Thread: FAIR LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Nov. 14, 2005
In this update:

House Plans Action on Limited Border Security Legislation by End of Year
Immigration Subcommittee Explores Impact of Illegal Immigration
Pro-Reform Bills Gain New Support
New From FAIR
Recent Floor Statements
Upcoming Events
House Plans Action on Limited Border Security Legislation by End of Year

House Republican leaders are pressing for a border security bill that does not include a guest worker program to be passed by the end of the year. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has announced his intention to introduce border security legislation which he says will be the basis for legislation brought to the House floor in December.

Hostettler's Secure America Act

Last Monday, House Immigration Subcommittee Chairman John Hostettler (R-IN) introduced his own border security bill, the Secure America Act (H.R. 4240), which includes elements expected to be in Rep. Sensenbrenner's bill. Hostettler's bill does not include a guest worker program, deals with border security and immigration enforcement, but fails to address eliminating the job magnet and other incentives that encourage illegal immigration.

The Secure America Act calls for expedited removal of illegal aliens, authority to deny visas to people from countries that do not accept or delay accepting citizens deported from the United States, and increased penalties for people convicted of human smuggling. It would also gives the president authority to use the military to enforce border security until enough border patrol agents are available to do so and consolidates immigration enforcement functions within the Department of Homeland Security.

Read Rep. Hostettler's press release for further details.

TRUE Enforcement is the Real Solution

The real legislative solution to America's illegal immigration crisis lies in the TRUE Enforcement and Border Security Act of 2005 by Reps. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and Virgil Goode (R-VA). This legislation addresses the obvious need to improve border security and interior enforcement, as well as the importance of removing incentives such as the job magnet that encourage people to enter the country illegally.

This bill now has more than 20 House members committed to being original sponsors when the bill is officially introduced, perhaps as early as this evening. This list includes Reps. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Virgil Goode (R-VA), Geoff Davis (R-KY), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Michael Bilirakis (R-FL), Ed Royce (R-CA), Randy Forbes (R-VA), Nathan Deal (R-GA), Ken Calvert (R-CA), J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), Tom Tancredo (R-CO), Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA), Charlie Norwood (R-GA), John Sullivan (R-OK), Trent Franks (R-AZ), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Kenny Marchant (R-TX), Gary Miller (R-CA), John Culberson (R-TX), and Greg Walden (R-OR).

Visit our action alert to learn how YOU can help build support for TRUE Enforcement!

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Immigration Subcommittee Explores Impact of Illegal Immigration

The House Immigration Subcommittee last Thursday held the first in a series of hearings aimed at getting perspectives from House members on how illegal immigration impacts their constituents and districts. Reps. Henry Bonilla (R-TX), Steven Pearce (R-NM) and Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) testified.

Rep. Bonilla, whose Texas district includes 700 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, spoke about the invasion his community is experiencing of violent gang members, drug traffickers, and non-Mexicans crossing the border illegally, including some from nations monitored for possible terrorist activity. As of October, 146,000 non-Mexicans illegally crossed the U.S./Mexico border this year. "While many crossing the borders are seeking work and a new life, many are also bringing violent crime and drugs into these small towns that are ill equipped to deal with the problem," said Bonilla. FAIR's recent cost study for Texas found that the illegal immigrant population is costing Texas taxpayers more than $4.7 billion per year in education, medical care and incarceration these numbers were cited by Rep. Bonilla at the hearing.

Rep. Pearce, whose New Mexico district spans 180 miles of mostly open U.S.-Mexico border, also expressed serious concerns about aliens from "special interest" countries crossing the U.S./Mexico border illegally. In his district, Border Patrol has apprehended two illegal aliens from Afghanistan, two from Indonesia, nine from Iran and one from Syria over the past two years. Pearce spoke about the negative impact illegal immigration has on local law enforcement agencies, hospitals, and the Federal judiciary in his district.

Rep. Luis Gutierrez's (D-IL) testimony focused on convincing the panel that illegal aliens are important to the economy and should be granted amnesty rather than deported.

The goal of these hearings appears to be to gather information in preparation for House Judiciary Committee consideration this December of legislation addressing illegal immigration. The series continues this week, with hearings scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday. READ MORE

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Pro-Reform Bills Gain New Support

The following members signed on to good immigration legislation this past week. If your legislators are listed, please use the phone numbers provided to thank them for supporting good legislation. Follow the links below to learn more about these bills.

Thank these members for supporting good reform legislation!

H.R. 688 - Securing America's Future through Enforcement Reform Act of 2005 (SAFER)

Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) 202-225-2931
H.R. 698 - Citizenship Reform Act of 2005

Rep. John Boozman (R-AR) 202-225-4301
Rep. John Carter (R-TX) 202-225-4331
Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) 202-225-5792
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) 202-225-2071
Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) 202-225-4201
Rep. John Linder (R-GA) 202-225-4272
Rep. Thelma Drake (R-VA) 202-225-4215
Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA) 202-225-6365
Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL) 202-225-4136
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) 202-225-3261
Rep. Dave Weldon (R-FL) 202-225-3671
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New From FAIR

What America Can Learn from France’s Disastrous Guest Worker Program (Press Release, November 10, 2005)
The Hidden Dangers of McKennedy (ILW Published Legal Analysis by FAIR Staff Attorney Michael Hethmon)
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Recent Floor Statements

Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) commented on Immigrant Rioting In France
Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) commented on Border Security--Now
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Upcoming Events

The House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Claims will hold two hearing this week on "How Illegal Immigration Impacts Constituencies: Perspectives from Members of Congress" When: Part II Hearing - November 15, 10:00 a.m.., Part III Hearing - November 17, 2:00 p.m.. Where: 2141 Rayburn House Office Building.

The House Education and the Workforce Committee will hold a full committee hearing titled, "U.S. Immigration Policy and Its Impact on the American Economy." When and Where: November 16, 10:30 a.m., 2175 Rayburn House Office Building.

The House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security and Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Claims will hold a joint hearing titled, "Weak Bilateral Law Enforcement Presence at the U.S.-Mexico Border: Territorial Integrity and Safety Issues for American Citizens." When and Where: November 17, 10:00 a.m., 2141 Rayburn House Office Building.

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Thanks for the reminder, Legal. I went to the site in the wee hours this morning when I got the alert and it wouldn't let me sign in. I got on this time and did my updates.