Thread: My Rep, Texas 24 Replies

Thank you for contacting me regarding H.R. 5173, Secure the Border Act. It is very important when considering issues to know the views and concerns of my constituents. I appreciate you taking the time to contact me.

I strongly support securing our national borders and have cosponsored H.R. 5173.The Secure the Border Act will improve security along the southern and northern borders of the United States. In fact, H.R. 5173 requires the installation of a double re-enforced fence along the U.S.-Mexican border. The bill calls for installation of much-needed physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors along the border. In addition, Secure the Border Act increases surveillance along the U.S.-Mexican border and the U.S.-Canada border. The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV's), satellites, and other sensors will provide critical intelligence to help secure our borders. In fact, I have been very active in supporting the deployment of UAV's along the Texas-Mexico border. Lastly H.R. 5173 will provide a 100% increase in funding for the Tunnel Task Force along the U.S.-Mexican border. The Tunnel Task Force works with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Border Patrol to proactively look for underground tunnels (which are a principal means of facilitating illegal activity) along the U.S. southern border.

As the debate moves forward with Secure the Border Act, I will push for strong enforcement legislation that deters the efforts of illegal immigrants (some of them whom are involved in gang-related activity and organized drug cartels) attempting to enter the United States unlawfully. H.R. 5173 utilizes practical and efficient means to address the threat illegal immigration poses to our national sovereignty.

Again, thank you for your correspondence regarding the Secure the Border Act. It is through your insight that I am better able to serve the people of the 24th district of Texas. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my office on this or any other matter that comes before Congress. For more information about my efforts on behalf of the 24th district and to sign up for my e-newsletter, please visit my website at www.marchant.house.gov

Sincerely
Kenny Marchant[/u]

Where does he stand on the SAVE Act? It's impossible to secure the borders without interior enforcement of the SAVE Act.

Originally Posted by Bowman

Where does he stand on the SAVE Act? It's impossible to secure the borders without interior enforcement of the SAVE Act.

he DOES oppose it. ill dig up a letter on it tomorrow

LOL jamesw62 are you getting that too? After months of mailing politicians with no reply -- all of a sudden -- your email inbox is full of the same reply from the same politician? I get that all the time and it is funny and sad at the same time.

Politicians, can't live with them, can't live with them, get rid of them.

Oh so happy I finally have a place to post my letters from politicians. Get so many every week and keeping them all bottled up does me no good!

I have had the most amazing week of getting nice letters from many senators -- even though they do NOT represent me. They are all friendly and love my opinion -- even if they do not agree. What is my secret?

Well, starting last week I began starting my letters and emails like this:

Dear Senator, Congressman/woman, President, Whatever (Name);

I have some great news for YOU! This past weekend I had a winning ticket in the California Super Mega Million Lottery! At first, I was going to go out and spend the money. But then I thought, no Mark, you need to share with your best friend in the (write in here Senate, Congress, Whitehouse)! So, I plan on giving a SUBSTANTIAL amount of my winnings to my best friend in the (write in again)! Oh, by the way...

(text of letter, email -- keep under 2450 characters if possible)

NOTE to alipac -- this is no lie! I really did have a winning California Lottery ticket -- just didn't tell them it was for $1. Oh well they do not tell us the whole truth either do they?

PS: Oh interestingly enough campaign donation requests are up dramatically -- wonder why?

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May 25, 2010
Dear Mr. B:
Thank you for contacting me about immigration reform. I appreciate hearing from you.
Our nation faces a host of problems as a result of years of inattention to our immigration policies. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimates that about 11 million people in the United States lack legal status, including those who enter the country illegally and those who overstay temporary visas.
Illegal immigration raises national security and economic issues that must be addressed. I have worked to reform our immigration system comprehensively. A number of Senators, including myself, recently released a blueprint outlining the basic principles a comprehensive reform measure should include.
The blueprint would improve border security by increasing manpower and deploying new technology. Many people have asked for reforms that would secure our borders before putting the immigrants who are already here on a path to legal status. In response to that concern, a "trigger" was included in the 2007 immigration bill and is preserved in the 2010 blueprint. The plan would require that certain border security and enforcement benchmarks be met before any program is started that would address the status of illegal immigrants already here.
Congress has taken many steps in recent years to step up security at our borders. The 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided $100 million for inspection systems to be deployed at border ports of entry, $100 million for border security technology on the Southwest border, and $420 million for modernization and construction of facilities used to control and process border crossings. The Fiscal Year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Act provided $8.1 billion for the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency. This amount includes $19 million to hire an additional 100 Border Patrol agents. The bill also provided $800 million for border security fencing, infrastructure, and technology. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was allocated $5.3 billion to support investigation activities and detention and removal operations. The bill funds 33,400 detention beds and requires that at least $2.5 billion be used in the detention and removal of unauthorized persons. The bill provides $1.5 billion to identify and remove those with criminal records illegally residing in the United States.
The new immigration blueprint also calls for strengthened enforcement against employers who hire illegal immigrants, an essential element of comprehensive reform. The federal government must crack down on employers who ignore our nation's laws and hire illegal immigrants. The reform proposal calls for a biometric employment verification system and increased penalties for hiring illegal immigrants.
If we are serious about reform, we also must adopt a realistic approach to the millions of undocumented immigrants who live and work in our country. Mass deportation of illegal immigrants is impractical and too expensive. Experts estimate that deporting all of the undocumented immigrants would cost more than $280 billion, seven times DHS's budget last year. Instead, we need to offer immigrants who work hard and demonstrate a long-term commitment to be law-abiding, contributing members of our country a chance to pay fines and earn their way to permanent legal status over the course of many years. Some have falsely called this amnesty. I oppose amnesty because it is not right to reward those who have broken the law with automatic citizenship. This proposal will not give amnesty to illegal immigrants.
The blueprint calls for a two-phase system of legalization. The first phase would require all undocumented individuals to register with the government, pass criminal background checks, and pay fees in order to be granted lawful prospective immigrant status. The second phase would occur eight years later, after the current visa backlog has been processed. At that stage, undocumented aliens would be able to earn their way to permanent legal status only if they pass updated criminal background checks; possess basic citizenship skills; demonstrate basic English language skills; pay all federal taxes, fees, and penalties; and register for the Selective Service.
If we do not give people who are already a part of our communities the chance to earn legal status, we will not solve the problem of illegal immigration. Those living here illegally will stay in the shadows instead of coming forward to register. This hurts our national security and hurts American workers, who are being undercut by cheap illegal labor.
I am deeply concerned about the impact of potential temporary guest worker programs. In contrast to those immigrants who are already here and actively engaged in our workforce, guest worker programs would bring in a large future flow of workers with no long-term commitment to our country. I voted to eliminate the guest worker program in the previous Senate immigration bill. When that effort was unsuccessful, I offered a Hire Americans First amendment to require employers to seek American workers for their open positions before they try to bring in guest workers. I have also introduced legislation designed to protect American workers by addressing major abuses in the H-1B visa program.
There is no perfect solution to the problems we face as a result of our broken immigration system. Today, our borders are not secure, our workplace enforcement laws need reform, and our immigration policy fosters a shadow economy for millions of immigrants who simply want to demonstrate that they can be hardworking contributors to the greatness of our country. I will continue to work for a package of reforms that will protect American workers and that will be tough, enforceable, economically sensible, and morally defensible. I will keep your views in mind as the debate continues.
Sincerely your best friend,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator
RJD/ab
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Dear Mr. B:
Thank you for expressing your concerns about illegal immigration in the United States. One of my highest priorities for the 111th Congress is to strengthen our laws regarding illegal immigration.
As the grandson of German immigrants, I know how important immigration is in our country. I am supportive of individuals who go through the proper channels and make efforts to assimilate and become citizens of our great nation.
In contrast, I am against rewarding people with American citizenship when they sneak into our country without permission. When people illegally cross our borders, they show a defiance and disrespect of the laws of the United States. Also, they cut in front of many American workers who should be the first to fill American jobs as well as potential legal immigrants who are dutifully waiting in line for an opportunity to work in the United States.
We need to focus on many factors to properly address the problem of rampant illegal immigration in our country. First and foremost, we must secure our borders. I support building a physical fence along the border, empowering the U.S. Border Patrol and state and local law enforcement to apprehend illegal immigrants, and putting other screening and surveillance measures into place to cut down on the number of illegal border crossings.
Along with securing our borders, we must also do something about the illegal immigrants currently in the country. As I said before, I am adamantly opposed to granting amnesty to these individuals. They have broken the law. If they would like to work in the United States legally, they should return to their countries of origin, get in line, and then reenter with legal documentation. Likewise, we should not reward illicit behavior by giving illegal immigrants social benefits like social security, in-state tuition at public universities, and birthright citizenship for babies born to illegal immigrants on American soil.
When immigrants do come to our country legally and desire to get on a path to citizenship, I want to help them understand our society and become successful. One major way they can assimilate and communicate is by learning English. Therefore, I am leading the Senate in working to make English the official language of the United States. I agree with President Bush's statement on May 15, 2006 that, "English allows newcomers to go from picking crops to opening a grocery store.from cleaning offices to running offices.from a life of low-paying jobs to a diploma, a career, a home of their own."
I support legislation that will help secure our borders, enforce our laws, make English the official language, and improve our naturalization processes. Likewise, I oppose legislation, like the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (introduced as S. 1639 and S. 134, that I believe would reward illicit behavior and burden the American taxpayer by granting amnesty or social benefits to illegal immigrants. I voted against the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 and worked diligently to ensure that it did not pass in the Senate.
In the 110th Congress, I reintroduced the ENFORCE (Engaging the Nation to Fight for Our Right to Control Entry) Act, a bill which I believe would address many of the problems we face today. You can view the text of the bill and other important information about my views on immigration at my website: http://inhofe.senate.gov. In summary, the ENFORCE Act:
o Establishes the National Border Neighborhood Watch (NBNW) Program, allowing retired law enforcement officers to assist Border Patrol agents by reporting illegal border crossings.
o Makes unlawful presence in the United States a felony.
o Establishes an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in Tulsa.
o Authorizes funding for online immigration training for state and local law enforcement officers.
o Eliminates the practice of granting automatic U.S. citizenship to children born to illegal immigrants in an effort to reduce "anchor babies."
o Establishes an independent verification system for Social Security numbers; mandates that an immigrant's Social Security number expires when a person's visa runs out.
o Establishes electronic birth & death registries to fight fraudulent Social Security cards
o Helps reduce Individual Taxpayer Identification Number abuse.
o Empowers state & local law enforcement to carryout immigration laws.
o Establishes penalties for flagrant employer tax violations.
o Makes it illegal to operate day laborer centers for illegal aliens and to give them unemployment assistance.
o Eliminates in-state tuition benefits for illegal aliens.
I understand that Americans want the government to secure our borders and not grant amnesty to illegal aliens. I believe in immigration when it is done legally, but it is unfair to law-abiding immigrants when we ignore the rules and reward those who come into our country illegally. Being an American is a great privilege, and it should be treated as such.

