor and cleaning up the crap in this state, you are very good at that.
"The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything."
--Theodore Roosevelt--
Almost as if...
Gee, it's almost as if Chris Christie were a candidate for office, made a statement that he should have known to be wrong and then his staff stepped in to cover the mistake.
Almost ...
its only going to get worse
for him when he officially announces. Josh Margolin is probably licking his lips...he needs an exploratory committee so he can hire a handler-quick!
Not fit for Prime Time
This gaff seriously questions his political skills and his inability to corner the moral legal argument