Thread: Time to Fight the Amnesty Juggernaut

Subject: Fight the Amnesty/Guestworker Juggernaut
To: "Jody West" <jdwestus@yahoo.com>
From: "Sandra Gunn" <sgunn@fairus.org> Add to Address Book
Date: Fri, 27 May 2005 13:16:37 -0400 (EDT)





Fight the Amnesty/Guestworker Juggernaut
Urge your Elected Officials to Oppose H.R. 2330/S.1033
It is now time to begin mobilizing to defeat a nightmarish amnesty/guestworker bill designed to legalize virtually all 12 million plus resident illegal aliens and create a new open-ended "guestworker" program that lets "guests" stay permanently.
This bill, backed by cheap labor interests and the open-borders lobby, seeks to let big business dictate immigration policy, while hanging a "for sale" sign on visas, green cards, and U.S. citizenship. It has been introduced in both bodies of Congress and has significant support in the Senate.

If enacted, this would drive down American wages and working conditions, place an enormous strain on our health care and educational systems, and make immigration levels completely unmanageable. Cheap labor interests would win a free flow of foreign indentured servants and American taxpayers would be forced to foot the bill.


ACTION NEEDED
FAX your Legislators. Click here then type your zip code in the take action box to send free, pre-written, cosponsor-based editable faxes and emails opposing H.R. 2330/S.1033.

CALL your Legislators. Reiterate your opposition and ask them to comment on their position regarding the bill. Call the Capitol Switchboard (Senate: 202-224-3121, House: 202-225-3121) or get direct numbers from the elected officials section of our web site. See below for some suggested arguments against the bill.
***Tips on Being Effective - Interested in learning more about how to be effective when contacting Congress? Check out the Capitol Hill Basic section of our legislative action center for advice on making phone calls, sending letters, and information on the legislative process.

BILL DETAILS
This legislation is deceivingly titled the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act. The Senate version, S. 1033, was introduced on May 12 by Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA). Reps. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), and Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) introduced the House companion, H.R. 2330.
It would vastly liberalize our immigration system by creating two new guestworker visa categories: one for currently resident illegal aliens, another for future legal participants. After a period of indentured servitude, these so-called "guestworkers" could buy green cards and inevitably U.S. citizenship.

H-5A Visas for New "Guestworkers:"


A new H-5A visa program would be established to provide 3 year work visas to all foreign nationals wishing to work in the U.S. for a minimal fee of $500, provided they find initial employment in the U.S. in occupations other than those considered agricultural or highly skilled. These visas could be renewed for an additional three years, during which point the applicant could apply for a green card.

H-5A visa holders would be eligible for adjustment of status to legal permanent resident immediately through employer-based petitions, or, after they have accumulated four years of work within the United States, through self-petition.

The initial annual cap on this category is set at 400,000 but is designed to automatically increase if that number is reached before the end of the fiscal year. There is no limit on how high the cap may be raised over time.
H-5B Visas for Currently Resident Illegal Aliens:

A new H-5B visa program would be established for nearly all 12 million plus currently resident illegal aliens. Illegal aliens working in the U.S. and their spouses and children could buy a three year visa for $1000, which could be renewed for an additional three years.

After six years of work under the H-5B program they could buy a green card for an additional $1,000, and eventually gain U.S. citizenship.

There is no cap on this visa category, nor is there a cap on the number of individuals that could apply for legal permanent resident status.
TALKING POINTS
Amnesty is Not the Solution:

Amnesty (in any form) is not a solution to the illegal immigration problem. It certainly didn't work when last tried in 1986. It sets a dangerous precedent, encourages more illegal immigration, and is a slap in the face to people who wait in line to come here legally.

Even talking about amnesty intensifies the problem by encouraging more illegal immigration, as demonstrated by increased border apprehensions immediately following the president's announcement of his amnesty/guestworker proposal.

Not only is this an amnesty for illegal aliens, it's an amnesty for employers who illegally hire them. It shield employers from civil or criminal penalties related to unlawfully employing illegal aliens. Nothing in the bill prevents employers from continuing to hire illegal aliens.
There are No Jobs Americans Won't Do:

There are no jobs Americans won't do, only wages and working conditions that are below livable standards.

Flooding the labor market with cheap foreign labor will further depress wages and working conditions not only in lower-skilled occupations but, under this proposal in occupations throughout our economy.

We have the most generous immigration policy in the world, taking in nearly a million legal immigrants each year. It's inconceivable to argue that there aren't enough workers here to fill labor needs.
American Taxpayers Pay the Price for Cheap Labor:

This is a win for cheap labor interests and a loss for American taxpayers forced to fund health care, education, and other public service costs incurred by illegal aliens who would qualify for this amnesty and "guestworkers" who never have to go home.
The Real Solution:

The real solution to the illegal immigration problem is to remove the job magnet by requiring employers nationwide to participate in the employment eligibility verification system and enforcing laws against employers who hire illegal aliens.
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It is now time to begin mobilizing to defeat a nightmarish amnesty/guestworker bill designed to legalize virtually all 12 million plus resident illegal aliens and create a new open-ended "guestworker" program that lets "guests" stay permanently.

Thanx, RR........they're right.......it's time!

DONE!