Thank you again for your letter. As your voice in Washington, D.C., I want to know what concerns you so I can best represent you.

Sincerely your bud,
James M. Inhofe
United States Senator
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5/25/10
Dear M,
Thank you for writing with your concerns about immigration policy. I appreciate that you took the time to contact me on this important issue.
Our immigration system is not working. A comprehensive overhaul of our nation's immigration system is necessary for our national security and our economic competitiveness.
When I served in the U.S. House of Representatives I supported a number of immigration reform measures. In the U.S. Senate, I remain concerned about the serious challenges of our current immigration system and the repercussions for Colorado's workers, employers and families. Any immigration reform proposal must be fair to taxpayers, ensure that employers hire only those who are legally authorized to work in the United States to protect the wellbeing of American workers, make our country safer by preventing drug-traffickers and terrorists from entering the United States, improve the existing legal channels to enter our country and address the immigration status of an estimated 12-15 million undocumented individuals who are living here.
Beyond these basic goals of reform, I believe we should not grant amnesty to those who crossed our borders illegally. We should identify those who have criminal records for deportation and distinguish dangerous individuals from otherwise law-abiding and tax-paying individuals who could earn legal residency by going to the "back of the line," paying an appropriate fine and learning English. Reforming our immigration system will not be easy, but we cannot continue on our current path. I am confident that there are sensible, bipartisan solutions to our country's immigration issues.
In our state's history, Colorado has benefited from the labor of immigrants who have tilled the soil, harvested crops, built the railroads and added to our cultural heritage. As our nation engages in a debate on immigration reform, we should recognize that reasonable people can disagree about how best to address the situation. Only by engaging in open and honest discussion will we be able to work toward solving any of our shared problems, including immigration.
I will continue to listen closely to what you and other Coloradans have to say about matters before Congress, the concerns of our communities, and the issues facing Colorado and the nation. My job is not about merely supporting or opposing legislation; it is also about bridging the divide that has paralyzed our nation's politics. For more information about my positions and to learn how my office can assist you, please visit my website at www.markudall.senate.gov.

Warm regards to my best friend,
Mark Udall
U.S. Senator, Colorado
MEU/dhf
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5/25/10
Dear M,
Thank you for contacting me to share your views about the proposed framework for comprehensive immigration reform. It is an honor to serve as your Senator, and I appreciate hearing from you.
Without question, our current immigration system is broken, and I understand your frustrations. For too long, Americans have had to live with inadequate, unenforced immigration regulations that have compromised the security of our borders and the integrity of our workforce. We need strong legislation to restore the rule of law.
As you know, a group of Senators, including Majority Leader Reid, released their REPAIR Proposal (Real Enforcement with Practical Alternatives for Immigration Reform). This proposal outlines a framework of policy recommendations aimed at restoring security at our borders, cracking down on employers hiring illegal immigrants through an employment verification system, and establishing a strictly regulated system for earning legal permanent residency. To ensure enforcement, the framework also calls for increased border patrol personnel, resources, and technology, and establishes a policy for administering temporary work and student visas.
The framework for comprehensive immigration reform has not yet been introduced as legislation in the Senate. Please know that I will continue to monitor the status of this proposed framework, and I will keep your views in mind when the Senate takes up immigration reform.

All my best to the best friend a Senator could have,
Jeff Merkley
United States Senate
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May 24, 2010
Dear M,
Thanks for getting in touch with me and letting me know what's on your mind regarding immigration.
The federal government has done a horrible job of enforcing our immigration laws, and Americans have lost faith that Washington can fix this mess. I voted against the Senate immigration bills in 2006 and 2007 because they didn't do enough to secure the border. My priorities for immigration reform include securing the border, opposing amnesty, bringing in the best and the brightest who can create jobs for Americans, and helping legal immigrants to learn English and about our culture. I have cosponsored legislation to declare English to be our national language, and led the fight to protect employers from being sued for requiring their workers to speak English on the job.
In February 2008, I joined as a cosponsor of the Secure America through Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act. This bipartisan bill would curb illegal immigration by adding 8,000 Border Patrol agents, increasing aerial and satellite surveillance of the border, increasing the number of federal judges to speed up deportation of illegal immigrants, and adding other tools to help our law enforcement officials to secure the border and enforce existing laws. The SAVE Act also would improve the E-Verify employment verification program and make it mandatory, so that employers would have to verify the immigration status of new hires.
After passing the health care bill that I opposed, Congress should be careful not to make a second historic mistake in one year and try to pass a comprehensive immigration bill. We have proven that we don't do comprehensive well when we write these 3,000-page bills full of surprises. A comprehensive bill that deals with trying to establish a path for citizenship for people who are illegally here would be a mistake. Instead, Congress should work step-by-step towards securing the borders and reducing the number of people here illegally.
I'm glad you took the time to let me know where you stand on this important issue. I'll be sure to keep your comments in mind as immigration is discussed and debated in Washington and in Tennessee.
Sincerely you are my dear friend,
Lamar (Alexander)
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5/24/10
Dear Mr. B:

Thank you for contacting me regarding immigration policy in the United States and the law recently passed in Arizona. I appreciate your taking the time to share your opinions with me.

Like you, I believe our immigration system is broken and needs to be fixed. I voted to have a full debate and up-or-down vote on an immigration plan in the Senate during the 110th Congress. Since the Federal government has not yet adequately addressed the problem, I can understand a border state, like Arizona, taking action.

During the 110th Congress I also voted for H.R. 2638, which passed the Senate and appropriates $3 billion in emergency spending; a substantial portion of that money will go toward border fencing, infrastructure, and technology. The bill also provides additional funding to increase the number of Border Patrol agents and boost surveillance along the entire U.S.-Mexico border by employing cutting-edge surveillance technologies--including virtual fences and unmanned aerial vehicles--similar to those I added to other immigration reform legislation.

I will keep your thoughts in mind whenever the Senate considers issues affecting immigration policy. Please don't hesitate to contact me in the future, as your communication helps me better serve you in the Senate.

