Pryor Introduces Immigration Bill, Noting Its Potential ProblemsBy JON GAMBRELL
Associated Press Writer

Posted: Dec. 5 6:22 p.m.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor has sponsored a new bill aiming to limit illegal immigration, but even he acknowledges it still needs work.

The SAVE Act, introduced in the House by Rep. Heath Shuler, D-North Carolina, would add more border patrol agents, increase enforcement on those applying for jobs with mismatched Social Security numbers and buy advertisements to highlight the new get-tough effort in Latin America. However, Pryor told reporters on a conference call Wednesday the bill only mirrors one offered in the House and needs work that might not happen in the waning session this year.

"We accepted the House bill as-is, we didn't change a word," said Pryor, D-Arkansas, who introduced the bill. "That's one of the reasons we want to give it to our colleagues now, to allow them to dig it to pieces and make suggestions and recommendations on how we can improve the legislation."

The bill would hire and outfit thousands of border patrol agents with weapons, helicopters, vehicles and surveillance equipment. The other major component of the bill calls for a national rollout of a pilot program already checking to see if Social Security numbers offered by new employees match federal records.

The Bush administration announced new regulations in August giving employers 90 days to verify a worker's Social Security numbers. The regulations called for employers must fire those who can't be verified as a legal worker.

However, the stepped-up enforcement remains on hold as a federal judge said the Social Security database contained errors that could have cost many legal workers their jobs, and the government did not properly study the effect of the rules on business.

Pryor said those in federal government and businesses he's talked to have been "very happy" with the program in the past. However, others have criticized the program for stigmatizing workers who might make honest mistakes.

"They've tried to build in the proper safeguards there," Pryor said. "My understanding ... is it's very, very accurate. I'm not saying it's perfect."

The bill also makes it a felony for anyone to transport, harbor, conceal or shield an illegal immigrant in the country. The bill includes a provision protecting those who aid illegal immigrants while working for nonprofit, religious organizations. However, the bill as written doesn't appear to protect other nonprofit workers or physicians - a criticism that hounded a 2006 immigration bill.

Pryor's bill also calls for the United States to launch an advertising campaign aimed at employers, as well as those in Mexico and Central America about tougher immigration laws. However, Pryor said he didn't know what effect the advertisements would have.

"It's hard to know how much awareness there is down in Latin America about coming to the U.S.," the senator said. "It's hard to know if that would slow down the tide of people wanting to come into this country illegally."

As of now, it remains unclear whether Congress will take up immigration reform again the year - something it's already spent weeks debating without sending it to President Bush. The House measure has 120 co-sponsors, while Pryor's version has only one.

Pryor himself rated the farm bill, defense spending and a consumer product safety bill as top priorities as the session winds down.

"All of the above are very important, but it also does boil down to the reality of how much floor time you can get," he said.

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