FAIR's 2002 Congressional Recess Action Plan

8/7/02

Over the last several days, weeks and months, your invaluable assistance has made it possible to fight off our opponents best efforts on a host of issues. Your efforts have blocked amnesties such as the Section 245(i) extension and the so-called "Dream" Act introduced by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) as well as its counterpart in the House offered by Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT). These latter bills would grant in-state tuition and amnesty to illegal alien students. In addition you have helped apply the breaks to legislation introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) to grant relief from deportation for criminal aliens. Our work, however, is not done. Your help is needed once again while members of Congress are at home for the balance of the summer. During this period FAIR is hoping to succeed in educating members of the House and Senate on two issues so that when they return they will be prepared to take steps to advance the immigration reform agenda. These issues include stripping from a Senate bill creating a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provisions to liberalize immigration policy and adding cosponsors on important immigration-reforming legislation to protect homeland security. On each of these issues described below, please take the following steps:

Write, call, and fax your House and Senate members using the talking points outlined below and use FAIR's Legislative Action Center <http://capwiz.com/fair/home/> to find these officials.

If possible, personally meet with your elected officials at their state or district offices.

Call your members' state and district offices to find out where they are holding town meetings and attend the meetings to tell your elected officials that you are concerned about the issues listed below. Contact FAIR if you have any questions.

New Department of Homeland Security Legislation Contains Dangerous Immigration Provisions

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Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) has introduced a bill, S. 2444, that only the immigration law bar and the social service agencies providing assistance to illegal immigrants could love. Unfortunately this legislation, cloaked in disguise as an INS reorganization bill, has been added to the bill creating a Department of Homeland Security (DHS), S. 2452. The full Senate is expected to take-up this legislation right after the August recess.

Tell Your Senators to Strip Kennedy Provisions from S. 2452

Talking Points

The Kennedy Legislation Doesn't Belong in the DHS Bill Because It:

  • Has never been subject to a hearing
  • Has never been debated by the full Senate
  • Hides from the public sweeping immigration policy changes by including them in a must-pass DHS bill
  • Has nothing to do with homeland security
  • Contains provisions that compromise homeland security

    The Kennedy Legislation is Bad Immigration Policy Because It:

  • Creates a new taxpayer-funded welfare system to provide custody and legal representation for illegal aliens claiming to be minors
  • Allows United Nations protocols, international agreements and bureaucratic directives to supercede U.S. immigration laws
  • Makes it nearly impossible to prove a fraudulent claim of nonage by illegal aliens, creating a loophole for terrorists claiming to be unaccompanied "children"
  • Bars repatriation of illegal aliens claiming to be minors unless there is a finding that "a child welfare system capable of insuring the child's well being" exists
  • Relaxes U.S. asylum and deportation law
  • Weakens the authority to detain illegal aliens claiming asylum
  • Rep. George Gekas (R-PA) Introduces Bill to Protect Homeland Security through Immigration Reforms

    Real Reform at Last

    New legislation we have highlighted in recent updates and alerts is pending in the House and a hearing is expected on the bill, H.R. 5013, the Securing America's Future Through Enforcement Reform Act of 2002 in early September. In order to get this legislation moving, however, it is necessary to demonstrate broad-based support for it among members of the House. This is why we are asking you to contact your House members while they are in their districts over the recess.

    Tell Your House Member to Cosponsor H.R. 5013

    Talking Points

  • Beefs up Border Patrol, INS inspectors and investigators
  • Allows use of U.S. military on borders
  • Gets tough with alien smugglers
  • Strengthens tracking of aliens to prevent overstays
  • Enhances authority to deport alien terrorists, criminals, and human rights violators
  • Prevents alien access to state-issued identification documents
  • Prevents illegal alien employment through a national system for employment eligibility confirmation
  • Eliminates excessive, dilatory and abusive legal tactics by aliens in deportation proceedings
  • Requires voter verification of citizenship
  • Reduces legal immigration

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