Sincerely your devoted friend,
Senator Bill Nelson

P.S. From time to time, I compile electronic news briefs highlighting key issues and hot topics of particular importance to Floridians. If you'd like to receive these e-briefs, visit my Web site and sign up for them at http://billnelson.senate.gov/news/ebriefs.cfm
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5/24/10
Dear Mr. B:
I realize that we disagree about immigration. I know your views on this issue are powerful and deeply felt, and please know that I respect your views.
As a United States Senator, I represent all Washingtonians, including those with whom I disagree. Sometimes I cast votes that are unpopular with certain constituents; it is the nature of democracy that the people of Washington state, and the nation, will be divided on some issues.
This does not mean that I take your concerns lightly. On the contrary, I believe it is with those whom we disagree we must pay particular attention. It is important to have our assumptions challenged. I know of no other way to ensure that opinions are based on fact and principle. Still, it is often true that at the end of the day, reasonable people will come to different conclusions about the issues which challenge our nation. Not everyone will always agree with me, but Washingtonians should expect me to listen to their concerns and to be honest and straightforward with my answers.
Again, thank you for contacting me. Please stay in touch.
I hope all is well in San Francisco.
Sincerely good friend,
Patty Murray
United States Senator
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May 24, 2010
Dear Mr. B:
Thank you for contacting me about our nation's immigration policies and Arizona's recently enacted immigration law. I appreciate hearing your views on this issue.
As you know, the state of Arizona enacted legislation in April that would identify, prosecute and deport illegal immigrants. Specifically, the law makes the failure to carry immigration documents a crime and allows police to detain anyone suspected of being in the country illegally. Passage of the Arizona state law has fueled a national dialogue about our immigration system.
Let me say from the outset, our immigration system is broken. We have some 10.9 million immigrants in our country illegally, with more arriving each day. While the numbers have slowed, last summer thousands of people came across our borders without permission every week, mostly seeking work. This is unacceptable fact which fosters a black market in fake documents and criminal smuggling that one day may be exploited by those seeking to do harm to our nation. America needs to have control of her borders and, in recent years, we have not.
The majority of the 10.9 million illegal immigrants here today entered our country unlawfully; however, some 40 percent of them did enter our country legally and then overstayed their visas. The burden they place on public hospitals, schools, and other systems is costly and, in many cases, unfair to legal residents and citizens.
Let me take a moment to share with you how I believe we should address these problems. It is clear to me what we must do first is secure our borders. This past November, I had the privilege of spending a day with agents from the Border Patrol, Immigration Customs Enforcement, and the Coast Guard patrolling the Mexican border outside of San Diego, California. From my conversations with these brave men and women while I traveled with them by truck, boat, and helicopter, I learned about the challenges that they face every day. While our men and women at the border are trying their best to guard our nation, I believe Congress needs to give them the resources and training they need to succeed. We also need to improve our technological capabilities to better use unmanned aircrafts as well as sophisticated land-based surveillance systems that are effective 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in deterring and catching immigrants crossing into U.S. territory
I also agree we need to construct a combination of fences and walls along significant portions of the U.S.-Mexico border. In 2006, I supported legislation to authorize, fund and build 700 hundreds of miles of fences and/or walls along our southern border where the Department of Homeland Security believes barriers of that nature would be cost-effective. As of now, only 520 miles of planned border fence have been built. I assure you I will continue to urge the Department of Homeland Security to complete construction of the fences and walls as quickly as possible.
Another major problem is that we need to address is the lack of enforcement of our nation's laws against employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. Of the 6,000 worksite enforcement arrests made in 2008, only 135 were employers. Under current law, employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants are to be prosecuted. And yet, one recent study found it was more likely for someone to get bitten by an alligator in recent years than for an employer to be sanctioned for hiring ineligible workers.
We must make sure employers have the resources to determine whether they are hiring ineligible workers and ensure that those employers who knowingly hire ineligible immigrant workers are prosecuted. One of the best ways to deter those who would come into America illegally is to make sure employers know that if they hire illegal workers, they are likely to get caught, and they are going to pay a severe price. Another excellent way is for us to develop and distribute, as appropriate, tamper-proof ID's incorporating bio-metrics and other similar technologies.

In addition to significantly improving border security and work-site enforcement, we must also be realistic about how we address the 10.9 million illegal immigrants who are in the United States today. I can understand the views of many in our state who suggest that we simply deport people who are here in an undocumented status. Scarce funds and space at many publicly-funded hospitals and schools in Delaware and other states are badly stretched in many places to accommodate these men, women, and children. However, I don't know how realistic it would be to deport nearly 11 million people to their native lands in a timely fashion. Such an effort may actually have the unintended consequence of driving some deeper into the shadows and make a workable solution even harder to eventually implement.
We need a sensible, practical solution that allows these 11 million to come forward without granting them amnesty. Amnesty is not the answer. It wasn't the answer in 1986, when President Ronald Reagan and the Congress offered amnesty then, and it is not the answer now. Amnesty sends the wrong message to those people who have waited patiently for years to come into the United States legally. It says to them: "You are foolish for playing by the rules." Amnesty also provides an incentive to those living south of our borders to "come on up" because, eventually, they'll be granted amnesty, too.
When immigration reform was last addressed by Congress in 2007, my colleagues and I tried to find middle ground by recognizing that neither amnesty nor deporting 11 million people are practical options or good policy. Although the majority of these immigrants are hard-working, family-oriented residents, the truth is they came or remained in the United States illegally and must face the consequences of their actions.
Let me be clear. In my view, one of the worst things we can do to address the immigration crisis in our country is to do nothing. The status quo is unacceptable, and amnesty is not the answer.
Hopefully, somewhere down the line, Congress and the President can take another look at comprehensive immigration reform that is tough on our borders, fair to our taxpayers and practical to enforce. In the meantime, I believe Congress should continue to work to secure our borders and aggressively enforce our laws against employers who knowingly hire illegal workers. The faster we act, the sooner we'll be able to deter future unlawful entry into our country, while ensuring that a bad situation does not grow any worse.
Thank you again for your interest and please do not hesitate to contact me in the future about this or other issues of importance to you.
With best personal regards, I am

Sincerely my old friend,

Tom Carper
United States Senator

To send another message please visit my website at http://carper.senate.gov/contact and fill out the webform for a prompt response. Thank you.
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May 21, 2010
Dear Friend,
Thank you for contacting me regarding our nation's immigration policy. I appreciate hearing from you, and I welcome the chance to respond.
We are a nation founded by immigrants, but we are also a nation founded upon the rule of law, and it is imperative that we respect both of these traditions. I support legal immigration but I cannot support rewarding illegal immigration, which is why I helped to defeat the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007.
The promise of employment and government benefits attracts illegal workers across our borders. If U.S. employers were unwilling to hire illegal immigrants, then they would be less likely to cross our borders illegally. I have long stated that any effort at immigration reform should include stronger employer sanctions that are aggressively enforced and I am pleased that my calls have finally been answered. On April 30, 2009, the Department of Homeland Security released guidelines and regulations that will increase resources for prosecuting employers who violate immigration law (http://www.ice.gov/doclib/foia/dro_poli ... strategy4_ 30_2009.pdf). In addition, if we secure our borders and enforce the laws already on the books, we could significantly reduce the flow of illegal immigrants into this country.
Again, thank you for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can be of further assistance to you on this or any other issue.
Sincerely to a great friend,
Claire McCaskill
United States Senator
P.S. If you would like more information about resources that can help Missourians, or what I am doing in the Senate on your behalf, please sign up for my email newsletter at www.mccaskill.senate.gov.
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5/21/10
Dear Mr. B:
Thank you for getting back in touch with me about comprehensive immigration reform. I have heard from people all over the state about this important issue, and I appreciate your comments about how to reform our immigration system.
Illegal immigration has been a longstanding problem in this country, and despite past efforts, we have not been able to replace our broken system with one that works. On April 29, 2010, Senators Reid (D-NV), Schumer (D-NY) and Menendez (D-NJ) presented a conceptual proposal to reform our immigration by first securing our borders, then considering the immigrants who are already here and addressing future flows into the country.
This proposal is a set of suggestions, not legislation that will be considered by the Senate. However, I believe we need immigration reform that is tough, fair, and practical, and when an immigration bill is introduced in the Senate I will study it carefully.
Again, thank you for getting back in touch with me.
Sincerely my dear friend,
Herb Kohl
United States Senator
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5/21/10
Dear Mr. B:
Thank you for writing to me about legalizing the immigration status of illegal aliens in the United States. I welcome the opportunity to respond.
I have read your letter and I appreciate your views. It is my belief that only a comprehensive solution that embodies strong border control with a program to deal with people who are already here will be successful in addressing the issue of illegal immigration.
Again, thank you for writing. I appreciate hearing your views on this difficult subject and I hope that you will continue to write to me on issues of importance to you. Best regards.
Sincerely your friend,
Dianne Feinstein
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5/21/10

