A couple of weeks ago I contacted Texas Senator JOHN CORNYN about all this immigration stuff, here is his reply.

Dear Mr. (edited out my name):

Thank you for contacting me about immigration reform. The need to fix our broken system is clear, and the Senate is currently debating several proposals regarding one of the most important issues in recent memory.

Last July, as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security, Immigration, and Citizenship, I worked closely with Arizona Senator Jon Kyl to formulate the Comprehensive Enforcement and Immigration Reform Act of 2005 (S. 143. This legislation does not provide amnesty and includes provisions to strengthen border security, ensure jobsite enforcement, and sensibly handle the undocumented population currently living within our borders. It is based on both the rule of law and the fundamental American principle of fairness.

The truth is that we have not devoted the funds, resources, or manpower required to fully enforce our immigration laws or protect our borders. S. 1438 would authorize additional Customs and Border Protection officers as well as funding for technological advances including cameras, sensors, and unmanned aerial vehicles. This legislation also calls for the expansion of Expedited Removal program, which allows the Department of Homeland Security to more quickly remove aliens who are ineligible to enter the country.

We must also strengthen interior enforcement and ensure that criminal aliens are identified and deported. This legislation authorizes additional detention beds and expands a program that identifies criminal aliens while they are still serving time in state and local jails. It also authorizes funds to reimburse states for the costs they incur because of criminal illegal aliens.

The most important step toward reducing illegal immigration is the development of a more effective system for verifying work authorization. If a merchant can swipe a card to determine whether a credit card number is valid, certainly the federal government can develop a system that allows employers to verify whether a new hire is authorized to work.

Enforcement alone will not work; we must also create better avenues for legal immigration. Our legislation creates a new temporary visa category that allows foreign workers to enter the country for a short period of time and then requires them to return home. It creates financial incentives for circular migration—including a temporary worker investment fund that vests only when the worker returns to his or her home country.

Finally, this legislation creates a fair and reasonable process to transition the current undocumented worker population back into the legal flow of immigrants. It requires those who entered illegally to depart the United States and re-enter through normal, legal channels. Only then may they return as temporary workers. All we ask is that they enter legally.

Critics allege that our proposal will strand workers outside the United States and disrupt the economy and workforce. I disagree, and I'm committed to ensuring that our proposal allows for a smooth transition.

Immigration reform ultimately must be about improving legal immigration, not about creating a new process that benefits only illegal aliens. Although we are a nation of immigrants, we are also a nation of laws. If all immigrants must abide by the rule of law and are treated equally, then we can reach a consensus on ways to improve the legal process so that it meets the needs of society, the economy, and our national security.

Unfortunately, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved an immigration proposal that I did not vote for and cannot support on the Senate floor. This proposal will be offered as a substitute to Majority Leader Bill Frist’s Securing America’s Borders Act (S. 2454). But I will have numerous opportunities to both offer and vote for amendments ensuring that those in our country illegally are not rewarded for their transgressions, provide for future enforcement of border security, and responsibly handle the large population illegally living within our borders.

As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security, Immigration, and Citizenship, I will continue working to curtail illegal immigration and its effects on the State of Texas while ensuring that immigrants following the rule of law have an equal opportunity to realize their potential as they become productive members of our society. To better acquaint you with the reforms I support, I have compiled detailed summaries of S. 1438 and other relevant information at http://cornyn.senate.gov/immigration.

I appreciate the opportunity to represent the interests of Texans in the United States Senate. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Sincerely,

JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator





517 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
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http://www.cornyn.senate.gov

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