Dear

The County of San Diego recently released a new report revealing a $101 million a year price-tag resulting from the health care and criminal justice costs associated with illegal immigration at taxpayer expense. That's funding that could be otherwise spent on enhancing the lives of our seniors and children, providing additional resources for law enforcement and making overdue upgrades to our roads, public infrastructure and hospitals. Unfortunately, a further blow was dealt to taxpayers when a federal judge in San Francisco, Charles Breyer, recently ruled to block a new effort to crackdown on the number one source of illegal immigration - illegal employment. As the Immigration Reform Caucus Chairman, I have to ask what part of illegal doesn't Judge Breyer understand?

The ruling is in response to the Department of Homeland Security's recommendation that requires the Social Security Administration to send a letter to employers who have a significant number of employees with inaccurate personal identity information. These "No-Match" letters would require employers to take specified steps to remove those employees with no social security numbers within 90 days or the employer would be held liable.

Using a Social Security number that does not belong to you is a felony. Judge Breyer is compromising the rule of law principles that he took an oath to uphold. At a time when the federal government is finally trying to enforce current immigration law, we cannot allow activist judges stand in the way of doing what is right.

Having grown up on the California-Mexico border, I have a deep and personal understanding of the challenges we face as a border region. While the crisis of illegal immigration has ignited a national debate on the appropriate remedies, firm action has yet to be taken. Any effective response must include strong interior enforcement of our immigration laws and punitive measures against employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. Judge Breyer's ruling that delays strong measures for interior enforcement jeopardizes our national security and ignores the rule of law.

I will continue to fight for real immigration reform. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to call me at (202) 225-0508.

Sincerely,


Brian Bilbray
Member of Congress

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