Letter Against Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Dear Senators Feinstein & Boxer,

Re: Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill (S.1348)

I have read several drafts of and amendments to the so-called Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill (S.1348). As an independent voter with no party affiliation, I can assure you that I am against this bill. Minor amendments will not change my lack of support for this bill.

First, the Reform bill fails to address new illegal aliens who have arrived since January 1, 2007. Some estimates would put the number of new illegal aliens at 300,000! Aggressive interior enforcement is needed for addressing these new illegal aliens. An example of an aggressive interior enforcement provision would be a requirement that landlords verify the immigration status of tenants using the SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) program, much like the Reform bill appears to require of employers.

Second, the Reform bill provides a Z-visa to illegal aliens without any fines, back taxes, or touch-back provisions. This is amnesty! To have my support, any such legalization provision must require payment of back taxes at all levels (Federal, state and local), a fine ($5,000), and requirement that the illegal alien return to his or her country of origin while waiting for bureaucratic review of the legalization application. Also, no path to citizenship for illegal aliens.

Third, the Federal Government has failed to enforce existing immigration laws causing the current illegal alien crisis. Much of the current crisis can be dealt with by enforcing existing laws. Also, I have no confidence that the Federal Government will effectively enforce any immigration laws, new or old. As an example, current immigration law (8 U.S.C. § 1642), mandates, “Not later than 18 months after August 22, 1996, the Attorney General of the United States, after consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall promulgate regulations requiring verification that a person applying for a Federal public benefit . . . is a qualified alien and is eligible to receive such benefit.” These regulations were never promulgated. Thus, no effective enforcement of the law passed by Congress!

Please vote NO on Senate bill S.1348, the so-called Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill.

Senate Amnesty Bill

The Senate's so-called "Comprehensive Immigration Reform" is a horrible piece of legislation. It is an amnesty bill, dressed up with complicated and confusing schemes of enforcement, fines, hiring, verification, and so on. The bottom line, however, is that all illegal immigrants claiming to be here on January 1, 2007, will get legalization after a mere 24 hours for a background investigation. Investigate Senate Bill 1348 for yourself:
Senate Bill S.1348

Some positive nuggests of the immigration bill should be passed without the amnesty provision.

S.AMDT.1165 (page S6489) - New Oath of Citizenship
"I take this oath solemnly, freely, and without any mental reservation. I absolutely and entirely renounce all allegiance to any foreign state or power of which I have been a subject or citizen. My fidelity and allegiance from this day forward are to the United States of America. I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution and laws of the United States, and will support and defend them against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I will bear arms, or perform noncombatant military or civilian service, on behalf of the United States when required by law. This I do solemnly swear, so help me God."

Upon the naturalization of a new citizen, the Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of State, shall notify the embassy of the country of which the new citizen was a citizen or subject that such citizen has renounced allegiance to that foreign country.

S.AMDT.1169 (page S6564) - Voters must show photo ID before voting.

Section 769 excludes illegal aliens from congressional apportionment tabulations. To do this, the Census will have to ask about immigration status, and California may lose representatives. (The drawing of state and congressional districts also must exclude illegal aliens. Otherwise, vote dillution will occur!)

These three pieces of the legislation should already be the law!