Diane Feinstein and the Amnesty Question

Diane Feinstein, California's senior senator, responded to my "Open Letter" concerning immigration reform. Her letter is pasted below.

Feinstein assures me she is against blanket amnesty and actually has some other good words in her letter. At the end of the day, though, I am not sure how she will vote on that McCain-Kennedy travesty.

We will see!



March 20, 2006


Mr. John Lillpop
San Jose, California 95111

Dear Mr. Lillpop:

Thank you for writing me about a possible blanket amnesty. I appreciate hearing from you.

I do not support blanket amnesty for illegal immigrants. As the daughter of a Russian immigrant, I understand the hope and the optimism with which countless others view our country.

I believe America is rooted in a tradition of newcomers working hard and building a better life for themselves and their families. We must balance this tradition, however, with our ability to integrate new immigrants into the American society that follow the proper channels to legal immigration.

Our ability to accept immigrants and our immigration policy must support and strengthen families, create economic opportunities, increase scientific and cultural resources, and fulfill humanitarian commitments.

Again, thank you for writing to me. If you have any further questions or comments on this or any other issue, please do not hesitate to call my Washington, D.C. staff at (202) 224-3841.

Sincerely yours,

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator