Thread: *BLITZ* Countdown to Repub Kamikaze Suicide Mission is ON!

Reply from Dick Durbin:

Dear Mrs.


Thank you for your message regarding immigration reform. I appreciate hearing from you.



Our nation faces a host of problems as a result of decades of inattention to our immigration policies. There is plenty of blame to go around for the breakdown of our immigration system, but it is clear that the federal government must act to fix it. I have seen the pressing economic concerns that face America's workers and taxpayers as a result of illegal immigration. Congress must act to reform our immigration system comprehensively, and we must do so in a way that is tough but fair and consistent with our moral values.



There are a number of important steps we must take as part of this reform. We must strengthen the integrity of America's borders through the use of advanced detection technology, increased manpower and resources for our Border Patrol, targeted border fencing, and the prosecution of illegal smuggling networks. We must devote significant additional resources to our immigration enforcement agencies, which are overwhelmed and underfunded. We must create an electronic verification system that will rapidly inform employers as well as enforcement agencies of whether a prospective employee is authorized to work in this country. And we must hold employers accountable when they hire unauthorized immigrants, in order to eliminate the incentive for employers to hire undocumented workers and for foreigners to migrate illegally.



Along with these strong enforcement steps, immigration reform must address the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants who already live in the United States. Illegal immigrants have, by definition, broken our nation's immigration laws, and they must be penalized for having done so. However, as the President has said, mass deportation is not a realistic option. Immigration enforcement agencies work hard every day, prioritizing the pursuit of immigrants who are violent criminals, gang members, or security threats. These enforcement agencies must be given more resources, but even so it is simply not feasible to round up and deport the entire undocumented population.



While many categories of undocumented immigrants must be and will continue to be prioritized for deportation, American workers will benefit if we give certain immigrants the chance to earn legal status. Undocumented immigrants are currently working in many industries for lower wages than American workers have received. Frequently, these immigrants work off the books completely, with neither the employer nor the employee paying taxes. This underground economy has had a negative impact on American workers, particularly in industries such as construction, landscaping, and manufacturing. It is urgent that we protect American workers from unfair competition in these situations.



Because it is not feasible for all undocumented workers to be deported, we are faced with the choice of either leaving the remaining immigrants in the underground economy or giving them an opportunity to earn legal status. Given this choice, the better approach is to bring the remaining immigrants out of the shadows and allow those with appropriate qualifications to obtain legal status if they pay fines, pay any back taxes they owe, have no criminal record, learn English, and go to the back of the line behind legal immigration applicants. If they obtain legal status, these immigrants will be governed by wage and labor laws so that employers will no longer have an incentive to pass over American job seekers in favor of lower-earning and easily-exploited immigrants. This will help end the black market of illegal labor that hurts American workers, and the monies paid in by these immigrants will ease the burden on America's taxpayers.



I voted in favor of S. 2611, the immigration reform bill that passed the Senate in 2006. This bill offered a comprehensive framework to enhance border security and enforcement, to create an employment verification system, and to address the current undocumented population. While the bill was far from perfect, it would have represented a significant improvement over the status quo. While the bill passed the Senate, it did not pass the House and did not become law. As the 110th Congress considers new legislation, I will continue to support a comprehensive approach to immigration reform.



Numerous amendments were considered during the Senate's debate on S. 2611. My votes on these amendments were guided by two main principles. First, I am concerned about the potential impact of proposed temporary guestworker programs on the American workforce. In contrast to those immigrants who are already here and actively engaged in our workforce, guestworker programs would bring in a large future flow of immigrant workers. In many industries, the assured availability of large pools of foreign guestworkers will give employers an incentive to pass over future American job applicants in favor of foreigners willing to work for less pay and benefits. Consequently, I supported amendments to eliminate or restrict guestworker programs in the bill.



Second, I supported amendments that sought to treat in a humanitarian fashion those immigrants who achieve legal status. I voted against amendments seeking to impose continuing penalties on immigrants after they have paid their dues and obtained legalized status under the bill. I also voted for amendments that ensured legal protections for asylum applicants and other vulnerable immigrant populations. We can secure our borders, protect our workers, and still accept for humanitarian reasons those who may lose their life or freedom if we turn our backs on them.



There is no perfect solution to the problems we face as a result of our broken immigration system. I recognize that the immigration debate has created strong opinions on all sides, and I appreciate your sharing your views with me. I am working in good faith to pursue a balanced package of reforms that will protect American workers and that will be tough but enforceable, economically sensible, and morally fair. I will keep your views in mind as I continue to work toward those goals.



