For Immediate Release

Contact: Javier Arturo Dominguez
March 13, 2008 (202) 833-6130 ext. 12


Blue Dog Democrats and House Republicans Push Enforcement Only Immigration Bill

Call Your Representative! Tell Them to Reject the Discharge Petition to the Shuler- Tancredo SAVE Act!

Washington, DC.-- LULAC councils and friends are strongly urged to call their representative now and demand that their congressman reject signing a discharge petition which would force the deportation-only immigration bill directly to the House floor.

Led by Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC), Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-CA), and Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO), the Secure America through Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act (H.R. 408 undercuts the democratic committee voting process and would force 6 million employers to verify the work status of all US employees within only four years. The E-verification system has proven to be inconsistent and lacks any precautionary safeguards to prevent American workers from unfair terminations. Not only have these egregious provisions proven to be ineffectual, but in addition, this bill does nothing to address the millions of people that are undocumented. Rather, Shuler-Tancredo attempts to strip away civil liberties by confiscating private property to build additional fencing along the border, as well as by targeting minors and their parents through the authorization of a new family detention center.

[b]House Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats have already started to circumvent the committee process. This week, Rep. Thelma Drake (R-VA) filed a discharge petition for the SAVE Act. If 217 signatures are gathered, the deportation-only bill will be brought directly to the House Floor via a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ vote. [/b]

What Can You Do?

Make your voice heard! Call your Congressman! A deportation only bill falls woefully short of resolving our immigration problems. An immigration bill must include a comprehensive approach that deals with the undocumented and not just a half baked enforcement-only package.

Click here to tell your representative to support the committee process and oppose the discharge petition of the Shuler-Tancredo SAVE Act.

The League of United Latin American Citizens, the largest and oldest Hispanic membership organization in the country, advances the economic conditions, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.

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