Thank you for your letter on immigration. I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts with me.

The Senate has spent the past few weeks debating S. 1348, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act. However, the Senate has been unable to end debate on the legislation. I voted against efforts to end debate because senators were prevented from offering all their amendments and having them voted on. This is not how the Senate is supposed to operate. Furthermore, the Senate has repeated the mistake of the last session – a closed-door deal without committee hearings, informing Senators and staff of last minute details just before a vote, and a threat by the Senate Majority Leader that the closed-door deal by a handful of Senators was the only option or the Senate would reconsider last session’s failed bill.

I oppose the bill for many reasons. My first concern with the bill is that it includes amnesty and rewards immigrants for illegal conduct. In addition, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) lacks the resources and management to make the so-called reforms work. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill would increase federal direct spending by $10 billion over the 2008-2012 period and by $23 billion over the 2008-2017 period. I also oppose the bill because I believe it to be unworkable and impractical. Most of all, I disagree with the tactics. This was a back room deal and in shutting out many Senators from one of the most important issues of our time, the issue has been subjugated to politics and unworkable compromise.


I understand your concerns. Rest assured, I will carefully scrutinize proposals that affect our nation's immigration policies. Again thank you for taking the time to contact me. If you would like more information on issues before the Senate, please visit my website at http://roberts.senate.gov. You may also sign up on my home page for a monthly electronic newsletter that will provide additional updates on my work for Kansas.

With every best wish,

Sincerely,



Pat Roberts