Thread: Gallegly introduces numerous immigration bills

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Gallegly introduces numerous immigration bills
11 measures target those illegally in country


By Michael Collins, collinsm@shns.com
February 9, 2007

WASHINGTON — The Democratic-run Congress was just a few hours old when Rep. Elton Gallegly began dropping his first bills of the new year — a package that consisted primarily of six proposed laws that would crack down on illegal immigration.

Turns out, he was just getting started.

In the five weeks since, Gallegly, R-Simi Valley, has introduced five other bills, all of which take aim at foreigners who have entered the country illegally.

The fight against illegal immigration has been one of Gallegly's signature issues throughout his two decades in Congress. But the swift rate at which he has filed immigration bills this year is unusual even for a lawmaker who harbors his deep-seated concerns about the issue.

Gallegly said his decision to file so many bills so early is an effort to shed light on the issue and head off what he fears will be a push in the new Democratic Congress to grant amnesty to millions of immigrants who are in the country illegally.

"I wasn't nearly as concerned about amnesty last year or the year before last as I am now," he said. "That is really what my principal focus is in working with these bills is to head off, as much as one individual can, the potential that we have for amnesty in this country."

LULAC official criticizes bills

Supporters of immigration rights view Gallegly's latest proposals as another attack from a longtime foe who may be nearing the end of his congressional career.

"We've taken a look at what Mr. Gallegly is proposing, and we view it as kind of his last hurrah," said Ventura resident David Rodriguez, who serves as a national vice president of the League of United Latin American Citizens.

"It's his last chance as a congressman to punish immigrants for coming to this country," Rodriguez said. "He's probably not going to run again, and we sincerely hope that he doesn't."

Gallegly's proposals include two measures filed this week to require the Internal Revenue Service to report to the Department of Homeland Security people who are suspected of working in the United States illegally.

The first bill would mandate that IRS notify immigration authorities if an employee uses an Individual Tax Identification Number in place of a Social Security number to report employment earnings.

The tax numbers, known as ITINs, are similar to Social Security numbers except they start with a 9. The numbers are issued to foreign nationals who are required to pay taxes on investments, but they cannot be used legally to gain employment.

"There are some folks who have a legitimate reason to have the tax numbers, but in many cases, that is a code word for ‘illegal' in absence of a valid Social Security number," Gallegly said.

Tax credit would be targeted

The second bill Gallegly filed this week would prevent illegal immigrants from receiving taxpayer subsidies through the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Under Gallegly's proposal, the Department of Homeland Security would be required to furnish the IRS annually with a list of people whose work authorizations or employment-based visas expired before Dec. 31 of the previous calendar year.

The IRS would be required to check the list against its records. Should a taxpayer return match a person on the list, any refund or Earned Income Tax Credit would be held.

The IRS also would be required to inform Homeland Security and the employer. Workers who are unable to document they are currently authorized to work would be terminated.

"People that have no legal right to be in this country shouldn't be getting income-tax refunds," Gallegly said.

The other bills Gallegly has filed go after illegal immigrants from different angles.

One would deny visas and admission to illegal immigrants who have been in the country unlawfully for more than six months. Another would make it a felony, with a mandatory one-year jail sentence, if illegal immigrants ignore the law and refuse to appear in court when ordered. Yet another would withhold federal funding to state schools and private colleges that provide in-state tuition or other financial aid to illegal immigrants.

Bills may have little chance

Gallegly's proposals would appear to stand little chance of passing in a Congress ruled by Democrats.

"We don't think any of them are going to pass," said Rodriguez, of LULAC. "They won't see the light of day."

Rodriguez described Gallegly's views on illegal immigration as out of touch with voters and even with members of his own party, including President Bush.

"They are to the far, far right of the Republican Party," he said.

For his part, Gallegly said he is concerned Congress is moving — under the guise of comprehensive immigration reform — toward granting amnesty to workers who are already in the country illegally. "You're going to hear words that may sound perfectly innocent, but in the end are code words for amnesty," Gallegly said.

Gallegly said part of his reason for filing his package of bills was to make the public and his congressional colleagues aware of the significance of the problems caused by illegal immigration. "Part of my job here, I think, is — the things that I believe are really important — to make them a brighter spot on some of the folks' radar screens around here," he said. "It is not a calculated strategy. I just made an assessment at the end of last year that, having served in the minority before and having served in the majority, you have to approach things, if you are going to be successful, in a little bit different way strategically.

"Sometimes you measure your success or failure in ways other than how you get a bill passed."

This is great news.

This means the House may still save us!

Dixie

Dixie wrote:

This is great news.

This means the House may still save us!

That would be wonderful!!!!

Originally Posted by Dixie

This is great news.

This means the House may still save us!

Dixie

I believe the House is our only chance.

Just because a bill is proposed doesn't mean that it will go anywhere or even if the President will sign it. Support the bills but sending request to representatives and senators.