Thread: FAIR Stein Report

From: Federation for American Immigration Reform Date: 2006/08/28 Mon PM 05:36:17 EDT
Subject: FAIR Legislative Update 8-28-06

Latest News Releases

CBO Estimate of Senate Amnesty Grossly Understated, Asserts FAIR
(August 22, 2006)



Check out our Stein Report for the latest immigration news and information!

August 28, 2006

In this update:
House Government Reform Committee Holds Hearing on Local Law Enforcement
House Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing on Fiscal Impact of Amnesty
House and Senate Immigration Hearings for the Week of August 28, 2006
Guest Worker Amnesty Bill: Cheap Labor Will Cost Taxpayers $126 Billion
North Carolina Passes Immigration Reform Measures
Pence Amnesty Plan Gets Endorsement from White House?
House Government Reform Committee Holds Hearing on Local Law Enforcement
On Friday, August 25th, the Government Reform Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources held a field hearing entitled, "Illegal Immigration: Making A Difference by Empowering Local Law Enforcement." The hearing, held in southern North Carolina, focused on the cooperation between state and local law enforcement with federal law enforcement as one of the components to help stop illegal immigration.

Mecklenburg County Sheriff Jim Pendergraph told the Subcommittee that "the Congress of the United States has let us down by the lack of action on the illegal immigration issue for decades. I and many others strongly disagree with President Bush's policy, or lack thereof, on illegal immigration." Pendergraph's department is one of only seven departments in five states to enter into a "287(g) agreement" with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This agreement allows state and local law enforcement officers to be trained on screening the status of people arrested in their jurisdiction. Officers are given access to ICE's database of fingerprints and photographs which can identify the immigration status of the person arrested. Since screening began May 1, Pendergraph has found that most of the immigrants who pass through his jail are here illegally.

Gaston County Sheriff Alan Cloninger received notice the day before the hearing that his department would also be able to enter into a "287(g) agreement." The sheriffs explained that many law enforcement agencies on the state and local level had repeatedly tried to participate in such agreements, but most are turned down or ignored.

Back to top

House Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing on Fiscal Impact of Amnesty
On Thursday, August 24th, the Judiciary Committee held a field hearing on the Senate guest worker amnesty bill and its impact on taxpayers, fundamental fairness and the rule of law. For more information on this hearing, click here and read our alert.

Back to top

House Immigration Hearings for the Week of August 28, 2006
In addition to the two committee hearings held last week, another four are scheduled for this week. The locations and dates are listed below.

We urge you to check the list and attend any of the hearings that are in your area! While the opportunity to speak at the hearings is unlikely, the Members of Congress attending these hearings are looking at the attendees to see which views have the most support. Please go to these hearings and let the Members of Congress know where the American public stands on illegal immigration!
August 28, 2006

House Resources Committee
Committee hearing on "Border Security on Federal Lands: The Importance of Securing the Northern Border."
Witnesses: TBA
Location: Bedford Building (City Hall), 223 S. Second Street, Hamilton, Montana at 1:00 pm
Contact: Contact: 202-225-2761
http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/

August 29, 2006

House Judiciary Committee
Committee oversight hearing on "The Reid-Kennedy Bill: The Effect on American Workers' Wages and Employment Opportunities."
Witnesses: TBA
Location: The Centre, Evansville Auditorium & Convention Center, 715 Locust St Evansville, Indiana at 10:00am.
Contact: 202-225-2492
http://www.judiciary.house.gov/

August 30, 2006

Senate Budget Committee
Committee hearing on "Budget Impact of Current and Proposed Border Security and Immigration Policies
Witnesses: See pdf link
Location: Aurora City Council Chambers, 1515 El Alameda Parkway, Aurora, Colorado at 2:30 pm.
Contact: 202-225-2492
Announcement PDF

September 1, 2006

House Judiciary Committee
Committee oversight hearing on "Is the Reid-Kennedy bill a repeat of the failed amnesty of 1986?"
Witnesses: TBA
Location: The Grand River Center, Meeting Rooms 1 and 2, 500 Bell Street, Dubuque, IA at 9:00am
Contact: 202-225-3951
http://judiciary.house.gov/oversight.aspx?ID=258

Back to top

Guest Worker Amnesty Bill: Cheap Labor Will Cost Taxpayers $126 Billion
The Congressional Budget Office recently released an analysis of the Senate guest worker amnesty bill that passed in May. In its analysis, the CBO reported that granting amnesty to illegal aliens could claim almost $50 billion in federal benefits. The CBO estimates that over the next decade, amnestied aliens and their families, plus guest workers and their families could claim $24.5 billion in tax refunds, $15.4 billion in Medicare and Medicaid, $5.2 billion in Social Security benefits and $3.7 billion in food stamps and child nutrition programs. Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) told the Washington Post, "The cost aspect of the Senate plan has never been taken into consideration. When combined with the policy implementations, this should certainly stick a fork in it."

Back to top

North Carolina Passes Immigration Reform Measures
Last week, the North Carolina General Assembly passed an omnibus bill, entitled the Technical Corrections Bill (SB 1523), that incorporated several important provisions on immigration law. The bill requires applicants for a North Carolina Driver's license provide a Social Security number, a valid visa or taxpayer identification number. Second, the bill contains provisions requiring the state government to screen new hires for legal presence. Third, it authorizes local and state law enforcement agencies to begin enforcing immigration laws. Finally, the bill contains various provisions to target human trafficking. William Gheen, president of the Americans for Legal Immigration PAC, said the language was "a step in the right direction."

Back to top

Pence Amnesty Plan Gets Endorsement from White House?
Last Thursday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff toured the Texas-Mexico border with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Representative Mike Pence (R-IN). This visit appeared to be a move by the Bush Administration to appease conservatives by emphasizing border security. It also appeared to suggest approval of the Pence-Hutchinson plan, which calls for the creation of a guest worker program with an eventual path to citizenship. Part of the Pence guest worker amnesty plan calls for the President to certify the borders are secure before triggering the unlimited guest worker program. "The White House thinks we have a very interesting idea, and the president was very adamant about wanting to encourage my efforts," said Pence. "Going to the border with Secretary Chertoff will help emphasize our seriousness about putting border security first." However, DHS spokesman Russ Knocke said Chertoff's appearance with Pence and Hutchison is "in no way meant to signal an endorsement" of the Pence plan.

Back to top





Please forward this message to friends and email lists.
Not on our action alert list? Click here to subscribe.
For breaking immigration news, visit the Stein Report.
Fax your legislators for free from MyFAIR Plan Action Center.
Support our work! We depend on contributions from people like you.