Dear Sen. Cornyn,

I know the members of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee are considering immigration legislation. I don't think any of the bills before it, as written, would produce much benefit to our nation. The "Uniting American Families Act" introduced by Patrick Leahy extends federal benefits to people who are 1. From a foreign nation 2. are outside of the traditional definition of marriage. This amounts to nothing more than a Giveaway of hard won American wealth to groups we have not recognized before. Likewise with the DREAM Act introduced by Sen Durbin. This also gives American benefits, paid for by American taxpayers to foreign students. I know the plight of these students and their reluctance to leave the US.. But I also know we are living in a an era of global opportunity for people who have bi-cultural backgrounds and a basic American education. Many American citizens also leave their homelands with significant emotional duress to take jobs in faraway places, leave for posts with service organizations operating overseas or for government positions, and millions leave short term for voluntary service. There is always an adjustment sociologists call "culture shock" but "growing up American" gives them a better handle on problems and also a popularity with local people they meet. Moreover, in this Information Age, communication and problem solving is never far removed from anyone. Those students in the DREAM were never figured to be here, yet they received the highest quality education at taxpayers expense and do not necessarily, in this era of globalized corporations, have an allegiance to remaining in the US permanently. We have to look beyond their temporary duress. Such people have many advantages and potential opportunities...and actually very little sense of national obligation.

So, Senator Cornyn, why do you feel that we need other "comprehensive immigration reform" legislation heard by your committee at this time? 1. Nearly fifteen million US citizens are unemployed. US businesses have absolutely no trouble finding help these days and they have the best educated generation to select from. 2. Our social services are already overburdened. Unemployment offices have paid out nearly as much as they can. Hospitals have been treating people whose insurance has run out.
3. With our Social Security system drawing ever closer to insolvency the amnestyy of 12-15 million illegal aliens would give them a valid place in that system and would eventually offer coverage like SSI to million more persons----often those who have never even worked in the US.
4. The 1986 amnesty under Pres Reagan was secretly scoffed at by people who knew it would not curtail illegal immigration, yet stood to benefit, anyway.. Doris Meissner (former head of the INS) wrote in a 2005 article that that legislation had had many unintended and unforeseen consequences. It simply did not work as planned.

Senator, please, this is not the time for your committee to be considering any immigration reform legislation that creates a path to citizenship for illegal aliens. If our nation had unemployment down around two percent we could allow upright, legal citizens of other nations to come. But allowing fifteen million people who have scrambled in here with no screening, no background checks, no references whatsoever, is a hazard which the people cannot bear. I have noted that of the 55 Billion annual budget of Homeland Security half of that is going to border control. We also have billions of losses from ID theft and in local communities grappling with criminal rings, One need only read official US news releases to see our nation--- let alone the border--is far from secure and no Amnesty can be considered while that condition exists.

Sincerely,
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