A response from my congressman

June 5, 2006


Dear :

Thank you for your recent comments regarding the issue of
immigration. I am pleased to respond.

I agree with the implications of your communication that it would be
disingenuous to assert that this is an easy matter toward which simple
solutions could apply. There is general agreement with a number of
principles: borders must be controlled and secure, control has to be
exercised over the "visa overstay" issue, we must determine just what
amount of legal immigration would benefit this country, and
employers must be held responsible when they break the law in their
hiring and employment practices. The biggest hurdle, of course, is
determining how to address the estimated 10-13 million
undocumented immigrants now in the states.

I believe employers must be held accountable in hiring, and fairness
dictates that there be a reliable means for the identification of lawfully
admitted and hirable immigrants. The large national business
associations' and others' resistance to serious enforcement of
employer-accountability provisions is misguided. Unfortunately,
current cases against employers under this administration have
dropped to an all-time low.

I believe we must recalculate the number of immigrants to be allowed
lawfully into the United States in any given year, especially if, as
proposed in the Senate version, concessions are eventually made for
any families currently here (even if such individuals cannot move
ahead of other pending applicants worldwide, and must pay penalties,
show work histories, a clean criminal history, payment of taxes and
other preconditions for consideration), and that a system must be in
place to ensure such limits are obeyed. Our national limits on legal
immigration must be re-adjusted and re-calculated to acknowledge the
impact any new law might have, and to meet our international
obligations to give safe harbor to our share of international refugees,
to reasonably account for some family reunification, and - primarily -
to determine just how many new citizens our economic situation can
reasonably absorb. I am not yet satisfied that these issues have
received adequate attention in the debate.

As you know, in December 2005, the U.S. House of Representatives
passed the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration
Control Act (H.R. 4437). The bill addressed some of the above
concerns, but in my opinion contained some counterproductive or
unnecessary provisions that would render agreement with the Senate
on final legislation unlikely. Moreover, the proposal was largely
silent about treatment of those currently in the country unlawfully,
and I believe a bill should comprehensively deal with the issue of
immigration.

The U.S. Senate's recently-passed comprehensive immigration bill is
at variance with the House bill. A House-Senate Conference
Committee will be established to negotiate the final legislation by
reconciling differences between them. Thereafter, the final bill of the
Conference Committee will be brought before each body for a vote.

This will be the only measure remaining upon which I will have an
opportunity to vote. It is expected to be considerably different than
either the House or Senate version once it is in final form. I hope that
you understand it is from a need to have available all details - not
from any avoidance of the issue - that my ultimate decision must
await that proposal. I shall be following closely the negotiations of
the Conference Committee. Please know that all of the matters
expressed above, together with your concerns, will certainly be
considered as I do so, and as I determine any vote on a final bill.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. Please feel free to
do so regarding any matter of concern to you.

Sincerely,

John F. Tierney
Member of Congress