Immigration Reform Facts.

The big debate this week in the U.S. Senate is immigration reform.  As with any debate among politicians, it contains some truth, lies, and a lot of political posturing.  It also caters to certain special interest groups standing to benefit from its passage.  Let us take a moment to look at some of the facts surrounding this legislation.

The Senate is attempting to achieve the magic number of 60 votes in order to prevent a filibuster of immigration reform legislation.  The main disagreement between Democrats and Republicans in the Senate is the issue of border security.  On June 19, 2013, it appeared they had reached a compromise with the introduction of the Corker-Hoeven amendment.  This amendment supposedly added the border security Republicans were demanding in any immigration reform. (1)  However, after Senators have had a change to read the amendment, they have discovered that there is little border security in this amendment. 

For example, the amendment promises 20,000 additional border patrol agents, the building of 700 miles of fencing, and an E-Verify system for immigrant workers before immigrants could receive green cards. (2) However, according to Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), loopholes that exist in the amendment trump the promises of additional border security.   Senator Sessions’ press release lists the following loopholes.

• The Schumer-Corker-Hoeven amendment doesn’t change the bill’s amnesty first framework. Instead it goes even further and creates an automatic amnesty for future illegal aliens. Section 2302 says if you overstay your visa in the future you can still apply for a green card and become a citizen. It is permanent lawlessness. Joined with existing language that restricts future enforcement, it guarantees unending illegal immigration.
• Contrary to their rhetoric there is no border surge. The Secretary [of Homeland Security] doesn’t even have to start hiring new border patrol agents until 2017, and the amendment only gives her until 2021 to increase the number by 20,000. According to the National Association of Former Border Patrol Agents, this hiring process could take up to 20 years. Much like the 2006 law requiring a 700-mile border fence, it’s never going to happen.
• To raise money, the amendment increases fees on visas for legal immigrants, but keeps the same low fees and fines for those applying for amnesty – favoring illegal over legal immigrants. Under the 2007 comprehensive immigration bill, amnesty applicants had to pay up to $8,000 – vastly more than the fines in the current plan which total only $2,000 and are subject to numerous waivers. The Gang has repeatedly claimed their bill is completely paid for by fees. However, under the Schumer-Corker-Hoeven amendment, the American taxpayers are on the hook for $38 billion.  (2)

This means that people currently in our country illegally because they have overstayed their visa can become legal by applying for a green card.  The borders will remain open until the additional Border Patrol agents arrive in 2017 and with the prospects of a path to citizenship, we can expect the numbers of people attempting to cross the border illegally to dramatically increase.  The bill also rewards those here illegally and punishes those seeking to come to our country legally by providing lower fees for those applying for amnesty. 

Senator Leahy (D-VY) chimed in by stating he will begrudgingly support the Corker-Hoeven amendment but that he believes the amendment amounts to “a crony capitalist giveaway to the many big money interests quietly backing immigration reform.” (3) He rightly claims that many contractors will be bidding to be involved in the building of the border fence and cites that the amendment provides a waiver of many of the normal contracting rules.  History has shown us that the wavering of these rules usually leads to massive corruption, fraud, and waste.  However, another group stands to benefit from this amendment. 

With a four year waiting period between passage of the legislation and the additional border security, there is time for an influx of cheap labor.  According to the CBO, this legislation would drive down wages of American workers who are already struggling in the struggling economy.  However, those granted amnesty by the bill would see an increase in wages as they gain legal status in the workforce. (4) Once again, the legislation punishes American Workers who are here legally and following the rules in favor of those that entered the country illegally.  Of course, the businesses that hire this cheaper labor will benefit and explains why many of them are supporting this legislation. 

The Senate expects to vote on the Corker-Hoeven amendment on Monday June 24, 2013.  On Friday June 21, 2013, Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV) used his privileges to cut off the amendment process.  This means that the Corker-Hoeven amendment will be the last amendment allowed to the Immigration Bill paving the way for a final vote on the legislation later in the week. (5) We need to slow down this process so that we have time to look at what is in this massive legislation. 

As we learned from the passage of Obamacare, we cannot afford to pass legislation without knowing what is in it.  I urge everyone to contact their Senators urging them to vote no on the Corker-Hoeven amendment.  Also, urge them to vote no on the Immigration Reform Legislation. 

This legislation is nothing more than an attempt by politicians to gain favor with Hispanic voters.  Corporations standing to gain from the influx of cheap labor into the workforce back this legislation, which will further cripple our already fragile economy.  What we need are two pieces of legislation. 

We first need legislation that will secure our borders.  When in a leaky boat, it is necessary to plug the hole in the boat first before bailing out water.  Once we have secured the borders, we can begin dealing with those already here illegally.  This process will be more manageable once we have stopped the influx of illegals through additional border security. 

It has been said, “Haste makes waste.”  In this case, as well as in the case of Obamacare, haste makes bad legislation. 

 

1. Breitbart News. SENATORS ANNOUNCE PENDING BORDER SECURITY DEAL. www.breaitbart.com. [Online] Breitbart News, June 19, 2013. [Cited: June 22, 2013.] http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/06/19/Senators-announce-border-security-deal.

2. Picket, Kerry. SESSIONS: BORDER SECURITY AMENDMENT WOULD NOT HIRE AGENTS UNTIL 2017. www.breitbart.com . [Online] Breitbart News, June 21, 2013. [Cited: June 22, 2013.] http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/06/21/Sessions-on-Corker-Hoeven-Amdt-New-Border-Agents-Won-t-Start-To-Be-Hired-Until-2017.

3. Hall, Wynton. TOP DEMOCRAT: 'BORDER SURGE' AMENDMENT BOOSTS CORPORATE CRONYISM. www.breitbart.com. [Online] Breitbart News, June 22, 2013. [Cited: June 22, 2013.] http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/06/21/Sen-Leahy-Federal-Contracting-Firms-High-Fiving-Corker-Hoeven-Amendment.

4. Boyle, Matthew. CBO: IMMIGRATION BILL WOULD DRIVE DOWN AMERICAN WORKERS' WAGES. www.breitbart.com. [Online] Breitbart News, June 18, 2013. [Cited: June 22, 2013.] http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/06/18/CBO-Immigration-bill-would-drive-down-American-workers-wages.

5. Boyle, Matthew. REID PUSHES END-GAME ON SENATE IMMIGRATION DEBATE. www.breitbart.com. [Online] Breitbart News, June 21, 2013. [Cited: June 22, 2013.] http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/06/21/Reid-may-shut-down-Senate-debate-force-through-repackaged-immigration-bill.