2008.03.06: March 6, 2008: Headlines: Figures: COS - Colombia: Politics: Congress: The Salinas Californian: Farr's 'Gestapo' comments draw national attention

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Colombia: Special Report: Sam Farr: Sam Farr: Newest Stories: 2008.03.06: March 6, 2008: Headlines: Figures: COS - Colombia: Politics: Congress: The Salinas Californian: Farr's 'Gestapo' comments draw national attention

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Farr's 'Gestapo' comments draw national attention

Farr's 'Gestapo' comments draw national attention

Rep. Sam Farr’s recent comments comparing immigration officials to Nazi Germany’s secret police were taken out of context, the lawmaker’s spokesman said Thursday. The Carmel Democrat drew the ire of CNN’s Lou Dobbs and conservative bloggers across the country for linking officials at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to the Gestapo during a House committee hearing last week. Farr's remarks came as he addressed agency chief Julie Myers regarding concerns about recent raids by immigration agents. "The public image of you becomes one of not this compassionate law enforcement agency but essentially a Gestapo-type agency that is knocking down doors," he said at a hearing of the House Homeland Security Appropriations Committee. Congressman Sam Farr of California served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Colombia in the 1960's.

Farr's 'Gestapo' comments draw national attention

Farr's 'Gestapo' comments draw national attention

By DIANA MARRERO • The Salinas Californian Washington Bureau •

March 6, 2008

Rep. Sam Farr’s recent comments comparing immigration officials to Nazi Germany’s secret police were taken out of context, the lawmaker’s spokesman said Thursday.

The Carmel Democrat drew the ire of CNN’s Lou Dobbs and conservative bloggers across the country for linking officials at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to the Gestapo during a House committee hearing last week.

Farr's remarks came as he addressed agency chief Julie Myers regarding concerns about recent raids by immigration agents.

"The public image of you becomes one of not this compassionate law enforcement agency but essentially a Gestapo-type agency that is knocking down doors," he said at a hearing of the House Homeland Security Appropriations Committee.

Myers responded quickly: "We're not the Gestapo."

Farr's spokesman said the congressman was simply describing the "concerns of the community."

"The community views them (immigration officials) that way," Tom Mentzer said. "He thinks it's important that ICE knows the way they're viewed in the community."
Dobbs, who has made immigration his signature issue on his network show, immediately pounced on Farr's remarks, saying they're an example of the "extreme rhetoric being used by the amnesty and open-border advocates."

"Now if I used the expression Gestapo-like, we would be hearing from every advocacy group that is pretending to be a civil rights group in this country," he said on his show Tuesday.

The issue has taken on a life of its own, with the mayor of Santa Cruz issuing a proclamation this week denouncing Dobbs, saying the television personality was being unfair to Farr by sensationalizing a complex issue.

The region has been the target of raids as part of a crackdown on illegal immigration known as the "Return to Sender" operation. Farr, who has represented the area since 1993, has been vocal about his support for an immigration bill that would give illegal immigrants a chance to gain legal status.




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Headlines: March, 2008; RPCV Sam Farr (Colombia); Figures; Peace Corps Colombia; Directory of Colombia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Colombia RPCVs; Politics; Congress; California





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Story Source: The Salinas Californian

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Colombia; Politics; Congress

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