Dear M:
Thank you for getting in touch regarding our nation's immigration policies. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.
As you know, immigration involves both our national and economic security. It is vitally important that we tackle the problem of illegal immigration. As part of that effort, we must enhance our enforcement efforts on the nation's borders.
Montana's vast border with Canada presents a unique challenge for border security. The threat from potential terrorists and drug runners is even more of a concern along Montana's Hi-Line precisely because all eyes are on the southern border.
If and when the Senate takes up immigration reform, it must provide adequate border security. We must ensure safe and adequate temporary worker programs, while also cracking down on businesses who hire illegal immigrants using phony Social Security numbers. Social Security benefits should only go to American citizens and those legally authorized to receive Social Security. Please rest assured that I take the immigration debate very seriously. Nothing is more important than our nation's security.
Thanks again for getting in touch. Please don't hesitate to contact me in the future with any additional comments or concerns. You can also visit my website at http://baucus.senate.gov/ for more information on current issues that affect Montanans.
Sincerely your faithful friend,
Max Baucus
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5/21/10
Dear Mr. B,
Thank you for contacting me regarding our nation's immigration system. I appreciate the benefit of your views on this important issue.
Our current immigration system is broken, which is why I believe Congress should work to pass bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform. Comprehensive immigration reform should include policies to secure our nation's borders, curb future illegal immigration, establish an effective employer verification system and find a practical solution for the millions of illegal immigrants currently residing in the U.S.
I do not believe that illegal immigrants should gain an unfair advantage from their actions. Any effort to earn legal status must include paying back taxes, a fine or penalty and taking steps to learn English. Reform should also not penalize those individuals who have followed the law and are here legally.
On April 23, 2010, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed into law Arizona State Bill 1070, which grants broad powers to local law enforcement officials to determine and request proof of legal status of anyone suspected of violating federal immigration laws. The enactment of this new law is yet another sign that the federal government needs to act to fix our broken immigration system rather than allowing for a state-by-state patchwork of laws and ordinances. I also believe Arizona's law raises civil rights concerns, fails to recognize the economic contributions of legal immigrant workers, and harms our nation's ability to attract entrepreneurs from around the world who create jobs here in the United States.
Our nation faces many tough challenges. Immigration reform is a complicated and difficult issue but the current system is not working. We must put our differences aside to create a better system. Again, thank you for writing. As we move forward in the 111th Congress, please continue to contact me with your opinions and concerns.
Sincerely good old pal,
MARK R. WARNER
United States Senator
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5/20/10
Dear M:
Thank you for contacting me regarding immigration reform. I appreciate your thoughts and concerns on this serious issue.
After thorough consideration and listening to the concerns of people with strongly held views on both sides of this issue, I voted against the immigration bill (S. 1639).
The legislation ultimately failed by fourteen votes and was removed from further consideration by the Senate.
America is a nation of immigrants, and it is true that we must resolve the fact that 12 million undocumented immigrants currently live and work in this country.
But America is also a nation of laws, and our current immigration system is badly broken. Unfortunately, this deeply flawed plan does not secure our borders, does not respect family unity, and does not deal fairly with the hard-working immigrants who are already living here.
I voted 'no' because the Senate's approach is not a long-term answer to this country's undocumented immigration problem. We must find a sustainable solution so that we do not return to this divisive debate again and again every few years. The approach rejected would have left us with broken borders and broken immigrant families, driving our country further apart instead of closer together. Americans and those who long to be Americans deserve a better solution than that.
Please be assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind should similar legislation be considered in the future.
Again, thank you for contacting me. I hope the information I have provided is helpful. My website http://bayh.senate.gov, can provide additional details about legislation and state projects, and you can also sign up to receive my monthly e-newsletter, The Bayh Bulletin, by clicking on the link at the top of my homepage. I value your input and hope you will continue to keep me informed of the issues important to you.
Senator Evan Bayh, your devoted friend
(202) 224-5623
Russell 131
Washington, D.C. 20510
++++++

5/20/10
Dear M:
Thank you for getting in touch regarding our nation's immigration policies. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.
As you know, immigration involves both our national and economic security. It is vitally important that we tackle the problem of illegal immigration. As part of that effort, we must enhance our enforcement efforts on the nation's borders.
Montana's vast border with Canada presents a unique challenge for border security. The threat from potential terrorists and drug runners is even more of a concern along Montana's Hi-Line precisely because all eyes are on the southern border.
If and when the Senate takes up immigration reform, it must provide adequate border security. We must ensure safe and adequate temporary worker programs, while also cracking down on businesses who hire illegal immigrants using phony Social Security numbers. Social Security benefits should only go to American citizens and those legally authorized to receive Social Security. Please rest assured that I take the immigration debate very seriously. Nothing is more important than our nation's security.
Thanks again for getting in touch. Please don't hesitate to contact me in the future with any additional comments or concerns. You can also visit my website at http://baucus.senate.gov/ for more information on current issues that affect Montanans.
Sincerely forever friend,
Max Baucus
++++

5/20/10
Dear Mr. B:
Thank you for writing to me regarding American immigration policies. It is good to hear from you about this very important issue.
For many years Congress and the American people have engaged in spirited debate about reforming our nation's immigration policies. It is clear that the U.S. immigration system is broken and that fixing our nation's immigration policies is critical for communities and industries in Washington state. That is why I support comprehensive immigration reform that can enhance our security, strengthen our economy and reflect our core values as Americans.
I strongly support efforts to increase personnel, equipment, facilities and resources to protect and enforce American law. At the same time, immigration reform must provide a path for immigrants to become citizens and realize the American dream. It is important that these immigrants have the opportunity to work and study hard, learn English, build families and become part of the fabric of our country. Comprehensive immigration reform must address these realities and many other issues.
Much is at stake for Washington state in the debate over immigration reform. As I work with my colleagues in the Senate on this issue over the coming months, please know that I will keep your thoughts in mind. If you would like to know more about my work in the Senate, please visit my website at http://murray.senate.gov. Please keep in touch.
I hope all is well in San Francisco.
Sincerely in deep friendship,
Patty Murray
United States Senator
++++++

5/20/10
Dear Mr. B:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the important issue of immigration reform. There is no better guide for making tough decisions than hearing from my fellow Kansans. Our immigration system is broken. The solution begins with securing our borders. Until our borders are under control, I cannot in good faith support comprehensive reform. The American people have spoken loudly and clearly on this issue. I have always stood for strong border protection. In the past, I voted to double the number of border patrol agents, increase Department of Homeland Security detention space in order to help end the deplorable “catch-and-releaseâ€

MarkB, that is so funny and shows where their hearts are. They only care if they have power and your/my money!!!

mine wasnt an email though. it came *gag* snail mail

Sincerely your best friend,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator

This donkey's hind end is my senator. He never met an illegal he didn't like. Don't believe a word he says.

God help me the deluge from "my best friends" has not ended. Should I tell them the whole truth? Nah....

