press release from Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus
http://tancredo.house.gov/pressers/04.2 ... resser.htm
Comments from CIRC Members on Minutemen
WASHINGTON, D.C. – From today’s Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus (CIRC) meeting with the Minutemen:
“I would like to thank the Minutemen on behalf of the millions of Americans who can’t be here with you today. You have the courage to say to the government of the United States, ‘Do your duty! Protect our borders! Protect our communities! Protect our families! Protect our jobs!’ You are good citizens who ask only that our laws be enforced. When did that become such a radical idea?� said Congressman Tom Tancredo (CO-06), Chairman of Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus.
“Our outdated immigration laws are no longer enough to secure our homeland in a post 9-11 world. In order to protect Americans, Congress must immediately secure our borders by passing tough, updated immigration legislation. Congress has already taken an important step forward by tightening asylum loopholes and increasing drivers license standards but more is clearly needed,� said Conference Secretary John T. Doolittle (CA-04). “I applaud the law-abiding Minutemen Project volunteers for exercising their rights as they seek to draw attention to our nation’s porous Mexican border.�
Congressman Lamar Smith (TX-21) said, “When the federal government fails to do its job, we should not be surprised when law abiding citizens want to protect their property and our borders.�
Congressman Scott Garrett (NJ-05) said, “We have taken many steps to tighten border security and immigration procedures in the last three years, but there is still much work to be done to keep America safe. This project is helping to keep national attention focused on the need for effective border security and immigration reforms.�
“What the Minutemen proved to the American people was this: the federal government can do something about illegal immigration other than to raise a white flag and surrender to the invasion. Now it is up to every American to get involved in this critical struggle to preserve our security and our sovereignty by demanding that this administration and this Congress stop thinking about amnesty and start enforcing our immigration laws,� said Congressman J.D. Hayworth (AZ-05).
Congressman Phil Gingrey (GA-11) said, “The Minuteman Project is a shining example of how community initiative and involvement can help make America a safer, better place to live. These brave men and women are standing up for our security, defending America from the illegal immigrants who are crossing our borders by the millions. As a proud member of the Immigration Reform Caucus, I encourage other citizens to support this cause and defend our nation.�
Congressman Virgil Goode (VA-05) said, “I salute the Minutemen for assisting in a task which the government should be doing. They recognize the necessity of stopping illegal immigration. I hope that the President and a majority of the House and Senate will recognize that border security should be a top priority. I hope that they will support the legislation to authorize the use of U. S. troops on our border in peacetime to help with border security as needed.�
“The federal government has not done its job in securing and protecting our borders. There are over 10 million illegal immigrants in this country, most of whom cross the Mexican border at a rate of about 16,000 per week,� said Congressman Walter Jones (NC-03). “My home state of North Carolina ranks 8th in the nation for its illegal immigrant population of over 300,000. These kinds of numbers do not come without a price to the American people. It is estimated that illegal immigrants account for annual costs of $4 billion in healthcare, $7 ½ billion in education, and almost another billion for federal prisons. It is true that we are a nation of immigrants, and that is what makes America great. But for the security and protection of all our citizens, we have to demand that those wanting to come here do so through proper, legal channels. It is time the federal government steps up to the plate to defend our borders so that private citizens like those here today don't have to.�
Congressman Tom Price (GA-06) said, “The Minutemen truly are the nation's most successful neighborhood watch program. America is fortunate that so many citizens are willing to dedicate their time and energy to this effort. Their work should serve as a wakeup call to all those in Washington who've opposed our effort to strengthen our immigration and border policies and enforcement.�
“I hope the Minutemen Project has raised awareness around the country for the need to reform our seriously flawed immigration system. Illegal immigration adversely impacts our job market, our education system and health care costs. Hard working American taxpayers are being forced to shoulder that burden placed on society. There is a right way to enter our country and a wrong way,� said Congressman J. Gresham Barrett (SC-03). “The Minutemen Project volunteers understand that we can no longer stick our head in the sand. We cannot go back to a pre-9/11 mentality that immigration concerns are not a matter of national security. And let’s be clear, illegal immigration exposes us on a daily basis to an increased risk of another terrorist attack. The times in which we live today demand that matters of national security deserve more than political correctness.�
