Thread: Ellsworth against 'amnesty'.

Ellsworth against 'amnesty' Criticizes immigration reform bill
By THOMAS B. LANGHORNE
Courier & Press staff writer 464-7432 or langhornet@courierpress.com
Tuesday, May 29, 2007

No amnesty for illegal immigrants, says Rep. Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind.

The freshman congressman, who represents Indiana's 18-county 8th District, spoke out against an immigration reform bill in the Senate.
The bill, a compromise between Senate leaders and President Bush, increases border security and tightens workplace enforcement measures.

It also provides a path to legal status for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants now in the U.S. Critics, including Ellsworth, think that will mean amnesty for people who broke the law.

"On the day this bill becomes law, 12 million illegal immigrants will be eligible for legal protections they didn't have the day before," Ellsworth said. "And each one will gain that status despite having broken America's immigration laws. That sure sounds like amnesty to me.

"As a "As a former law enforcement officer, rewarding people for breaking our laws just doesn't sit right with me. I don't blame people for wanting to come to America; it's a great place to live and work. All I ask is that they do it legally."

Ellsworth offered as a solution the Legal Employee Verification Act, a mandatory verification bill he introduced April 19.

The bill would double the minimum fines imposed on employers who violate immigration employment laws. It also would put in place an employment eligibility verification system, administered by the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security.

Ellsworth says the system would "enable employers to verify identification information of prospective employees to ensure they are legally able to work. Verification will be mandatory."

Ellsworth's bill has one co-sponsor, fellow freshman Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C. On April 29, it was referred to the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism. There has been no action on it since.

Conservative anti-illegal immigration lobbying group Americans for Better Immigration issues an "Immigration-Reduction Report Card" for members of Congress. Though Ellsworth, who was sworn in Jan. 4, has cast relatively few votes on immigration-related issues, the organization gives him a career grade of A-.

During his successful 2006 campaign to unseat then-Rep. John Hostettler, Ellsworth said he opposes amnesty and guest-worker programs. He advocated hiring more Border Patrol agents and cracking down on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2007/m ... migration/

I don't know about anyone else, but I find this a little surprising. Isn't this the guy that swore his oath on the Koran?

I'm not going to look a gift-horse in the mouth. If this shamnesty bill makes it to the House, I'll expect Ellsworth to vote "NAY."

Keith Ellison, Minnesota, 5th, is the freshman congressman who took his oath of office on the Koran. This story refers to Brad Ellsworth, Indiana, 8th. I looked them up because I was confused, too.

hummm ???
lol.. ive never heard of either of them.. lol

Thanks, Texas2step.

Heh,heh.
Ooops, sorry fellas.
I forgot to add info on Ellsworth as to what district he represents.