May 26, 2010
Dear Mr. B:
Thank you for contacting me about immigration reform. I appreciate hearing from you.
Our nation faces a host of problems as a result of years of inattention to our immigration policies. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimates that about 11 million people in the United States lack legal status, including those who enter the country illegally and those who overstay temporary visas.
Illegal immigration raises national security and economic issues that must be addressed. I have worked to reform our immigration system comprehensively. A number of Senators, including myself, recently released a blueprint outlining the basic principles a comprehensive reform measure should include.
The blueprint would improve border security by increasing manpower and deploying new technology. Many people have asked for reforms that would secure our borders before putting the immigrants who are already here on a path to legal status. In response to that concern, a "trigger" was included in the 2007 immigration bill and is preserved in the 2010 blueprint. The plan would require that certain border security and enforcement benchmarks be met before any program is started that would address the status of illegal immigrants already here.
Congress has taken many steps in recent years to step up security at our borders. The 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided $100 million for inspection systems to be deployed at border ports of entry, $100 million for border security technology on the Southwest border, and $420 million for modernization and construction of facilities used to control and process border crossings. The Fiscal Year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Act provided $8.1 billion for the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency. This amount includes $19 million to hire an additional 100 Border Patrol agents. The bill also provided $800 million for border security fencing, infrastructure, and technology. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was allocated $5.3 billion to support investigation activities and detention and removal operations. The bill funds 33,400 detention beds and requires that at least $2.5 billion be used in the detention and removal of unauthorized persons. The bill provides $1.5 billion to identify and remove those with criminal records illegally residing in the United States.
The new immigration blueprint also calls for strengthened enforcement against employers who hire illegal immigrants, an essential element of comprehensive reform. The federal government must crack down on employers who ignore our nation's laws and hire illegal immigrants. The reform proposal calls for a biometric employment verification system and increased penalties for hiring illegal immigrants.
If we are serious about reform, we also must adopt a realistic approach to the millions of undocumented immigrants who live and work in our country. Mass deportation of illegal immigrants is impractical and too expensive. Experts estimate that deporting all of the undocumented immigrants would cost more than $280 billion, seven times DHS's budget last year. Instead, we need to offer immigrants who work hard and demonstrate a long-term commitment to be law-abiding, contributing members of our country a chance to pay fines and earn their way to permanent legal status over the course of many years. Some have falsely called this amnesty. I oppose amnesty because it is not right to reward those who have broken the law with automatic citizenship. This proposal will not give amnesty to illegal immigrants.
The blueprint calls for a two-phase system of legalization. The first phase would require all undocumented individuals to register with the government, pass criminal background checks, and pay fees in order to be granted lawful prospective immigrant status. The second phase would occur eight years later, after the current visa backlog has been processed. At that stage, undocumented aliens would be able to earn their way to permanent legal status only if they pass updated criminal background checks; possess basic citizenship skills; demonstrate basic English language skills; pay all federal taxes, fees, and penalties; and register for the Selective Service.
If we do not give people who are already a part of our communities the chance to earn legal status, we will not solve the problem of illegal immigration. Those living here illegally will stay in the shadows instead of coming forward to register. This hurts our national security and hurts American workers, who are being undercut by cheap illegal labor.
I am deeply concerned about the impact of potential temporary guest worker programs. In contrast to those immigrants who are already here and actively engaged in our workforce, guest worker programs would bring in a large future flow of workers with no long-term commitment to our country. I voted to eliminate the guest worker program in the previous Senate immigration bill. When that effort was unsuccessful, I offered a Hire Americans First amendment to require employers to seek American workers for their open positions before they try to bring in guest workers. I have also introduced legislation designed to protect American workers by addressing major abuses in the H-1B visa program.
There is no perfect solution to the problems we face as a result of our broken immigration system. Today, our borders are not secure, our workplace enforcement laws need reform, and our immigration policy fosters a shadow economy for millions of immigrants who simply want to demonstrate that they can be hardworking contributors to the greatness of our country. I will continue to work for a package of reforms that will protect American workers and that will be tough, enforceable, economically sensible, and morally defensible. I will keep your views in mind as the debate continues.
Sincerely your very best friend in the Senate,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator
RJD/ab
++++++++

May 26, 2010
Dear Mr. B:
Thank you for contacting me regarding border security and immigration reform. This is one of the most critical issues facing the people of Arizona and I appreciate knowing your views and for the opportunity to explain my position.
The violence along our southern border is increasing and impeding everyday life and the peace of mind of our citizens both along the border region and in the entire state. Since Mexican President Felipe Calderon began his war on the drug cartels in 2006, according to law enforcement officials in Arizona, the percentage of hardened criminals that are illegally crossing the border through the Tucson Border Patrol Sector has increased to over 17 percent. The violence and destruction in our border region has reached levels that I have never witnessed in all the years I've had the privilege to represent Arizona in Congress. It has led some Arizonans to feel that they are living in a lawless territory where there is little or no consequence for the violation of their land, property and well-being. I have heard first hand of the fear and difficulties these individuals live with every day and I admire their courage. For years, I have demanded the federal government must do all it can within its power to curb this violence and protect its citizens from criminals coming across the Mexican border. Arizonans living throughout the state, but especially along the border, must feel safe and secure in their homes and on their property.
To combat illegal immigration, drug and human smuggling, and violent activity in the southwest Senator Jon Kyl and I have developed a comprehensive 10-point plan to secure our southern border. We must begin with the immediate deployment of 3,000 National Guard troops along the Arizona-Mexico border and simultaneously begin hiring and training an additional 3,000 Customs and Border Protection Agents to be permanently stationed in the region. Furthermore, we must fully fund Operation Streamline in all Arizona Border Patrol Sectors to put illegal border crossers in jail for up to 30 days with expenses paid for by the Federal government. Additionally, the Federal government must complete the 700 miles of fencing along the southern border.
Our plan is supported by law enforcement officers across the state of Arizona, including Cochise County Sherriff Larry Dever and Pinal County Sherriff Paul Babeu. Attached to this letter, I have included the full 10-point plan that Senator Kyl and I have developed. We intend to fight to see this plan implemented in its entirety as soon as possible.
It is true that some industries in Arizona continue to struggle without a sensible and fair temporary worker program. However, I believe that it would be irresponsible for Congress to take up any measure designed to address broader immigration issues while the security situation in Mexico continues to deteriorate. Before action on comprehensive immigration occurs the border must first be secured.
According to an April 14, 2010, Los Angeles Times article, the death toll from the Mexican government's three-year war on drug cartels is far higher than previously reported -- more than 22,000. This violence is an existential threat to the Mexican government and demands that we secure our border immediately. I will continue to do everything within my ability to ensure the federal government fulfills its obligation to protect the citizens of Arizona from the dangerous criminal elements lurking on our southern border to ensure that everyone's families, friends and neighbors can feel safe and secure in their homes.
Again, thank you for sharing your views with me. Please feel free to contact me on this or any other issue of concern.
Sincerely your eternal brother in arms,
John McCain
United States Senator
JM/ds
++++

Dear Mr. B:
Senators Kyl and McCain's Ten Point Border Security Action Plan
1) Immediately deploy 3,000 National Guard Troops along the Arizona/Mexico border, along with appropriate surveillance platforms, which shall remain in place until the Governor of Arizona certifies, after consulting with state, local and tribal law enforcement, that the Federal Government has achieved operational control of the border. Permanently add 3,000 Custom and Border Protection Agents to the Arizona/Mexico border by 2015.
2) Fully fund and support Operation Streamline in Arizona's two Border Patrol Sectors to, at a minimum, ensure that repeat illegal border crossers go to jail for 15 to 60 days. Where Operation Streamline has been implemented, the number of illegal crossings has decreased significantly. Require the Obama Administration to complete a required report detailing the justice and enforcement resources needed to fully fund this program. Fully reimburse localities for any related detention costs.
3) Provide $100M, an increase of $40M, for Operation Stonegarden, a program that provides grants and reimbursement to Arizona's border law enforcement for additional personnel, overtime, travel and other related costs related to illegal immigration and drug smuggling along the border.
4) Offer Hardship Duty Pay to Border Patrol Agents assigned to rural, high-trafficked areas, such as the CBP Willcox and Douglas Stations in the Tucson Sector.
5) Complete the 700 miles of fencing along the border with Mexico and construct double- and triple- layer fencing at appropriate locations along the Arizona-Mexico border.
6) Substantially increase the 25 mobile surveillance systems and three Predator B Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in place today along the Arizona/Mexico border and ensure the border patrol has the resources necessary to operate the UAVs 24 hours a day seven days a week. Send additional fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters to the Arizona-Mexico Border.
7) Increase funding for vital radio communications and interoperability between CBP and state, local, and tribal law enforcement to assist in apprehensions along the border.
Provide funding for additional Border Patrol stations in the Tucson Sector and explore the possibility of an additional Border Patrol sector for Arizona. Create six additional permanent Border Patrol Forward Operating Bases, and provide funding to upgrade the existing bases to include modular buildings, electricity and potable water. Complete construction of the planned permanent checkpoint in Arizona. Deploy additional temporary roving checkpoints and increase horse patrols throughout the Tucson Sector.
9) Require the Federal government to fully reimburse state and local governments for the costs of incarcerating criminal aliens. Start by at least funding the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) at its authorized level of $950 million.
10) Place one full-time Federal Magistrate in Cochise County and provide full funding for and authorization of the Southwest Border Prosecution Initiative to reimburse state, county, tribal, and municipal governments for costs associated with the prosecution and pre-trial detention of federally-initiated criminal cases declined by local offices of the United States Attorneys.
Your forever friend and ally;
Senator Kyl
+++++++


