Calls Urgently Needed to Strengthen Sensenbrenner Border Security Bill

12.13.05 -- From the Federation for American Immigration Reform

Your phone calls are needed NOW through the end of the week to build support for House acceptance of strong strengthening amendments to border security legislation expected to be considered as soon as this Thursday.

The legislation scheduled for consideration is Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner's (R-WI) Border Protection, Antiterrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005, H.R. 4437. His committee approved the bill last Thursday by a party-line vote.

The bill is advertised to House Republicans and the majority of Americans who demand fixing our broken immigration system as tough medicine: "comprehensive immigration enforcement." While it treats some of the symptoms, is does not, in fact, do enough to actually cure the illness. The legislation offers some useful changes by addressing alien smuggling, detention and removal, and curbing of court abuses by illegal aliens. However, it fails to address the fundamental incentives driving illegal immigration. Read FAIR President Dan Stein's statement for more details.

Your immediate action is needed to press the House to strengthen this legislation!

Action Needed NOW through Thursday:

Several members of the House are planning to offer strengthening amendments to Sensenbrenner's bill if permitted by the Rules Committee. (See below for this list of possible amendments.) Your phone calls are needed to convince the House of Representatives to hold a wide-ranging debate on strengthening amendments when H.R. 4437 is considered, and to build ample support to get these amendments approved.

Please take these three actions right away:

1) Call House Speaker Dennis Hastert's (R-IN) office (202-225-2976) [find toll-free numbers here] and tell him that the American people expect the House to pass stronger enforcement legislation than what is currently in Sensenbrenner's bill. Tell his office that if the House insists on considering H.R. 4437, rather than the more comprehensive Hunter/Goode TRUE Enforcement Act (H.R. 4313), that debate should be allowed and strong strengthening amendments - excluding those with guest worker or amnesty provisions - should be adopted.

2) Call your House member and ask him/her to support amendments to strengthen Sensenbrenner's bill - excluding those containing guest worker or amnesty provisions. Drive home the point that if the House won't consider the more comprehensive Hunter/Goode TRUE Enforcement Act (H.R. 4313), then they must strengthen the Sensenbrenner bill and add provisions to remove incentives that drive illegal immigration. (Call the Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected or find your representative's direct office number here on our web site.)

3) Forward this alert to likeminded others and ask them to do the same.

Sample Message to Speaker Hastert:

"As House Speaker, I urge you to allow wide-ranging debate on amendments to strengthen Judiciary Chairman Sensenbrenner's border security bill, H.R. 4437. While Sensenbrenner's bill contains some positive changes, much more is needed to remove incentives that drive illegal immigration. Please allow House members to offer and vote on strengthening immigration enforcement amendments, excluding those that include amnesty or guest worker provisions."

Sample Message to Your House Representative:

"As your constituent, I strongly urge you to push for House consideration and approval of amendments to strengthen Judiciary Chairman Sensenbrenner's border security bill, H.R. 4437, expected on the floor this week. While Sensenbrenner's bill contains some positive reforms, it does not go far enough considering the severity of the current illegal immigration crisis. Since the House will consider H.R. 4437 instead of the more comprehensive Hunter/Goode TRUE Enforcement Act, H.R. 4313, strengthening amendmentsmust be adopted to remove incentives that drive illegal immigration."

Possible Amendments:

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