It was Senator Ben Nelson, I suspect ..
http://www.negop.org/newsdetails.asp?id=70
BEN NELSON:
Immigration Hardliner? Or Lobbyist for Meatpackers?
NEGOP Questions Democrat Ben Nelson’s Immigration Flip-Flop
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Lincoln, Neb. – The Nebraska GOP called on Democrat Senator Ben Nelson today to come clean on his apparent flip-flop on federal immigration policy. Nelson announced plans to introduce legislation addressing illegal immigration.
In 1999, former Governor and soon to be candidate for United States Senate Ben Nelson acted as a lobbyist for the meatpacking industry in a dispute with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). INS was subpoenaing employee records at meatpacking plants across the state, investigating document discrepancies.
“Former Gov. Ben Nelson says the crackdown on undocumented workers in Nebraska meatpacking plants is detrimental to Nebraska.” (Nelson critical of Operation Vanguard, Calls it Detrimental; Grand Island Independent; Thursday, June 3, 1999)
Nelson said he thinks the INS should start a separate program that would allow temporary visas for undocumented workers. (Associated Press, “Nelson says INS operation draining state’s labor pool”; 6/4/99)
[Nelson] said he has been approached by several meatpacking companies, asking for his help in developing a pilot program that would make temporary visas available to undocumented employees. “We need to find more ways to employ people rather than limit them,” Nelson said. (The Grand Island Independent, 6/3/99).
“The issue in this instance is consistency and leadership. In 1999, the year before his Senate race, Ben Nelson lobbied for meatpackers – advocating for programs to permit the importation of foreign workers into permanent US jobs. In 2005, the year before his Senate race, Ben Nelson feigns concern about border security,” said Executive Director Jessica Moenning. “Ben Nelson changes what he thinks from one term to the next based on who he’s lobbying for or what a poll says - that is NOT leadership.”
“Nebraska needs a leader who will say what he means and mean what he says, not someone who changes his position if a focus group says so. Ben Nelson owes the voters of Nebraska an explanation for his flip-flop.”
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Ben Nelson Seeking Second Term
“They’re concerned jobs are being lost to illegal immigrants.” (Omaha World Herald, 9/27/05)
vs.
Ben Nelson Seeking First Term
Nelson said he thinks the INS should start a separate program that would allow temporary visas for undocumented workers. (Associated Press, “Nelson says INS operation draining state’s labor pool”; 6/4/99)
Nelson wants Congress to modify the H-2B program to permit the importation of nonfarm foreign workers into permanent US jobs such as meatpacking. (Rural Migration News; http://migration.ucdavis.edu/rmn; 9/27/05)
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Ben Nelson Seeking Second Term
“Businesses that employ illegal immigrants would be prosecuted” (Omaha World Herald, 9/27/05)
vs.
Ben Nelson Seeking First Term
Former Gov. Ben Nelson is representing a group of meatpackers and livestock producers upset with a federal crackdown on undocumented workers at the state’s packing plants. (Associated Press, “Nelson says INS operation draining state’s labor pool”; 6/4/99)
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Ben Nelson Seeking Second Term
“It’s time for action to protect our borders.” (Omaha World Herald, 9/27/05)
vs.
Ben Nelson Seeking First Term
[Nelson] said he has been approached by several meatpacking companies, asking for his help in developing a pilot program that would make temporary visas available to undocumented employees. “We need to find more ways to employ people rather than limit them,” Nelson said. (The Grand Island Independent, 6/3/99)
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Ben Nelson Seeking Second Term
“Lots of folks are concerned their tax dollars are supporting illegal immigrants living in their communities.” (Omaha World Herald, 9/27/05)
vs.
Ben Nelson Seeking First Term
“I think we should take into consideration the need to fill positions that are important for economic development purposes.” (Lincoln Journal Star, 10/24/00)
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Ben Nelson Seeking Second Term
Under his proposal, any illegal immigrant who is arrested would automatically be deported. (Omaha World Herald, 9/27/05)
vs.
Ben Nelson Seeking First Term
“What you could do is have special areas exempt from overall [immigration] quotas to meet our economic needs.” (Lincoln Journal Star, 10/24/00)