Story for Congress – Position Paper

Immigration

The United States of America was founded and built by immigrants. These men and women laid their lives on the line for a better life, a new nation, and an American culture.

Over a short time, Americans adopted English as the common language. Because of the common language, Americans were able to easily communicate the dream for this new land.

For over 200 years, millions have come to adopt America as their new home. They joined the culture, became productive members of society, and again, learned to assimilate into the American culture.

Something has happened in recent years to change all of this. Elitists from all Parties have developed a message of multiculturalism. These same individuals encouraged immigrants to hold on to their old culture, the one they were leaving for a better life, and to hold to only their original language.

This, of course, became a nightmare rather than the American Dream.  These immigrants are unable to obtain high paying jobs and must rely largely upon the same type of work they left their third world countries to get away from.

America has done these men and women a great disservice. We must right this wrong by insisting that these individuals be taught to read, write, and speak in the language of Americans, English.

Another major disaster that we face today is the 12 million plus that are in our nation illegally. These “illegals” come from every nation and belong to every culture on the planet. As Americans, we have a drive to help others, but we must insist that they follow the laws of our nation.

Immigration is an extremely complicated issue requiring much thought before determining the full extent to which reform is required. This issue must be decided on what is best for America.

CONTROL U.S. POINTS OF ENTRY

First, all points of entry into the United States must be under strict control. Without effective border control, nothing else will matter. Borders as referenced in this paper are defined as any point at which an individual might enter the United States, including any shore, sea port, land border, and airport. Our nation is involved in the Global War on Terror yet our government sits idly by allowing a constant cross border invasion of illegal aliens. Some of those entering our country illegally are associated with  International terrorism, and are coming into our country with the express purpose of doing harm to our citizens. If viewed only from the standpoint of security threats to our nation, this flow, this human tide, which provides cover for entering terrorists, must be stopped.

PENALIZE EMPLOYERS KNOWINGLY HIRING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

I am of the opinion that we should stiffly penalize employers that knowingly hire illegal aliens.  Illegal aliens, or undocumented workers, should be classed as any immigrant not possessing the proper work documents to work in the U.S legally, as well as those that have overstayed the time restrictions of their visa or work permit. U.S Employers face a vast problem today whereby the government does not provide a foolproof method to validate work documents provided by potential employees. A sound immigration law must include provisions whereby employers have an accurate method for verification of the legal status of all workers. After these methods have been instituted, then those employers choosing to ignore and disobey the law should be fined heavily.

GUEST WORKER PROGRAM

The aspect of a guest worker program to be contained within any immigration reform legislation has been discussed more than any other aspect of the issue. Understanding both sides of the argument, I realize this is likely the most difficult portion to be resolved of any planned reform.

Before any work permits are issued a total number to be allowed and issued must be established. One thing must be considered prior to issuance of a guest worker permit to an undocumented worker already living and working in the United States. Did this individual attempt, or not attempt, to obtain proper documentation through proper channels before illegally entering the United States? This will create two categories of illegal aliens; those having first attempted to use the legal route and those that did not try. Those having applied for proper documentation should be considered first to be issued available work permits. Undocumented workers that did not apply prior to U.S entry should be allowed to fill out the necessary paperwork, but they will be considered after the applications for the first category has been exhausted. Both categories may have to return to their country of origin before beginning this process.

EXPEDITE ENTRY PERMITS FOR NEEDED WORKERS

Frustration and lack of patience with the excessive amount of time currently required for processing of work permit applications is one of the major reasons for otherwise law abiding immigrants to opt for breaking U.S law and cross our borders illegally. Procedures must be instituted to expedite the processing and approval of work permits for immigrants that have job opportunities and wish to enter legally.

BIRTH CITIZENSHIP

It is my belief that the Supreme Court should revisit past rulings that have declared any child born within the United States, or its territories automatically becoming a U.S. citizen. These court rulings must be amended, or eliminated, whereby for the future, children born within the United States or its territories must have at least one U.S citizen parent or the child shall not be automatically granted citizenship.

NEW CLASSIFICATION UNDER THE LAW

Currently an infraction of the U.S Immigration Law is classified as a Class C Misdemeanor. While this was right in an earlier era, we must amend this for the future. A five hundred dollar fine is not proper punishment for this post 9-11 era.

SANCTUARY CITIES

Many major cities around our nation have instituted “Sanctuary” policies. These sanctuary polices currently provide, if an illegal immigrant reaches the city limit boundaries of one of these cities, that illegal immigrant is protected from prosecution or deportation for illegal entry into our country.

Claims of these cities are that the Federal Government does not pay them to enforce immigration laws. This does not make sense. Every public official and law enforcement officer takes an oath of office to uphold the laws of their state, the Constitution, and the laws of the United States of America. Where do they draw their authority to pick which laws they wish to enforce. I recommend that we withhold all federal funds to any city that engages in the practice of sanctuary.

LANGUAGE

Now is the time for the Congress of the United States to introduce and pass a bill declaring that the official language of the United States shall be English. Most nations around the world have a designated language, and so should the United States. English is the international language of governments and business. All governmental business, written or spoken, within the United States must be conducted in the language of English.

CONCLUSION

Immigration is likely to be among the hottest topics for this election year. 

By design, numerous politicians wish not to solve the issue, but to keep immigration at the forefront using the issue to create emotional impact among those who will be most affected. Those perpetuating this political sham are playing on the immigrants’ emotional fear of loss of their national heritage and massive deportations to garner possible votes in November.

They have no real desire to solve the problems that illegal immigration has created. Saying this, I believe the current Congress will not address the full scope of this issue until after the November elections.

Most all of us have read, typed, or heard the old adage; “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.” Well, ladies and gentlemen that time has come. Our elected officials on all levels of government must abandon their partisan political views and begin taking the well being of our nation and the seriousness of the immigration issue to heart.

Once elected to Congress, I will work diligently to reform immigration laws, and, present to the American people an immigration bill that will be good and right for all.

We must develop a plan that:

1. Enforces our laws at every point of entry into the country.

2. Severely penalizes employers for knowingly hiring illegal aliens.

3. Reassess the current classification of this law

4. Allows for a set number of “temporary work permits” at a time.

5. Provides a method for removing those that are not working, not

paying taxes, and draining our economy.

6. The Supreme Court must revisit the earlier decision that determined

that everyone born on US soil was automatically a citizen.