Raweditorial

Dear Mr. Masters:

Thank you for informing me of your thoughts about illegal immigration and the need for increased border security.  I appreciated hearing from you on these important issues and share your belief that the federal government must more rigorously and effectively enforce the laws against illegal immigration.

The issue of illegal immigration is of the utmost importance and must be effectively and immediately addressed by the federal government.  In addition to the millions of legal immigrants already residing in the United States, experts now estimate that twelve to twenty million additional illegal immigrants live here, with roughly another 500,000 added yearly.

As you may know, as the head of the executive branch, the President has the responsibility, as well as the authority, to enforce our nation’s current laws to prevent illegal immigration and to shut off the employment magnet that draws illegal immigrants to the United States.  Unfortunately, under the Bush Administration, enforcement of these laws has declined significantly.

In response, I helped to introduced H.R. 4088, the Secure America with Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act, on November 6, 2007.  If enacted into law, this legislation would mandate that all employers check the status of potential employees through an online E-Verification system that would provide timely assessments of a potential employee’s eligibility to work in the United States.  H.R. 4088 would also sanction employers for each employee whose eligibility was not verified.

In addition, the SAVE Act would shore up our nation’s border security.  To that end, it would result in the hiring of 8,000 additional U.S. Border Patrol Agents within 5 years and establish a program to recruit former members of the U.S. military for these positions.  H.R. 4088 would also provide for greater cooperation between the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense on the use of technologies like unmanned aerial vehicles and satellites to patrol our international borders.

Finally, this legislation would result in the hiring of 1,150 additional U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents to conduct interior illegal immigration enforcement operations, and directs the Department of Homeland Security to train additional State and local law enforcement officers in federal immigration procedures.  H.R. 4088 would also provide more facilities and resources for the detention, processing, and removal of illegal immigrants.

Following its introduction, the House leadership referred H.R. 4088 to the committees with jurisdiction over this matter for review.  It is my sincere hope that we will consider this legislation in the near future.  In that event, you can rest assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind and continue to take actions as appropriate to prevent illegal immigration and enhance security along our international borders.

From my perspective, our nation’s immigration system should ensure our national security, protect American workers, and penalize corporate wrongdoers.  Above all, we must first secure our borders and prevent illegal immigration.  We must also continue to ensure that, like our ancestors, those who respect our laws and come here legally have the opportunity to improve their lives and the lives of their families through the pursuit of the American Dream.

Again, thank you for contacting me on this issue.  Please feel free to call, write or email me on any issue that concerns you.

Sincerely,

Paul E. Kanjorski
Member of Congress