Thread: BILBRAY BILL PROPOSES STRICTER IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

Bilbray bill proposes stricter immigration enforcement

By:EDWARD SIFUENTES - Staff Writer

A new bill by Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Solana Beach, would require employers to verify that all of their new workers are in the country legally.

One of the most vocal critics of illegal immigration in Congress, Bilbray said the bill also would call for an increase in the number of U.S. Border Patrol agents, intensify aerial surveillance at the nation's borders and increase the number of detention facilities.

But critics say some of its supporters have co-sponsored the bill simply to appear tough on illegal immigration before the November elections.

Since the bill was introduced Nov. 5, its list of co-sponsors has grown to 112, including 44 Democrats, making the bill more likely to move forward in the House, Bilbray said. The bill's main sponsor is North Carolina Democrat Heath Shuler.

"Congress has the responsibility to take action and respect the mandate given by the American people to enforce our laws, secure our borders and address illegal employment," Bilbray said. He added that the bill "is the last best chance this Congress will have to move the ball forward on illegal immigration."

One noticeable absence in the list of sponsors is Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, who has often worked with Bilbray on immigration measures and is a member of the Immigration Reform Caucus, a get tough on illegal immigration group for which Bilbray serves as chairman.

Issa said Friday that he does not object to the bill and would probably support it if it were to come for a vote. But he said he believes Democrats are using the legislation as a political crutch in preparation for next year's elections.

Issa said he believes Bilbray's intentions are good.

"But Democrats are putting it out there to be able to say they are strong on immigration while doing absolutely nothing," he said.

As evidence that Democrats are not serious about the bill, Issa said, many of the Democrats who sponsored it also voted to give illegal immigrants food stamps in an appropriations bill earlier this year.

Most of the Democrats who support the bill are so-called Blue Dog Democrats, a group made up of newly elected Democrats from conservative and moderate districts. Some may fear that being perceived as soft on illegal immigration could translate to a short tenure in office, political analysts say.

A spokesman for an immigrant rights group said the legislation is destined to fail because it focuses almost exclusively on enforcement efforts. Many pro-immigrant groups want to see bills that also include help for illegal immigrants who want to become legal residents.

"I don't think it's likely to go anywhere," said Doug Rivlin, a spokesman for the National Immigration Forum, an immigrant advocacy group in Washington. "It's enforcement only, so we know it can't work."

Since Congress failed to enact a broad immigration proposal in June, several attempts at smaller-scale reform, such as legalizing illegal immigrants who were brought to the country as children, have fallen short.

Some analysts say Congress is unlikely to act on substantial immigration bills so close to a presidential election.

However, Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates for stricter immigration policies, said he sees election-year politics playing in the bill's favor. He said Democrats need to demonstrate to voters that they are tough on illegal immigration.

"As unlikely as it may sound, this improves the chances of this bill getting somewhere," Krikorian said.

One prominent Democrat on the bill's roster of sponsors is U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Penn., chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

Murtha voted against the controversial border security bill that sparked mass protests by immigrant rights groups in 2005. He said the new bill would help employers vet illegal immigrant applicants.

"This is the kind of common sense approach that I hope will move the immigration debate forward and ensure that our nation's immigration laws are enforceable and fair," Murtha said in a news release.

Contact staff writer Edward Sifuentes at (760) 740-3511 or esifuentes@nctimes.com.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/11 ... ogcomments

Moving to News.

YOU KNOW THIS BILL WILL WORK WHEN ................
[-] wrote on Nov 16, 2007 11:29 PM:

......... "A spokesman for an immigrant rights group said the legislation is destined to fail"

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http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/11 ... _16_07.txt

"I don't think it's likely to go anywhere," said Doug Rivlin, a spokesman for the National Immigration Forum, an immigrant advocacy group in Washington. "It's enforcement only, so we know it can't work."

What an idiot!!!!!!!!

ENFORCEMENT = ATTRITION