May 26, 2010

Dear Good Friend:
Thank you for contacting me about your views on the need to reform our immigration laws.
Immigration reform must be done in a comprehensive manner, and it must be dealt with on the federal level. A patchwork of state and local laws is both unworkable and dangerous. Immigration is a federal responsibility, and the time to act to fix our broken immigration system is now. That is why I signed onto a letter to President Obama calling for action on immigration reform.
My views on this issue have not changed. Since the beginning of the debate to fix our broken immigration system, I have emphasized three core concerns: border security, a system to hold employers accountable for hiring undocumented workers, and to require the 11 million undocumented immigrants that already here become legal and pay their taxes. It is also important to recognize that family reunification is a cornerstone value of our immigration system.
As part of my work on combating illegal immigration, I have been proud to support efforts to increase our border security, and have consistently voted to provide greater resources along our borders, such as more Border Patrol vehicles, border security fencing, infrastructure and technology, and terrorist prevention system enhancements. Congress must continue to provide the Department of Homeland Security with the funding it needs to strengthen our borders, while maintaining vigorous oversight to ensure that any funding is being used wisely.
While border security is vitally important and should be Congress' first priority, we cannot take a "border only" approach. Employer accountability is also an important part of fixing our immigration system. It is no coincidence that employers who hire a large number of undocumented workers also tend to break other laws and incur frequent labor violations. That is why I am a cosponsor of S. 3207, the POWER Act, which would allow immigrant victims of labor abuse to remain in the United States to testify against unscrupulous employers. I am hopeful that any comprehensive immigration legislation put before Congress will incorporate the provisions of the POWER Act.
As you may know, Senators Reid, Schumer, Durbin, Menendez and Feinstein have put forth the Real Enforcement with Practical Answers for Immigration Reform (REPAIR) Proposal. While this proposal has not yet been submitted as legislation before the Judiciary Committee, I am eager to work with my colleagues to find a comprehensive, bipartisan solution to our nation's immigration problems.
Again, I thank you for contacting me on this issue. Our immigration system is broken and it is unacceptable to simply maintain the status quo. Please rest assured that I will keep your views in mind as the Senate considers immigration issues.
Sincerely your good friend,
Tom Harkin
United States Senator
+++++++++++++


May 26, 2010
Dear Mr. B:
Thank you for contacting me about immigration reform. I appreciate hearing from you.
Our nation faces a host of problems as a result of years of inattention to our immigration policies. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimates that about 11 million people in the United States lack legal status, including those who enter the country illegally and those who overstay temporary visas.
Illegal immigration raises national security and economic issues that must be addressed. I have worked to reform our immigration system comprehensively. A number of Senators, including myself, recently released a blueprint outlining the basic principles a comprehensive reform measure should include.
The blueprint would improve border security by increasing manpower and deploying new technology. Many people have asked for reforms that would secure our borders before putting the immigrants who are already here on a path to legal status. In response to that concern, a "trigger" was included in the 2007 immigration bill and is preserved in the 2010 blueprint. The plan would require that certain border security and enforcement benchmarks be met before any program is started that would address the status of illegal immigrants already here.
Congress has taken many steps in recent years to step up security at our borders. The 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided $100 million for inspection systems to be deployed at border ports of entry, $100 million for border security technology on the Southwest border, and $420 million for modernization and construction of facilities used to control and process border crossings. The Fiscal Year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Act provided $8.1 billion for the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency. This amount includes $19 million to hire an additional 100 Border Patrol agents. The bill also provided $800 million for border security fencing, infrastructure, and technology. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was allocated $5.3 billion to support investigation activities and detention and removal operations. The bill funds 33,400 detention beds and requires that at least $2.5 billion be used in the detention and removal of unauthorized persons. The bill provides $1.5 billion to identify and remove those with criminal records illegally residing in the United States.
The new immigration blueprint also calls for strengthened enforcement against employers who hire illegal immigrants, an essential element of comprehensive reform. The federal government must crack down on employers who ignore our nation's laws and hire illegal immigrants. The reform proposal calls for a biometric employment verification system and increased penalties for hiring illegal immigrants.
If we are serious about reform, we also must adopt a realistic approach to the millions of undocumented immigrants who live and work in our country. Mass deportation of illegal immigrants is impractical and too expensive. Experts estimate that deporting all of the undocumented immigrants would cost more than $280 billion, seven times DHS's budget last year. Instead, we need to offer immigrants who work hard and demonstrate a long-term commitment to be law-abiding, contributing members of our country a chance to pay fines and earn their way to permanent legal status over the course of many years. Some have falsely called this amnesty. I oppose amnesty because it is not right to reward those who have broken the law with automatic citizenship. This proposal will not give amnesty to illegal immigrants.
The blueprint calls for a two-phase system of legalization. The first phase would require all undocumented individuals to register with the government, pass criminal background checks, and pay fees in order to be granted lawful prospective immigrant status. The second phase would occur eight years later, after the current visa backlog has been processed. At that stage, undocumented aliens would be able to earn their way to permanent legal status only if they pass updated criminal background checks; possess basic citizenship skills; demonstrate basic English language skills; pay all federal taxes, fees, and penalties; and register for the Selective Service.
If we do not give people who are already a part of our communities the chance to earn legal status, we will not solve the problem of illegal immigration. Those living here illegally will stay in the shadows instead of coming forward to register. This hurts our national security and hurts American workers, who are being undercut by cheap illegal labor.
I am deeply concerned about the impact of potential temporary guest worker programs. In contrast to those immigrants who are already here and actively engaged in our workforce, guest worker programs would bring in a large future flow of workers with no long-term commitment to our country. I voted to eliminate the guest worker program in the previous Senate immigration bill. When that effort was unsuccessful, I offered a Hire Americans First amendment to require employers to seek American workers for their open positions before they try to bring in guest workers. I have also introduced legislation designed to protect American workers by addressing major abuses in the H-1B visa program.
There is no perfect solution to the problems we face as a result of our broken immigration system. Today, our borders are not secure, our workplace enforcement laws need reform, and our immigration policy fosters a shadow economy for millions of immigrants who simply want to demonstrate that they can be hardworking contributors to the greatness of our country. I will continue to work for a package of reforms that will protect American workers and that will be tough, enforceable, economically sensible, and morally defensible. I will keep your views in mind as the debate continues.
Sincerely your dear friend for life,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator
RJD/ab
++++++++

May 26, 2010
Dear Mr. B:
Thank you for expressing your concerns about illegal immigration in the United States. One of my highest priorities for the 111th Congress is to strengthen our laws regarding illegal immigration.
As the grandson of German immigrants, I know how important immigration is in our country. I am supportive of individuals who go through the proper channels and make efforts to assimilate and become citizens of our great nation.
In contrast, I am against rewarding people with American citizenship when they sneak into our country without permission. When people illegally cross our borders, they show a defiance and disrespect of the laws of the United States. Also, they cut in front of many American workers who should be the first to fill American jobs as well as potential legal immigrants who are dutifully waiting in line for an opportunity to work in the United States.
We need to focus on many factors to properly address the problem of rampant illegal immigration in our country. First and foremost, we must secure our borders. I support building a physical fence along the border, empowering the U.S. Border Patrol and state and local law enforcement to apprehend illegal immigrants, and putting other screening and surveillance measures into place to cut down on the number of illegal border crossings.
Along with securing our borders, we must also do something about the illegal immigrants currently in the country. As I said before, I am adamantly opposed to granting amnesty to these individuals. They have broken the law. If they would like to work in the United States legally, they should return to their countries of origin, get in line, and then reenter with legal documentation. Likewise, we should not reward illicit behavior by giving illegal immigrants social benefits like social security, in-state tuition at public universities, and birthright citizenship for babies born to illegal immigrants on American soil.
When immigrants do come to our country legally and desire to get on a path to citizenship, I want to help them understand our society and become successful. One major way they can assimilate and communicate is by learning English. Therefore, I am leading the Senate in working to make English the official language of the United States. I agree with President Bush's statement on May 15, 2006 that, "English allows newcomers to go from picking crops to opening a grocery store.from cleaning offices to running offices.from a life of low-paying jobs to a diploma, a career, a home of their own."
I support legislation that will help secure our borders, enforce our laws, make English the official language, and improve our naturalization processes. Likewise, I oppose legislation, like the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (introduced as S. 1639 and S. 134, that I believe would reward illicit behavior and burden the American taxpayer by granting amnesty or social benefits to illegal immigrants. I voted against the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 and worked diligently to ensure that it did not pass in the Senate.
In the 110th Congress, I reintroduced the ENFORCE (Engaging the Nation to Fight for Our Right to Control Entry) Act, a bill which I believe would address many of the problems we face today. You can view the text of the bill and other important information about my views on immigration at my website: http://inhofe.senate.gov. In summary, the ENFORCE Act:
o Establishes the National Border Neighborhood Watch (NBNW) Program, allowing retired law enforcement officers to assist Border Patrol agents by reporting illegal border crossings.
o Makes unlawful presence in the United States a felony.
o Establishes an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in Tulsa.
o Authorizes funding for online immigration training for state and local law enforcement officers.
o Eliminates the practice of granting automatic U.S. citizenship to children born to illegal immigrants in an effort to reduce "anchor babies."
o Establishes an independent verification system for Social Security numbers; mandates that an immigrant's Social Security number expires when a person's visa runs out.
o Establishes electronic birth & death registries to fight fraudulent Social Security cards
o Helps reduce Individual Taxpayer Identification Number abuse.
o Empowers state & local law enforcement to carryout immigration laws.
o Establishes penalties for flagrant employer tax violations.
o Makes it illegal to operate day laborer centers for illegal aliens and to give them unemployment assistance.
o Eliminates in-state tuition benefits for illegal aliens.
I understand that Americans want the government to secure our borders and not grant amnesty to illegal aliens. I believe in immigration when it is done legally, but it is unfair to law-abiding immigrants when we ignore the rules and reward those who come into our country illegally. Being an American is a great privilege, and it should be treated as such.