Sincerely,

Richard J. Durbin

United States Senator

Reply from Obama:

Dear :

Thank you for contacting me about the immigration reform debate. I appreciate your strong feelings on this issue.

Public concern and frustration about unchecked illegal immigration on the United States is growing dramatically, and I agree with those who believe that President Bush and Congress must step up to the plate and address this problem, sooner rather than later. Illegal immigration has significant adverse effects not only on American workers but also on our communities’ health and education infrastructure. Also, I understand the strong feeling within Illinois that undocumented immigrants should not be rewarded for flouting U.S. law.

The challenge facing President Bush and Congress is how to effectively stop the flow of illegal immigrants across our borders and deal with illegal aliens who are already living and working in this country. I appreciate that many disagree on how to actually solve this problem. But it is significant that the Department of Homeland Security recognizes that identifying and deporting 11 million undocumented workers currently working in this country would not only be extremely difficult logistically, it would be disruptive to the American economy.

In an address to the nation, President Bush argued that the most reasonable and effective response is to stop the entry of illegal aliens across our borders, prevent employers from hiring illegal immigrants, and establish an orderly, rational path to citizenship for law-abiding immigrants who are already here and contributing to our country. The President said:


Some in this country argue that the solution is to deport every illegal immigrant, and that any proposal short of this amounts to amnesty. I disagree. It is neither wise, nor realistic to round up millions of people, many with deep roots in the United States, and send them across the border. There is a rational middle ground between granting an automatic path to citizenship for every illegal immigrant, and a program of mass deportation. That middle ground recognizes there are differences between an illegal immigrant who crossed the border recently, and someone who has worked here for many years, and has a home, a family, and an otherwise clean record.

President Bush has the right approach to a difficult and highly emotional problem. The immigration reform bill I voted for last year, and the President supported, would have provided more funds and technology for border security and strengthened the employment eligibility confirmation system so that employers are unable to skirt our laws by hiring illegal immigrants. It also would have provided immigrants who are now contributing and responsible members of society an opportunity to remain in the country and earn citizenship. But not all illegal immigrants would have been guaranteed the right to remain in the U.S. under this proposal; they would first have had to pay a substantial fine and back taxes, learn English, satisfy a work requirement, and pass a criminal background check.

You may also be interested to know about three amendments I offered to this bill last year. The first amendment strengthened the requirement that a job be offered at a prevailing wage to American workers before it is offered to a guest-worker. It also ensured that communities where the American unemployment rate is high will not experience unnecessary competition from guest-workers.

The second amendment was a collaborative effort with Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), and Max Baucus (D-MT) to create a new employment eligibility verification system. The legislation made it simple, but mandatory for employers to verify that their employees are legally eligible to work in the United States. This is probably the single most important thing we can do to reduce the inflow of undocumented workers into the United States.

The third amendment authorized $3.125 million a year for the next five years to allow the FBI to hire additional staff and take other steps to improve the speed and accuracy of the background checks required for immigrants seeking to become citizens.

This immigration reform bill passed the Senate by a 62 to 36 bipartisan vote, but a joint House/Senate conference committee appointed to reconcile the differences between this bill and a separate version passed by the House of Representatives (H.R. 4437) couldn't complete its negotiations before Congress adjourned. I look forward to continuing to work in the present 110th Session of Congress with President Bush, my colleagues in Congress, and the people of Illinois on an immigration bill that respects the rule of law and deals responsibly with the illegal immigrants here in our country. I appreciate your thoughts, suggestions and guidance as this process continues.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama
United States Senator

Originally Posted by April

These are relatives of the legal people not the illegals. their relatives are not allowed. But since their all related I'm sure most of them are related to the illegals also, since 176 years worth has to be most of Mexico!! Maybe Mexico has Hipmotized our congress, there is something wrong here!!

SOSADFORUS wrote:

Maybe Mexico has Hipmotized our congress, there is something wrong here!!

We have been abandoned by our own government, people we elected to office!!!!!How much wronger can it get???? This is insanity and it is up to us to stop it. We are on our own! We have to stick together and tough it out! United We Stand!

UNITED WE STAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Paige

UNITED WE STAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DITTO!! paige and April!!

We can do this! God Bless and help us Save America!

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

I'll be here with all of you!

UNITED WE STAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

United...WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!