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March 24, 2006
FAIR Urges Senate to Pass an Immigration Enforcement Bill Without Illegal Alien Amnesty or Guest Worker Provision
Washington, DC"”-On the eve of what appears to be the beginning of consideration by the full Senate of immigration legislation, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) is urging the Senate to reject any proposal that includes legalization for those who have violated U.S. immigration laws, or a guest worker program that will undermine the interests of American workers. FAIR strongly opposes the bill offered by Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA.), as well as similar ones introduced by Senators John McCain (R-AZ.) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA.), and Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and John Kyl (R-AZ).
"Even though deliberations in the Judiciary Committee were stalled over the last two weeks, it is widely expected that a ˜back room' compromise has been reached that will be approved by the Judiciary Committee on Monday," said FAIR's President Dan Stein. Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) has promised to bring his own bill to the Senate floor if the Judiciary Committee fails to complete its work on Monday. The bill Senator Frist introduced last Thursday contains some enforcement and border security provisions, but also cynically includes a broad expansion in high-tech and professional guest worker visas and unacceptable increases in legal immigration. In addition, Sen. Frist has told the media that he has not ruled out the possibility of including a broader guest worker provision in his legislation. Under the circumstances, Sen. Frist's bill offers little more in combating the illegal immigration crisis than the others.
FAIR strongly supports legislation that allows the United States to protect its borders and jobs of American workers. A comprehensive strategy that includes enhanced border security, worksite enforcement, increased cooperation of local law enforcement agencies, and denial of nonemergency benefits and services to illegal aliens is favored by the organization, its 200,000 members and supporters, and the vast majority of the American public.
"What the American public wants is very clear," observed Stein. "They want the immigration laws of this country enforced and they do not want to see millions of people who broke the law rewarded. Millions of American workers, in all sectors of the labor market, have seen their jobs and wages undercut by the phenomenon of mass illegal immigration. A bill that allows employers to bring in millions more foreign workers through a vastly expanded guest worker program will only exacerbate the plight of middle class workers in America and that is something we oppose vigorously.
"Whether American workers lose their jobs and wages to illegal aliens or to guest workers is largely irrelevant," Stein continued. "The bottom line is that Congress has an obligation to hard-working, law-abiding Americans requiring enforcement of our immigration laws in a manner that protects the security of the nation and the ability of people in this country to provide for themselves and their families. We do not believe that the security of the nation and future of the middle class are bargaining chips. We hope Sen. Frist and the U.S. Senate wake up and embrace that view," Stein concluded.
FAIR Urges Senate to Pass an Immigration Enforcement Bill Without Illegal Alien Amnesty or Guest Worker Provision
Washington, DC"”-On the eve of what appears to be the beginning of consideration by the full Senate of immigration legislation, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) is urging the Senate to reject any proposal that includes legalization for those who have violated U.S. immigration laws, or a guest worker program that will undermine the interests of American workers. FAIR strongly opposes the bill offered by Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA.), as well as similar ones introduced by Senators John McCain (R-AZ.) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA.), and Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and John Kyl (R-AZ).
"Even though deliberations in the Judiciary Committee were stalled over the last two weeks, it is widely expected that a ˜back room' compromise has been reached that will be approved by the Judiciary Committee on Monday," said FAIR's President Dan Stein. Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) has promised to bring his own bill to the Senate floor if the Judiciary Committee fails to complete its work on Monday. The bill Senator Frist introduced last Thursday contains some enforcement and border security provisions, but also cynically includes a broad expansion in high-tech and professional guest worker visas and unacceptable increases in legal immigration. In addition, Sen. Frist has told the media that he has not ruled out the possibility of including a broader guest worker provision in his legislation. Under the circumstances, Sen. Frist's bill offers little more in combating the illegal immigration crisis than the others.
FAIR strongly supports legislation that allows the United States to protect its borders and jobs of American workers. A comprehensive strategy that includes enhanced border security, worksite enforcement, increased cooperation of local law enforcement agencies, and denial of nonemergency benefits and services to illegal aliens is favored by the organization, its 200,000 members and supporters, and the vast majority of the American public.
"What the American public wants is very clear," observed Stein. "They want the immigration laws of this country enforced and they do not want to see millions of people who broke the law rewarded. Millions of American workers, in all sectors of the labor market, have seen their jobs and wages undercut by the phenomenon of mass illegal immigration. A bill that allows employers to bring in millions more foreign workers through a vastly expanded guest worker program will only exacerbate the plight of middle class workers in America and that is something we oppose vigorously.
"Whether American workers lose their jobs and wages to illegal aliens or to guest workers is largely irrelevant," Stein continued. "The bottom line is that Congress has an obligation to hard-working, law-abiding Americans requiring enforcement of our immigration laws in a manner that protects the security of the nation and the ability of people in this country to provide for themselves and their families. We do not believe that the security of the nation and future of the middle class are bargaining chips. We hope Sen. Frist and the U.S. Senate wake up and embrace that view," Stein concluded.
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