Specter Bill May be Largest Single Immigration Increase in U
Specter Bill May be Largest Single Immigration Increase in U.S. History
Giant Amnesty Puts Economic Special Interests Before Security and Lives of American Workers
Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) has put forward a 305 page bill for next week's Judiciary Committee consideration that can only be described as a nightmare for American workers and a dream come true for the Chamber of Commerce. Listen to a special audio message from FAIR President Dan Stein about this bill. (MP3 format)
If you are employed in any job in virtually any industry and think your job is secure, think again. The number of guest workers permitted in this bill is unlimited and available to every sector of the U.S. economy. No job will be spared unfair competition from cheap foreign workers and employers chomping at the bit to reduce labor costs.
The bill is divided into several sections. Here's a preview:
Title I Border Security
Increases in border and customs personnel are provided, but those increases depend on future congressional decisions to allocate resources.
Translation-It may never happen.
Border surveillance is promised on the basis of a provision calling for a plan to be developed.
Translation-It may never happen.
Border security is promised on the basis of a provision calling for development of a strategy.
Translation-It may never happen.
North American security is promised based on a provision calling for cooperation from Mexico and Canada and a report.
Translation-It may never happen.
Entry-Exit system is to collect biometrics from all entering and exiting immigrants, but no provision makes this mandatory.
Translation-It may never happen.
Border fencing between the U.S. and Mexico is promised based on a feasibility study.
Translation-It may never happen.
Title II Removal and Denial of Benefits to Terrorists
Terrorists ineligible for asylum.
Increased penalties for alien smuggling.
Strengthen penalties for marriage fraud.
Extends program to remove criminal aliens at the conclusion of their prison terms. These provisions are needed, yet they are so obviously needed it is hard to understand why they haven't already been enacted. To ask the American public to accept all that is wrong with this legislation on the basis of these provisions is absurd.
Title III Worksite Enforcement
Requires employer use of electronic employment verification system for new employees only.
Translation-Currently employed illegal aliens will remain undetected.
Title IV Nonimmigrant and Immigrant Visa Reform
Guest workers
Unlimited in number annually and available to all economic sectors
Translation-Say good bye to the middle class.
Family members/dependents may accompany new guest workers.
Translation-Even more competition for your jobs and greater likelihood that they will never return to their home country.
Guest worker visas for three years and renewable once for a total of six years. These workers are then required to return home for one year before reapplying for another six years.
Translation - if they were working illegally before, why would they not stay and revert to illegal status?
Protections for American workers are no stronger than an employer's promise that he first looked for American workers.
Translation-No protections for U.S. workers.
Legal immigration
New visa created for students seeking advanced science degrees with a fast track to legal permanent residency status.
Exempts aliens with advanced degrees from the annual numerical cap.
Exempts relatives of employment-based visas from the annual cap.
Professional workers
Increases the H-1B high tech guest worker program from 65,000 to 115,000 annually, a 71 percent increase and exempts all advanced degree holders from the annual cap.
Translation-Tell your children to forget about pursuing advanced science degrees, because those jobs will be closed to all but cheap foreign workers.
Title V Families United and Backlog Reduction
More than doubles employment based green cards and exempts their relatives from the annual cap.
Title VI Conditional Nonimmigrant Workers
Amnesty
All illegal aliens may apply to become guest workers if they merely promise they have been in the U.S. and employed illegally since before January 1, 2004.
Window for application lasts for 12 months from enactment.
Translation-Virtually all 11-13 million illegal aliens and their family members may participate.
Grant Programs
Provides assistance for nonprofit organizations to recruit illegal aliens into the amnesty guest worker program.
Translation-Fraud in the application process for this amnesty is facilitated.
Title VII Immigration Litigation Reduction
Consolidates immigration appeals in one federal circuit court.
Additional immigration judges and court personnel are added subject to future appropriations decisions.
Here's How You Can Help!
Call Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter's office (202) 224-4254 and let him know what you think of his war on the American worker.
FAIR will provide a complete bill analysis and very soon.
