Thread: N.H.: Rep: Say no to amnesty

Rep: Say no to amnesty
Resolution would go to president


By SHIRA SCHOENBERG
Monitor staff
January 20, 2010 - 12:00 am



The Legislature is wading into the national debate on illegal immigration with a resolution that would oppose granting amnesty to anyone who entered the United States illegally.

"Amnesty rewards illegal aliens for breaking our laws," reads the resolution, introduced by state Rep. Jordan Ulery, a Hudson Republican. It continues, "Amnesty would allow illegal-alien gang members, criminals, and terrorists to be eligible to become citizens of the United States."

Advocates for comprehensive immigration reform turned out before the House State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs Committee to testify against the resolution.

"It's deeply offensive to immigrants in New Hampshire, and its assertions are not true," said Judy Elliott of Canterbury, who teaches English as a second language. " 'Gang members' and 'terrorists' mischaracterizes the vast majority of immigrants."

The resolution, even if passed, would not have any immediate effect in New Hampshire. It would be sent to President Obama, the U.S. Senate president and House speaker, and New Hampshire's congressional delegation, urging them to oppose any legislation opening a path for undocumented immigrants to become citizens.

The resolution states that granting amnesty to illegal immigrants would increase the costs of Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. It would also punish those who are trying to enter the country legally, according to the resolution.

"The benefit of U.S. citizenship is based on a desire to follow the rules and become part of a community in the U.S.," Ulery said. "By their initial act, (illegal immigrants) said they didn't particularly care about the law of the U.S., the way the country is governed. They only care about themselves or their family."

Ulery has sponsored several anti-illegal-immigration bills in the past. In 2006, he tried to make bringing an illegal immigrant into New Hampshire a felony offense. He also wanted to train local law enforcement officials to help federal immigration officers. In 2008, he tried to prohibit anyone from offering aid to illegal immigrants, tried to force employers to verify the immigration status of employees and attempted to bar illegal immigrants from certain state benefits. He also sponsored a bill that would urge the federal government to complete a border fence between Mexico and the United States.

"This bill is urging Congress to make sure that if a person wishes to become a citizen of the United States, they follow the process that was established," Ulery said at yesterday's hearing. "They don't give preferential treatment to those who ignored the current laws."

But immigrant advocates said assertions in Ulery's resolution were incorrect. For one, Elliott said, federal law already requires public schools to educate children of illegal immigrants. Undocumented immigrants, she said, are also not eligible for Medicaid, food stamps or other types of assistance.

Eva Castillo of the New Hampshire Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees said that even immigrants with proper documents are not eligible for state or federal assistance for five years. Castillo turned in a petition with 100 names of people opposing the resolution. She said making citizenship available to undocumented workers could save the United States $1.5 trillion over 10 years through tax revenue, wage increases for workers and more spending by immigrants. Deporting undocumented workers, she said, could cost $2.5 trillion.

"People on the Mayflower didn't come with visas," Castillo said.

State Rep. Kris Roberts, a Keene Democrat, responded that those on the Mayflower received permission from the crown of England.

Manchester immigration attorney Enrique Mesa said that even with immigration reform, there could be a multi-year process for a person to become a legal resident and then to become a citizen. People convicted of criminal offenses could not become citizens. Since federal law changed in April 2001, he said, there is no way for illegal immigrants to become citizens without leaving the United States and returning to their country. They could then be barred from re-entering the United States for up to 10 years.

"The majority of immigrants that are deported did not commit a crime. They are law-abiding citizens that have made their lives in the U.S., have U.S. children and pay their taxes," Mesa said.

Mesa and others urged the legislators to consider supporting comprehensive immigration reform instead of opposing amnesty.

"The one thing we can all agree on is this system is broken," said Kris Schultz, state director for Reform Immigration for America. "It works for none of us."

Schultz said her organization advocates an approach where immigrants can pay taxes, undergo background checks, learn English and work toward becoming citizens.

It is not yet clear what form immigration reform could take in Congress. U.S. Reps. Luis Gutierez, an Illinois Democrat, and Solomon Ortiz, a Texas Democrat, introduced a bill in December that would give illegal immigrants without criminal records a path to citizenship through a fine, a waiting period, and an application showing they have contributed to the country through work, military service or education. A separate bill is expected to be introduced in the Senate in February.

Including legal and illegal immigrants, foreign-born people make up about 6 percent of New Hampshire's population, according to a recent study by the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire. That figure is half the national average.

Immigrant advocates faced pointed questions from committee members, to the extent that committee Chairman Patrick Garrity, a Manchester Democrat, had to remind representatives that they could question witnesses, but not debate them.

"Do you think we as taxpayers should protect people who broke into our homes, our country, illegally?" Rep. Al Baldasaro, a Londonderry Republican, asked Elliott.

Elliott responded that there were already 12 million undocumented people working in the United States and that the nation needs to figure out how to deal with them.

After Castillo said undocumented immigrants contribute to society by working, Roberts asked Castillo whether it would be okay for an illegal immigrant to work at a job that an American citizen or someone with a green card wanted.

Rep. Lars Christiansen, a Hudson Republican, talked about the "old days" of stricter immigration policy.

"Do you realize you had to have a sponsor who had to guarantee you a place to live, care for your medical expenses and guide you to become a citizen?" he said.

Arnie Alpert, state program coordinator for the American Friends Service Committee, said returning to the "old days" could be difficult.

There were no immigration restrictions in the United States until the 1800s, he said. Since then, federal immigration law has changed every few years.

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Rep. Lars Christiansen, a Hudson Republican, talked about the "old days" of stricter immigration policy.

"Do you realize you had to have a sponsor who had to guarantee you a place to live, care for your medical expenses and guide you to become a citizen?" he said.

Yeah... the "good old days." Now the sponsor is the American tax payer....

"The majority of immigrants that are deported did not commit a crime. They are law-abiding citizens that have made their lives in the U.S., have U.S. children and pay their taxes," Mesa said.

They are NOT citizens of the US!!!! Immigrants are not deported, illegal aliens are.

"It's deeply offensive to immigrants in New Hampshire, and its assertions are not true," said Judy Elliott of Canterbury, who teaches English as a second language. " 'Gang members' and 'terrorists' mischaracterizes the vast majority of immigrants." It's deeply insulting to immigrants like us who followed the laws to mischaracterize illegal aliens as immigrants! Get it straight!

But immigrant advocates said assertions in Ulery's resolution were incorrect. For one, Elliott said, federal law already requires public schools to educate children of illegal immigrants. Undocumented immigrants, she said, are also not eligible for Medicaid, food stamps or other types of assistance.

Puh-lease! The more anchor babies they pop out, the more welfare they get...for the entire family, as long as one of the anchors is a "US citizen".

Schultz said her organization advocates an approach where immigrants can pay taxes, undergo background checks, learn English and work toward becoming citizens.

We already have one, it's called FOLLOW THE RULES!!!! But illegals don't wanna do that, do they? Tough noogies, get the hell out!!!

Elliott responded that there were already 12 million undocumented people working in the United States and that the nation needs to figure out how to deal with them.

DEPORT THEM!! YES, we can!!!