Thread: Davis (House Representative D-NY) backs immigration changes

Davis backs immigration changes
By Doug Abrahms
dabrahms@gannett.com

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Artur Davis and at least 75 other House members plan to introduce a bill next week that seeks to limit illegal immigration by requiring employers to verify that their workers are in the U.S. legally.

The bill would beef up immigration enforcement at the Mexican border and within the U.S., and would require employers to verify workers' status by using a Department of Homeland Security database, which currently is voluntary.

"There will not be broad public support for immigration reform until we enact stronger security measures and stronger border enforcement measures," said Davis, D-Birmingham. "One of the things that's also become clear about this debate is the American people really expect common sense to drive this debate."

A New York plan announced this week to offer driver's licenses to illegal immigrants drew substantial criticism because it essentially would confer a form of legal status, he said.

The congressional bill, drafted by Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., also would add 8,000 Border Patrol agents, increase aerial surveillance of the border and spend more on workplace enforcement of immigration laws. So far, 41 other Democrats and 34 Republicans have agreed to cosponsor the bill, including Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville.

A comprehensive bill that sought to legalize the status of millions of illegal immigrants, beef up border security and enforce labor laws failed to pass the Senate in June.

More limited immigration bills have been offered since, including one in the Senate that would have allowed children of illegal immigrants to remain legally in the U.S. after attending two years of college or serving in the military. That bill failed last month.

Shuler's bill "seems to be one of the most extensive enforcement bills introduced," said Steven Camarota, research director at the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington. His group favors stronger enforcement of immigration laws.

Typically, freshmen lawmakers stand little chance of getting difficult bills through the House, he said.

But the Democrats who control Congress are struggling with immigration policy, just as Republicans did prior to 2006, Camarota said. Many Americans are frustrated that so many immigrants continue to cross the Mexican border illegally, he said.

"I think there's real fear of the issue in the Democratic Party," Camarota said.

Democracy Corps, a polling company run by Democrats Stan Greenberg and James Carville, released a memo this week warning Democrats that illegal immigration has caused current voter discontent. Many Americans wonder why the U.S. has lost control of its borders and doesn't go after illegal employment, the memo said.

"Voters want control of the borders and workplace and recreating an immigration system that works and oppose driver's licenses for illegal immigrants -- positions supported by about two-thirds of the country," the memo said. "If political leaders do not start there, they are not likely to be heard on other steps."

But stronger enforcement will do little to stem the tide of illegal immigration because the U.S. economy has a big need for workers, said Douglas Rivlin, a spokesman for the National Immigration Forum, which supports comprehensive immigration reform.

He said about one in 20 U.S. workers are illegal immigrants.

"In the long run, I predict that really only broad measures will pass and work," Rivlin said.
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The Dem's are being dragged kicking and screaming into the immigration issue. I think they are starting to realize that America is PO'd and they better start doing something. I think this issue is going to fracture the Democratic Party between the established ultra liberal side and the newer more conservatives. For us it's all good and win win.