Thank you again for your letter. As your voice in Washington, D.C., I want to know what concerns you so I can best represent you.

Sincerely your steadfast friend,
James M. Inhofe
United States Senator

++++++++

May 26, 2010

Dear M:

Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns regarding immigration policy. I appreciate hearing from you.

Let me begin by saying that we must be tough and smart to get our immigration system under control. It is unacceptable to have 12 million people in our country living outside the legal system. We must secure the border, but also require the undocumented to register and become legal, pay a fine, pay their taxes, learn English, and pass criminal background checks. Those who have a serious criminal record should be sent back to the country from which they came.

Comprehensive immigration reform will help the economy by turning undocumented workers into legal taxpayers who are paying their fair share. This issue must be addressed in order to make sure that we have a system in place that cracks down on employers who hire illegal immigrants and ensures all are playing by the rules.

Our immigration system is broken, and it cannot be fixed by one small piece of reform. We should address immigration as a whole, and that is a primary goal of mine here in the Senate.

For more information about my priorities as a U.S. Senator and about issues of importance to Colorado and our nation, I invite you to visit my website at http://bennet.senate.gov/. Again, thank you for contacting me.


Sincerely your loving friend forever,
Michael Bennet
United States Senator

My "best friends" in Congress continue to write about immigration! I recently changed my lottery hook a bit.

Dear (Senator, Congressman, president);

More good news! I am very close to deciding on how to divide my California Super Lottery winnings! As you may know, I recently had a winning ticket in the California Super Lottery. In addition to taking care of myself and my family, I felt it incumbent on me to take care of my best friends in American Politics! You have all done an unbelievable job and really done some pretty unbelievable things to the American People -- so how could I foget you? By the way....

(I support ending illegal immigration stuff)

Sincerely your good friend;

MarkB

(No I still have not told them the WHOLE truth that my winning ticket was just $1 - but then that is a fortune compared to what many American Citizens have today)

++++++++

(jackpot! a letter from President O Himself! he even signed it! Having money is so helpful isn't it?)
May 27, 2010
Dearest Mark:

Thank you for writing me. I have heard from many
Americans concerned about immigration, and I value your
input as we work to address this pressing challenge.

We are all united under the principles etched onto our
Statue of Liberty: "Give me your tired, your poor, your
huddled masses yearning to breathe free." Our Nation has
always prospered from this generous and hopeful spirit. Yet,
today, our immigration system is broken and a large portion of
our economy depends on millions of workers living in the
shadows. We are a Nation of laws and a Nation of immigrants,
and we must reconcile those traditions.

For too long, politicians in Washington have exploited
this issue to divide us rather than searching for practical
solutions that unite us. We must put politics aside and offer a
comprehensive solution that secures our borders, enforces our
laws, and reaffirms our rich tradition of welcoming
immigrants.

There is broad consensus around building a solution
that stops the flow of undocumented workers across our
borders and prevents employers from hiring undocumented
workers. However, we know that enforcement is only part of
the solution. We must also require undocumented immigrants
who are already here to step out of the shadows and onto a
responsible path to earn citizenship by demonstrating sound
character, a commitment to America, and a strong work ethic.

To learn more about my policies on immigration, please join
me online at: www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/immigration. For
additional information and resources, visit: www.dhs.gov or
call 1-800-375-5283. Again, thank you for writing.

Sincerely your presidential pal,

Barack Obama

++++++


May 27, 2010

Dear Mr. B:

Thank you for contacting me to express your views on amnesty for poor undocumented immigrants. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.

I have long called for comprehensive immigration reform to address the growing disconnect between our nation's immigration policy and the reality on the ground in cities and communities across our country. Our immigration system needs to honor the promise of America and recognize the enormous contributions all immigrants make to our nation. We must enact immigration reform that is humane and honors our American tradition of being a nation that welcomes all immigrants and a land of opportunity for all. At the same time, we must secure our borders, enforce our laws, and ensure the safety of the American people and immigrants.

I believe that we must secure our borders and enforce our laws, while also protecting against discrimination and the rule of law. It means that we must regularize the status of the 12 million undocumented immigrants who now work and live here, and establish a rigorous but real path to citizenship. It means we must promote family values and family unification by allowing their families to come join them.

While immigration reform remains unsolved for our nation, we must recognize that America was built by these immigrants, and the immigrant community continues to make significant contributions to our nation. The debate on immigration reform must be framed by our nation's rich tradition of respect for our immigrant heritage.

While we disagree on this issue, please know that I appreciate hearing from you and that I will keep your comments in mind as I work with President Obama, leadership and the committees of jurisdiction to develop a strategy to advance immigration legislation that promotes our core American values.

Thank you again for contacting me on this important issue. I hope you will continue to communicate with me on matters of concern to you. For more information on this or other issues affecting our city and our nation, please visit my website at www.house.gov/pelosi or sign up to receive e-mail updates at www.house.gov/pelosi/IMA/subscription.html.

Still your friend,
Nancy Pelosi
Member of Congress
++++++

5/27/10
Dear Mark:

Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns regarding immigration policy. I appreciate hearing from you.

Let me begin by saying that we must be tough and smart to get our immigration system under control. It is unacceptable to have 12 million people in our country living outside the legal system. We must secure the border, but also require the undocumented to register and become legal, pay a fine, pay their taxes, learn English, and pass criminal background checks. Those who have a serious criminal record should be sent back to the country from which they came.

Comprehensive immigration reform will help the economy by turning undocumented workers into legal taxpayers who are paying their fair share. This issue must be addressed in order to make sure that we have a system in place that cracks down on employers who hire illegal immigrants and ensures all are playing by the rules.

Our immigration system is broken, and it cannot be fixed by one small piece of reform. We should address immigration as a whole, and that is a primary goal of mine here in the Senate.

For more information about my priorities as a U.S. Senator and about issues of importance to Colorado and our nation, I invite you to visit my website at http://bennet.senate.gov/. Again, thank you for contacting me.

Sincerely in loyal friendship,
Michael Bennet
United States Senator

+++++++++


May 27, 2010 (on purdy letterhead!)

Dear Friend,

Thank you for contacting me regarding the security of our borders. I greatly appreciate hearing your thoughts on this important issue.

The problem of illegal immigration is a threat to our nation's security and economy, and we must prioritize strengthening our borders. I believe law enforcement and border security agents need additional resources and support in order to perform their important duties and to ensure our laws are being enforced adequately and equally in all situations. Increased technology -- including security cameras, unmanned aerial vehicles, and electronic sensors -- as well as fences along the border where appropriate, are critical components of maintaining security along our southern border. With fair and equal enforcement of our laws, and enhanced border security, we can more effectively combat illegal immigration.

I strongly believe in the need for comprehensive immigration reform. I oppose amnesty, and believe we need to hold employers accountable for their hiring practices and crack down on entities that knowingly employ illegal workers. This is why I support the E-Verify program as a tool to help employers ensure they are hiring legal workers. I am committed to achieving practical, bipartisan, comprehensive reform that will protect taxpayers and address the problem of illegal immigration at its core. With our economy in peril, it is more important than ever to ensure that we are protecting the jobs, wages and working conditions of American workers.

Again, thank you for contacting my office. It is truly an honor to represent North Carolina in the United States Senate, and I hope you will not hesitate to contact me in the future should you have any further questions or concerns.

Sincerely your friend,
Kay R. Hagan

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May 27, 2010

Dear Mr. B:

Thank you for contacting me regarding comprehensive immigration reform.

As you may know, Senators Schumer, Reid, and Menendez recently released a blueprint for comprehensive immigration reform. Before any policies of the proposal go into effect, additional border security measures will be put in place. Staffing for the Border Patrol would be increased by the proposal, along with funding for infrastructure and new technology to prevent illegal border crossings.

The initial proposal includes the creation of a national ID card issued to all American citizens and legal immigrants. All employers would be required to verify a potential employee's legal status in this country using this card before hiring them. It also amends current policy for the issuance of green cards and work visas. Those who've entered the country illegally will be required to register with the government, and if they have a clean criminal record and are willing to pay back taxes, a fine, and pass English and civics classes over an eight year period, they may be eligible to apply to stay and work in the United States legally.
Like you, I believe our current immigration system is broken and needs to be fixed. The problems we face today with border security and illegal immigration didn't appear overnight and they won't be solved overnight. With each day our country's immigration problems continue to grow, and it is in our nation's best interest to resolve these challenges in a timely manner. Rest assured, as immigration reform is debated in the Senate, I will remember your comments and concerns.

