The anti-illegal immigration movement is singing Congressman Joe Wilson’s praises, but the lawmaker who was rebuked by the House this week recently helped extend the stay of one of those very “illegals” the activists hope to remove from the country.

Hundreds of illegal immigration opponents are gathering in Washington right now for the annual Federation for Immigration Reform (FAIR) effort to lobby Congress for tighter border controls and other policies designed to keep undocumented immigrants out of the U.S.

This year, they’re making Wilson, a South Carolina Republican, their new poster boy after he famously shouted “You lie!” during President Obama’s speech on healthcare reform last week. Wilson’s outbust occurred as Obama was saying he has no intention of giving illegal immigrants access to health care benefits in his reform plan, and CNN personality and avowed anti-illegal immigration crusader Lou Dobbs is giving Wilson “great credit” for advancing the cause, per The Washington Independent and Politics Daily.

Wilson may have a conflict of interest, however. Two months before he heckled Obama, he introduced legislation to keep Sainey Fatty, an illegal immigrant from Gambia, in the country. Fatty came to the U.S. for school in the early ’90s and lived here for seven years while under a deportation order, according to his friend Bill Cook’s blog.

In his bill, Wilson asks Congress to forgive Fatty’s immigration woes, drop the deportation order against Fatty and allow him to remain in the country legally.

Wilson’s communications director Ryan Murphy told Raw Story in an e-mail that “Congressman Wilson does not support illegal immigrants getting access to a government taxpayer funded health insurance program.” He did not respond to questions about what motivated Wilson to keep Fatty in the country or whether Wilson supports Fatty’s ability to receive medical care in the U.S.

Officials with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement told Raw Story they aren’t allowed to comment on the details of requests for asylum, although Fatty’s friend Cook says in his blog that Fatty is allegedly a Christian convert who abandoned his Muslim roots. Cook did not respond to Raw Story’s request for comments, and restricted the public’s ability to view his blog after Raw Story left a voice-mail message at his office. Government workers familiar with the process in which members of Congress fight deportation orders say many undocumented people file asylum claims stating they would face violence if they return to their native countries after converting to Christianity.

After South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham followed Wilson’s lead, Fatty gets to stay in the U.S. for at least the next 15 months. Graham introduced legislation similar to Wilson’s in the Senate, which essentially gives Fatty an automatic stay on the deportation order to give the Senate time to act on Graham’s bill. Fatty is now allowed to remain in the U.S. until the 111th session of Congress adjourns.

“By the grace of God, Fatty has been granted a stay on his deportation,” his friend Cook’s blog reported last month. “…Congressman Wilson and others reached out to Senators DeMint and Graham, who were able to secure a temporary stay–word reached Fatty less than 30 minutes before his flight out of the U.S. was slated to leave today. Praise God for His kindness!”

On Wednesday night, Congressman Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) lauded Wilson for a different reason during a reception for efforts to end illegal immigration: “It looks like the Senate is going to fix the language in the health care bill,” said King, “to require proof of citizenship… amnesty in the health care bill has gone down because of who? Joe Wilson!”

Fatty did not respond to requests for comment, but the company website for HIS International, a South Carolina group that bills itself as a non-denominational Christian organization, lists him as an employee since 2003.

The group’s website says it helps foreign students with practical matters like getting driver’s licenses and gives these students the “option” of joining them for Bible study sessions and retreats. They also provide help accessing medical care.

http://rawstory.com/08/news/2009/09/18/you-lie-wilson-shows-two-faces-on-illegal-immigration/

Do you know for his very rude and disrespectful remark in the chamber he has received a whole slew in donations. Talk about ignorancy in double time in this country.

I guess we are really finding out how many racists we really had in this country that were undercover.

But on the same note, we are also finding out how many there are who have outgrown the old racial American values, which is absolutely fantastic.

As for the immigration issue, I was with Bush on this. Almost the only thing Bush and I agreed on. The issue is divisive and ignorant inducing for the most part in this country. We are connected with Mexico and they will be a part of us unless the tactonic (sp) plates shift suddenly. So we need to work it out.

Toooo funny!

Wow.

He's a lawyer. He said that he specialized in immigration but he really specializes in real estate. I was surprised when I heard that on the radio.

'Christian convert who abandoned his Muslim roots'

Ah that sweet melody the christian right falls all over. It the cause furthers the fudementalists agenda, it's a whole different story.

Sure we'll let you live here for that reason because it makes us look good to our fellow fundies. But if your are anything but a convert, out you go... Sorry, couldn't help myself.

It's funny how different groups will foster humanity when it suites their purposes.

wilson may have been a stand up guy, but he sure is a sleeze right now. And he LIES.. lol

illegal=breaking the law
breaking the law(should)=consequence