Thread: Fair Legislative Update 10-10-2006

From: Federation for American Immigration Reform <info@fairus.org> Add to Address Book
Date: 2006/10/10 Tue PM 06:07:40 EDT
Subject: FAIR Legislative Update 10-10-2006

Latest News Releases

Unlicensed to Kill (October 3, 2006)

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers' Resolution Highlights Amnesty Opposition (September 26, 2006)


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

October 10, 2006

In this update:
November Elections Will Test Immigration as an Issue
Bush Signs Homeland Security Spending Bill—With No Plans for a Fence?
Mexico’s Opposition to the Border Fence May Take New Turn
Recent Floor Statements
Press Release
November Elections Will Test Immigration as an Issue
Many political analysts are looking at the November elections as another litmus test for how Americans feel about illegal and legal immigration. One of the races under the microscope is in the 8th District of Arizona. Former state representative Randy Graf is running against Gabrielle Giffords for the congressional seat. Graf has been campaigning on a strong enforcement message that includes sending troops to the border. Giffords calls her strategy “enforcement plus” which would include border security with an immigration overhaul. The Immigration Forum was quoted in the Washington Post this past weekend saying, “The Graf and Giffords race is going to be a bellwether for how the House Republicans strategy on immigration plays out. Their hard core constituency is very loud but it’s not very large and they have yet to prove that they could swing a general election.” Analysts are predicting that border enforcement campaigns will not win in November and predict that the majority of Americans believe in Senator John McCain’s approach to immigration reform—amnesty.

Back to top

Bush Signs Homeland Security Spending Bill—With No Plans for a Fence?
President Bush signed into law the spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Wednesday, October 4, 2006. In that bill, Congress appropriated $1.2 billion for the 700-mile fence; however, the language in the DHS spending allows the $1.2 billion to be used on a combination of projects—not just the fence. Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) and Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) have ensured some Members of the Senate that Secretary Chertoff will have the discretion over whether to build the fence or choose other options. DHS spokesman Russ Knocke told the Washington Post, “We plan to build a little and test a little… We’re optimistic that Congress is going to provide the department with flexibility.”

In his prepared statement for the signing ceremony, President Bush again called for an amnesty for the millions of illegal aliens:

The funds that Congress has appropriated are critical for our efforts to secure this border and enforce our laws. Yet, we must also recognize that enforcement alone is not going to work. You need comprehensive reform that provides a legal way for people to work here on a temporary basis. It's going to relieve pressure on the border. It will enable our Border Patrol agents to do a better job when we reduce the number of people trying to sneak into the country. It will free up our law enforcement officers to focus on criminals and drug dealers and terrorists and others who mean us harm.


—President Bush, October 4, 2006.

Back to top

Mexico’s Opposition to the Border Fence May Take New Turn
The Associated Press reports that the Mexican government may take the dispute over the U.S.-Mexico border fence to the United Nations. The Mexican government sent a diplomatic note to the White House last week criticizing the recently approved measure to build 700 miles of fencing along the southwest border. Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez vowed to work on the issue until President Fox’s last day in office (December 1st). President-elect Felipe Calderon has also criticized the fence, but believes the issue should not come before the international community.

Back to top

Recent Floor Statements
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) commented on Border Fencing (September 29, 2006)
Sen. John Salazar (D-CO) commented Immigration Reform (September 29, 2006)
Sen. John Salazar (D-CO) commented on Immigration Reform (September 29, 2006)
Sen. Mark Dayton (D-MN) commented on Secure Fence Act (September 29, 2006)
Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) commented on Border Security (September 29, 2006)
Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) commented H-2A Program (September 29, 2006)
Sen. Craig Thomas (R-WY) commented on AgJOBS (September 29, 2006)
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) commented on Agricultural Emergency (September 29, 2006)
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) commented on Agricultural Workers (September 29, 2006)
Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) commented on Immigration (September 29, 2006)
Back to top

Press Releases and New Research
Issue Brief: Unlicensed to Kill (October 3, 2006)
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.