18 May, 2007

As voters who must deal with the fact that the federal government has refused to secure American borders – and with the huge influx of illegal aliens into our state, we recognize that a path to legalization for the millions of illegal aliens in our nation will not serve as a deterrent for millions more to eventually make their way into our communities.

The costs of illegal employment have devastated the wages of low-income workers in our nation. Legalizing illegal activity will not work towards lowering taxes or raising those wages. Legalizing illegal aliens will only serve to multiply the taxpayer benefits paid to those who have broken American laws to take American jobs.

According to expert testimony from a preliminary study given May 17 to the House Judiciary Committee by Robert Rector of the highly respected Heritage Foundation, the cost of amnesty and earned citizenship for just 7.9 million amnesty recipients would be $2.4 trillion. A cost that must be born by the American taxpayer.

We believe the number of illegal aliens present in the U.S. to be in excess of 20 million.

We understand that the amnesty of 1986 proved beyond all doubt that the only real solution to solving the illegal immigration and illegal employment crisis in our nation and our state is to secure American borders …at any price.

We adamantly oppose any federal legislation that would legalize continued presence for people now present in the U.S. illegally. This is amnesty-again.
We oppose the entire concept of the proposed Z VISA and any “touchback” provision in what is being labeled as “Comprehensive Immigration Reform” in Washington.

Touchback provisions are thinly veiled attempts to put illegal aliens at the front of the very long line of potential immigrants who are not allowed to live and work in the U.S. while pursuing legal residency.

We heartily agree with Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions in his observation that any “grand compromise” legislation will be lengthy and will require considerable inspection before any responsible vote could be taken. We also urge all concerned to carefully read section 113 of last year’s Senate immigration reform bill, the language of which is repeated in both the Flake Gutierrez House bill ( HR 1645) and the Senate bill – s 1348 – presently in consideration in that body.

We support the never – tried concept of attrition of the illegal population by enthusiastic enforcement of existing laws coupled with a verifiable, secure and tamper-proof worker verification ID for all applicants for U.S. jobs coupled with vigorous work-place and border enforcement.

Sadly, we have little faith in the Bush administration’s integrity to certify border security or operational control.

Attrition through enforcement is the only sensible, just and moderate method in taking the first steps to a real solution to the chaos created by the lack of action in the federal government’s obligation in securing America in a war on terror.

We oppose any federal legislation that does not protect American children’s expectation of a secure America and an opportunity to obtain the American dream of the equal and constant application of the rule of law in America.

We urge the U.S. Senate to just say “NO” to any illegal alien legalization legislation, including the proposed “Z VISA” system.

We urge the U.S. Congress to heed the findings and recommendations of the Jordan Commission on Immigration Reform of 1995 and restate the words and spirit of the testimony of Barbara Jordan – that commission’s Chair – to Congress during the Clinton Administration: “Those who should get in, get in; those who should be kept out, are kept out; and those who should not be here will be required to leave — deportation is crucial. Employer sanctions can work”
We will never forget any vote that grants a path to legalization for illegal aliens, and we note that there is no penalty for the millions of employers who are granted the same…amnesty.

D.A. King
President
The Dustin Inman Society
Marietta, Georgia
www.TheDustinInmanSociety.org