Dear David,
Thank you for contacting me about
immigration reform and amnesty proposals.
Hearing from you helps me better represent
Middle Tennessee.
I share your concerns about recent
proposals by the President and others to
grant amnesty to illegal aliens. It is
certainly unclear how effective an amnesty
program would be at ending (rather than
encouraging) illegal immigration. Amnesty
sends the wrong message. Instead of
deterring illegal immigration, amnesty would
only add to the problem by encouraging more
people to cross our borders illegally in
hopes of someday receiving amnesty
themselves. This could cost taxpayers
billions of dollars and put a severe strain
on our nation's social services programs
designed to aid the poor, elderly and
disabled.
I believe that our country needs to
enforce its immigration laws, not allow a
massive new influx of aliens. One way to do
that is by adequately funding enforcement
activities, a move I have supported. That
is why I am co-sponsoring a variety of
immigration bills. H.R. 4313, the TRUE
Enforcement and Border Security Act,
provides for the construction of a border
fence along the entire U.S. / Mexico border.
H.R. 4032 expands the use of expedited
removal proceedings for illegal aliens
detained throughout the entire country
(currently expedited removal is only
utilized for illegal aliens detained within
100 miles of the U.S. border) and prohibits
banks from providing mortgages to illegal
aliens. H.R. 780 provides funding for a 20
percent increase in the number of border
patrol agents each year from 2006 through
2010.
In December, I supported H.R. 4437, the
immigration bill which passed the House of
Representatives. This bill does not include
any kind of amnesty or guest worker program.
Rather, it provides for strengthened
enforcement of our immigration laws and
enhanced border security. It stiffens
penalties for a variety of immigration law
violations and cracks down on employers who
hire illegal aliens at high cost to American
workers.
Please know that I am listening closely
to Middle Tennesseans on this matter and I
am working hard to address the serious
problems in our nation's immigration system.
Rest assured that when this debate returns
to the House of Representatives, I will work
to ensure that any legislation passed by
Congress is right for our country and right
for Middle Tennessee.
Stay in touch,
/s
BART GORDON
Member of Congress