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I have made numerous efforts to address the illegal immigration problem. In 2007 I authored HB 1673, to establish a new Virginia “Commission on Immigration” to study the impact of immigration, both legal and illegal, on county and state services, education, law enforcement, the economy, and to prepare constitutional responses to federal inaction on immigration.
This year I have introduced bills to end local government tax breaks to illegal immigrants, and grant localities more power with stiffer penalties for over-crowding of residences, and impoundment of cars driven by persons who do not have valid driver’s licenses.
I also voted for bills that require employers who hire illegal immigrants to pay for worker’s compensation claims, turn youth gang members over to federal officials if they are here illegally, deny state or local benefits or assistance to illegal immigrants, and require proof of legal presence for in state tuition rates.
At the federal level, the Federal Government must do the following:
- Secure our southern border by construction of a “fence” (electronic, physical or both) and significantly increase border patrols.
- Give back to states the powers they had before the passage of the 1986 federal immigration law which allowed them to penalize employers who knowingly hire or lure illegal workers to the United States.
- Refuse amnesty to those who illegally enter the United States.
- Penalize countries which refuse to take back illegal aliens who have finished serving time for crimes;
- Abolish birthright citizenship which is a large incentive for illegal immigration.
“Schoolyard justice” requires that anyone who cuts in line must return to the end of the line and wait for his turn.
Legislation which rewards those who break our civil laws, by granting “amnesty” or its equivalent erodes respect for the rule of law and all those in authority. Law must be respected for the common good, otherwise some men become laws unto themselves. Without respect for law there cannot be safe neighborhoods or borders that are secure from terrorists. I support legal, but not illegal immigration.
Unfortunately we are dealing with the aftermath of the federal government’s inaction in enforcing immigration laws for 22 years. With the passage of the Federal Immigration Act of 1986, states were left with significantly reduced powers to directly address immigration issues.
In late 2006 the Congress passed and the President signed, The Secure Fence Act of 2006, the purpose of which was to secure the 1950 mile US Mexican border from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico to prevent “all unlawful entries into the United States, including entries by terrorists, other unlawful aliens, instruments of terrorism, narcotics, and other contraband.
Border security was to be achieved by the Secretary of Homeland Security who was in charge of constructing “2 layers of reinforced fencing, the installation of additional physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors.” Also, an interlocking surveillance camera system was to be installed in priority areas by May, 2007.
Then, burried deep inside a late $550 Billion Omnibus Appropriations Act, was a provision removing the Secure Fence Act requirement for two layers of secure fence for a weaker barrier. And the Secure Fence, which was supposed to be completed by the September 30 end of Fiscal year 2008, at this date, exists only on paper.
Americans are still waiting for border security measures from a democratic controlled Congress and a republican controlled Chief Executive.
At a minimum, federal policy should ensure that individuals receiving benefits under Medicaid and the State Child Health Insurance Program are legally eligible: Applicants claiming citizenship or permanent residence should provide documentation in accordance with current law, including their name, Social Security number, and date and place of birth for cross-referencing against the Social Security Administration database. Eligibility of non-citizens and income eligibility levels should be determined using existing secure data systems. Violators should be punished under fraud statutes.
Many persons have illegally entered the United States lured by “Big Business” which wants cheap labor. Some politicians are reluctant to oppose this because they are eager to bolster their ranks with potential voters that can be “organized” due to their lack of knowledge of the English language.
Illegal immigration has resulted in an underground economy where income taxes can be evaded and where businesses hiring illegal immigrants are able to under-cut legitimate businesses which obey the laws against hiring illegal immigrants.
Other consequences include women who are afraid to report spouse abuse to the police because of their illegal status, persons who are driving without insurance or the ability to understand English language road signs, an increase in ethnic gangs, public schools which lose accreditation because of the heavy presence of many ESL students increasing local and state costs for schooling, and residential zoning violations creating neighborhood blight, over-crowding and health issues.
The countries which are so eager to send their citizens to America in violation of our border laws continue their social injustices in their own countries with respect to just distribution and ownership of capital. This situation does nothing to serve the illegal immigrant or our American citizens, whether born here or naturalized. Middle class families and workers are left in the lurch, as are the illegal immigrants who are taken advantage of for slave wages.
Failure to control America’s borders means a loss of our sovereignty; in effect, Mexico or other foreign governments can control our immigration policies. U.S. Representatives and Senators who refuse to provide the personnel, equipment and other resources to secure our borders, violate their Oath of Office. An unwillingness to stop the border intrusions means our leaders are incapable of handling the problem, or that they consent to a policy of open borders with all that implies.
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