Thread: FAIR Legislative Update

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

Dec. 2, 2005
In this update:

House Returns for Busy Legislative Session, Senate Soon to Follow
Don't Be Fooled by President Bush's Speech
Action Request: Continue to Drive Home the Message "Nothing Short of TRUE Enforcement Will Get the Job Done"
House Returns for Busy Legislative Session, Senate Soon to Follow

The U.S. House of Representatives returns to Washington on Tuesday to begin a busy legislative period expected to include time spent considering immigration enforcement/border security legislation, with the goal of passing a bill by the end of the year. The U.S. Senate will return the following Monday.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) has yet to introduce his immigration enforcement bill which will be the focus of debate. This offers us continuing opportunity to generate support for the TRUE Enforcement and Border Security Act, H.R. 4313, by Reps. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and Virgil Goode (R-VA).

Don't Be Fooled by President Bush's Speech

This past week, President Bush spoke in Tucson, Arizona and El Paso, Texas with DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff by his side in an effort to drum up support for his proposed border security/immigration reform initiative. While presenting a tougher-than-usual public stance on border security and employer sanctions, President Bush and his appointed Secretary of Homeland Security repeatedly emphasized that a new "guest" worker program is needed to "fill jobs Americans won't do." He also stressed his desire for more legal immigration. The details of his proposal were vague and he confirmed that he is working with Congress to get legislation passed.

We're not fooled by the president's speech and you shouldn't be either. While touting the importance of border security, the president's actions thus far tell a far different story. He failed to fully fund the detention space and border enforcement personnel increases authorized by the Intelligence Reform Act passed by Congress in response to the 9/11 Commission recommendations. Next to nothing has been done on the worksite enforcement front since his watch began - this despite the fact that we have some 11 million illegal aliens in the country, many who are working illegally. While giving lip service to the importance of securing our borders, USA Today reports that he is working out a deal to relax post-9/11 passport requirements along the Canadian border for the sake of appeasing big business and tourism interests. With this kind of track record, how could anyone take his promise that more will be done to secure the borders and enforce immigration laws throughout the interior seriously?



Action Request: Continue to Drive Home the Message "Nothing Short of TRUE Enforcement Will Get the Job Done"

Since Congress adjourned for Thanksgiving recess we have asked for phone calls and visits to your House Representative's district office. We asked, you responded, and the outcome is that we will have some new cosponsors officially signed on to TRUE Enforcement once the House returns to session next Tuesday. Stay tuned for that list of new cosponsors.

THANKS for doing your part by contacting your representative at his or her district office.

This coming week, as the House closes in on debating immigration enforcement legislation, we ask for your assistance to make that last run to the finish line. Please contact your House member's district office on Monday and Friday and D.C. office Tuesday through Thursday to drive home the message that nothing short of TRUE Enforcement will get the job done. Your calls, visits, faxes and emails send a strong message to your elected officials that their actions are being monitored closely and you expect results. (Visit our web site for contact information and talking points that help you make the case for TRUE Enforcement.)

Tips on Calling Your Representative:

When calling, ask to speak to the legislative assistant handling immigration.
Clearly state that you are a constituent and you are calling to ask the representative to cosponsor and support passage of TRUE Enforcement (H.R. 4313).
Ask for a response to your request. If the staffer can not give you an answer, request a response from the representative in writing and provide your mailing address.
Listen to the staffer's response, take notes, and relay information collected to FAIR's government relations department by calling 202-328-7004 or responding to this email.
Sample message:

"I'm a concerned constituent calling to ask Rep. (insert name) to cosponsor and support passage of the TRUE Enforcement and Border Security Act (H.R. 4313) by Reps. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and Virgil Goode (R-VA). I'm not fooled by the president's recent speech in Tucson and El Paso and you shouldn't be either. Nothing short of TRUE Enforcement will get the job done. This bill is the ONLY solution to America's illegal immigration crisis before Congress. Will Rep. (insert) cosponsor H.R. 4313?"

If answer is yes - "Thank you, I look forward to seeing Rep. (insert name) added to the list of cosponsors."

If answer is I don't know, but I'll pass along your message - "Thank you for taking down my message. I respectfully ask for a response to my request in writing. My address is …."

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