(This is a reply after I received the letter below on 12/15/05)

September 8, 2005

Mrs. xxxx

Dear Mrs. xxxx:

Thank you for contacting with your concerns regarding immigration.
After reading your letter, I think there are two areas we can agree on: (1)our current immigration system does not work and (2) we agree to disagree.

Immigration is one of the most complex issues in this country, and is at the
forefront of discussions in Congress. In Arizona immigration has always been a crucial part of our history. We must remember that history, and also evaluate why the current situation exists in our border.

The last time that our country had a major immigration law change was more
than twenty years ago. In the 1990s there began an attempt to address
immigration, but this was a border-security only approach. It did not deter
immigrants from entering the United Sates nor did it provide a venue for
legal entry; instead it encouraged immigrants to enter through our Arizona
deserts.

I bring up this quick synopsis to make my point that we should learn from
our past approach to immigration and not do a one-sided fix. In Congress, we
are about to take on immigration laws that would improve the economy,
security, and humanity for all individuals involved - United States
Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents, and immigrants. As we continue the
debate to change immigration law, we need to ensure that immigration law
complements our labor, economic, and population needs, and create accessible legal venues for immigration.

I support legislation that deals with immigration in a comprehensive manner;
comprehensive includes, at a minimum, dealing with a security strategy,
immigration law, visa backlogs, family unification, a guest worker program
that protects employee and employer, and a path to legalization for those
already in the country.

I support comprehensive immigration reform as well as an international
dialogue in dealing with immigration. This is to deal with the reality of
our border and include the "push-pull" factors of immigration to the
discussion. Understanding immigration is taking responsibility for U.S.
policy with respect to other countries and the impact it has on their and
our economy. For example, if we are to deal with immigration from Mexico ,
we need to expand our ! relationship, dialogue and strategies and work on a U.S.-Mexico policy that addresses both of our economic concerns.

Theses principles guide my support for the Secure America Orderly
Immigration Act (HR 2330) introduced by Representatives Jim Kolbe, Jeff
Flake, and Luis Gutierrez, respectively. This legislation addresses the
reality in our country and addresses all aspects of the immigration debate,
understanding that improvements will not come through a piecemeal approach.

Immigrants are a part of country. As you know, this country was founded by immigrants, and even though times have changed the role of immigrants advancing our country has not. Immigrants continue to add to our economic success and vibrant diversity.

The value of immigrants is not solely financial, but many of the current
discussions on immigration surround the cost of immigration. As Americans we must recognize the financial role of immigrants. Research from the National Research Council found that immigrants add about $10 billion to the economy each year, and pay $80,000 per capita more in taxes then the government services they use in their lifetime. The Social Security Administration estimates that workers without valid social security numbers contribute $8.5 billion dollars annually to Social Security and Medicare; this is unclaimed money that ensures United States Citizens continue receiving a dignified retirement. In Arizona , Thunderbird American Graduate School of Management estimates that immigrants provide Arizona with a fiscal surplus of $106 million per year, and that Mexican immigrants alone provide $355.7 million per year in tax contributions.

Immigrants contribute to our economy, our culture, and our history. In
standing with our historical base, I will remain an advocate for rational,
intelligent and comprehensive immigration reform, because anything less will not suffice.

Thank you for taking the time to contact me. I always appreciate hearing
about the issues that are important to you.

Sincerely,

Raul M. Grijalva
Member of Congress

December 15, 2005

Dear Congressman Grijalva:

I received this letter from you today, December 15, 2005, dated from
September 8, 2005. I have no idea what letter you have responded to from me as you have not addressed any of the issues I have brought up to you in the past. You go on and on in this letter about how wonderful immigration is, but you don't address or acknowledge what I have written about to you in the past,illegal immigration or what it does and has done
to this country. You have in the past stressed what you call the importance of "family reunification," I believe for illegal immigrants, but your goal is for this to occur in the U.S. My goal is for this to occur in the country of ones origin. Why should this occur in the U.S.?

The Pew Institute study recently reported that only 5 percent of illegal immigrants were unemployed at the time they decided to come to the U.S. I find this very significant that 95% of illegal immigrants were employed in their home countries. This shows that a big lie is being perpetuated on the American people who are continuously fed the claim that we must show compassion for illegal immigrants as they are starving and have to feed their families. Send aide to their home countries then. They obviously weren't starving as they were able to pay a smuggler thousands of dollars to illegally transport them into the U.S. They were making a living in their home countries. They just like what we have better and have no regard for the law. You must be overjoyed by the fact that even Mexico acknowledges that 10 percent of Mexican Nationals are now living in the U.S.

I would appreciate that when you write me, you address the issues I have
brought up with you rather than giving me your form letter and pat line "we agree to disagree," which you have included in other letters to me before. As I stated earlier, you haven't even touched on the issues I
have brought up and you tout the wonders of immigrants, not the issue of
illegal aliens. It is a shame that my Congressman from what he has written to me can't perceive the difference between immigrants (who are here with the knowledge of the government)and illegal immigrants that have no accounting whatsoever and break our laws every step of the way.
Mrs. xxxx