Cross posted earlier this week at BOR
I decided to post my immigration discussion here after my opponent reiterates this week the failed assertion that we continue "to fight them there so we don't have to fight them here." Combine that with the round table discussion this week that American businesses DEPEND on the immigrants that allow them to continue to post record profits and you see how this Administration continues to try to play both sides of the issue to its benefit.
The security of our borders is a NATIONAL issue...we can fight them "over there" but THEY can march right across our borders (or crawl under them), not only in the south, but in the north as well.
If 70% of our ports are operated by foreign companies and we inspect less than 5% of containers coming through those ports, how can we feel save by any measure?
Conservatives are quick to paint illegal immigrants as crowding our schools, clogging our emergency rooms and taking American jobs yet precious little has been done post 9/11 to secure ALL our borders, not just the one we share with Mexico. Conservatives want secure borders but Republicans have opened them to guest workers. A plan to allow foreign governments to purchase American
airlines was put on hold for 120 days after the Dubai port scandal came to light.
I ask all Americans to consider that if we are unable to curtail an insurgency in Iraq, at home ports and airlines are going to the highest foreign bidders and containers and illegal immigrants continue to come in and out of the US unchecked; how confident do you continue to be that this Administration and the Republican led Congress has your safety and best interest in mind?
Despite the US poor performance in math and science, we maintain a significant high tech force of varying demographics. We should not permit the legislation
(HR 3736) of hiring high tech workers from overseas
when we have a surplus in all sectors--from college grads to the aging unemployed population.
Equal enforcement should not
unduly penalize immigrants from one country but allow save passage to others in the form of Federal Legislation
(HR 2738) and
(HR 2739).
If there is Federal Legislation,
it should be incentives to stop the massive outsourcing of jobs to foreign countries. We send factories over the border willingly to provide American business with better opportunity but want to refuse immigrants that come to America to seek a better life.
Our country was founded on the rich immigrant legacy that we all share...I believe that we can reform our immigration laws without sacrificing our security and that it requires the work of all people, Republican and Democrats to make that happen.
Our district has lost jobs because businesses were allowed to pull out to go overseas...we have to hold those businesses accountable and stop blaming people trying to come to America to make a better life for their families for the lack of missing jobs. Outsourcing is the most profitable way for American companies to use cheap labor without having to adhere to environmental, labor and state laws. It is our duty as Americans to stop that practice and embrace the immigrants coming to America
with a safe and fair policy that allows hardworking citizens to get an education, healthcare and contribute to our tax base.
I am proud to live in the one country on our planet that so many people want to immigrate to in order to realize their dreams.