Thank you again for contacting me on this important matter. To learn more about my work in Congress, I encourage you to visit my online office and sign up for my e-newsletter at http://www.lincoln.senate.gov. I am proud to serve the citizens of Arkansas in the United States Senate and hope you will not hesitate to contact me whenever I may be of assistance to you.

Sincerely in friendship,
Blanche L. Lincoln

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May 27, 2010

Dear Mr. B:

Thank you for contacting me to express your opposition to any legislation that would grant amnesty to illegal immigrants. I appreciate hearing your views on this very important matter.

Let me say from the outset, our immigration system is broken. We have over 11 million immigrants residing in our country illegally. The majority of the 11 million here today entered our country unlawfully; however, some 40 percent of them did enter our country legally and then overstayed their visas. This is an unacceptable fact which fosters a black market in fake documents and criminal smuggling that one day may be exploited by those seeking to do harm to our nation. America needs to have control of her borders and, in recent years, we have not.

Let me share with you how I believe we should address these problems should comprehensive immigration form be considered in the 111th Congress. It is clear to me what we must do first is secure our borders. Our border patrol personnel need to be better trained and provided the resources to succeed. We also need to improve our technological capabilities to better use unmanned aircrafts as well as sophisticated land-based surveillance systems that are effective 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to deter and catch immigrants crossing into U.S. territory.
I also support the construction of fencing along our borders. I supported the Secure Fence Act of 2006, which authorized the construction of more than 700 miles of fencing along our southern border. The bill also required the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide frequent reports to Congress outlining the effectiveness of its implementation, as well as progress reports on efforts to stop illegal entry using related training, technology, and equipment mandated in the bill. Since I voted in favor of constructing a fence, I have consistently voted in favor of amendments and bills aiming to pay for this project. We now have barriers and fencing in place from the Pacific Ocean to the New Mexico-Texas border - except in those areas where there's a natural obstacle or something of that sort that makes fencing unnecessary. Congress has also allocated significantly greater resources for border patrol, detention, and deportation operations. The number of Border Patrol agents has doubled since 2001, to more than 18,000 agents today.

Another major problem we need to address is the lack of enforcement of our nation's laws against employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. We must make sure employers have the resources to determine whether they are hiring ineligible workers and ensure that those employers who knowingly hire ineligible immigrant workers are prosecuted. One of the best ways to deter those who would come into America illegally is to make sure employers know that if they hire illegal workers, they are likely to get caught, and they are going to pay a severe price. I will continue to be supportive of federal efforts to improve employee verification systems so that employers have no excuse for hiring illegal workers.

In addition to significantly improving border security and work-site enforcement, we must also be realistic about how we address the illegal immigrants who are in the United States today. I believe that it is neither fair nor practical to immediately deport all discovered illegal immigrants. Rather, I believe federal comprehensive immigration reform should offer a path to citizenship for undocumented workers- once they register with the government, pay a fine as restitution for having been in America illegally, become proficient at the English language, and maintain a clean work and criminal record. If they satisfy these conditions, the undocumented worker would go to the back of the line for a permanent visa, as many have been waiting legally for years to acquire such documentation.

With that said, I feel we are making real progress with respect to preventing further illegal immigration and holding those accountable who break the laws. I also believe that the global economic downturn is contributing to fewer people trying to live and work in the United States illegally.

In closing, I believe one of the worst things we can do to address the immigration crisis in our country is to do nothing. Hopefully, Congress and the Obama Administration can take another look at comprehensive immigration reform that is tough on our borders, fair to our taxpayers and practical to enforce in the near future. I will continue to keep your concerns in mind as my Senate colleagues and I consider legislation affecting immigration policy. Again, thank you for contacting my office. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future about matters of importance to you.

With best personal regards, I am your friend
Sincerely,
Tom Carper
United States Senate

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May 27, 2010

Dear Mr. B:

Thank you for contacting me regarding illegal immigration. I appreciate knowing your views on this important topic.

As a senator who represents a border state, I understand the need to reform our broken immigration system and enhance border security. I am pleased that additional resources have been deployed in New Mexico, and I am encouraged that border security agencies are now staffed at record levels. However, we must face the reality that while we are making some headway, more still needs to be done, and various proposals are currently being discussed. I continue to believe that maintaining border security is critically important, and I will continue to support efforts to secure our nation's borders.

I have consistently supported efforts to strengthen security along the Southwest border. Back in 2003, I helped establish a Border Security Task Force that has brought together border residents and federal, state, and local law enforcement to make recommendations regarding ways we can improve border security. In implementing these recommendations, we have significantly increased the number of Border Patrol agents assigned to our state, constructed a barrier along most of New Mexico's border with Mexico, and vastly expanded the deployment of tactical assets, such as surveillance and inspection technologies. In addition, at my request, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently created two multi-agency investigative task forces located in New Mexico to focus on border-related criminal activity. Over the last five years, I have secured over $16 million for the New Mexico National Guard Counter drug Program for border security related projects and anti-drug efforts.

With respect to the increased violence along the U.S.-Mexico border, I have been working with stakeholders on both sides of the border to determine the steps needed to bring a stop to the lawlessness in Mexico and prevent any spillover into the United States. Last year, I obtained $15 million to support Project Gunrunner, a program to stop the illegal flow of weapons from the U.S. to Mexico, and $30 million for local law enforcement agencies operating along the Southern border to combat drug trafficking. I also recently wrote to Secretary Napolitano requesting that DHS establish a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in the state's boot heel to allow agents to patrol closer to the actual border. For your review, I have attached a summary outlining some of the things I have been doing to strengthen security.

Nationally, the Border Patrol is staffed at record levels, with the number of agents doubling from about 10,000 in 2004 to its current size of over 20,000. The Department of Homeland Security has nearly completed congressionally mandated fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border, with almost 700 miles of the proposed fencing in place. As a result of these and other security efforts, we have seen a significant reduction in the number of people illegally entering the country through our state-since 2005, the apprehension rate has dropped by nearly 90 percent in New Mexico. Furthermore, the seizure of illegally smuggled goods, drugs, weapons, and currency have all significantly increased as we have stepped up inbound and outbound inspections.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to contact me again regarding this or any other matter of importance to you and your community.

Sincerely, your devoted friend

JEFF BINGAMAN
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May 27, 2010

Dear Mr. B:

Thank you for contacting me about border security. I appreciate hearing from you.

Arizona rancher Robert Krenz's recent death was a tragic event that highlighted the importance of securing our borders, something that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano takes very seriously. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has currently completed over 600 of the 700 miles of border fencing and vehicle barriers that were mandated by Congress along the southern border. Over the past year, DHS enhanced security along the southern border. The Department expanded the use of Secure Border Initiative (called "SBInet") technology to help border patrol agents detect illegal cross-border activity. This initiative includes the installation of sensor towers and mobile surveillance systems. DHS doubled the number of officers assigned to Border Enforcement Security Task Forces and tripled the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement intelligence agents along the southwest border. The Department also deployed an additional 100 Border Patrol Agents to conduct inspections for weapons and narcotics. As a result of these enhancements, there are now more than 20,000 Border Patrol Agents working to protect our borders.
On December 9, 2009, as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I held a Department of Homeland Security oversight hearing with Secretary Janet Napolitano. The Secretary emphasized that additional Border Patrol Agents will be added to the northern border without reducing the current personnel levels on the southern border. The video from this hearing is available on the Judiciary Committee website at http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/he ... fm?id=4192.
In response to your concerns about proposals to reduce Border Patrol staffing, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will monitor this issue closely.

Thank you again for writing me. Please keep in touch.

Sincerely your old friend,
PATRICK LEAHY
United States Senator
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May 27, 2010

Dear Mark:

Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns regarding immigration policy. I appreciate hearing from you.

Let me begin by saying that we must be tough and smart to get our immigration system under control. It is unacceptable to have 12 million people in our country living outside the legal system. We must secure the border, but also require the undocumented to register and become legal, pay a fine, pay their taxes, learn English, and pass criminal background checks. Those who have a serious criminal record should be sent back to the country from which they came.

Comprehensive immigration reform will help the economy by turning undocumented workers into legal taxpayers who are paying their fair share. This issue must be addressed in order to make sure that we have a system in place that cracks down on employers who hire illegal immigrants and ensures all are playing by the rules.

Our immigration system is broken, and it cannot be fixed by one small piece of reform. We should address immigration as a whole, and that is a primary goal of mine here in the Senate.

For more information about my priorities as a U.S. Senator and about issues of importance to Colorado and our nation, I invite you to visit my website at http://bennet.senate.gov/. Again, thank you for contacting me.

Your friend in the Senate,
Michael Bennet
United States Senator
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