Statement of Rep. Miller on Immigration Reform Bill

Statement of Rep. Miller on Immigration Reform Bill

March 27, 2006- Congressman Miller made the following statement today urging congressional passage of HR 4437, a bill he co-authored that enlists military and local law enforcement help in stopping illegal border crossings, requires employers to verify the legal status of their workers and builds 700 miles of fencing along parts of the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border:

"I strongly believe the U.S. government must maintain a tough and unified policy on immigration to effectively curb the influx of illegal aliens entering our nation. The so-called ‘guest-worker' proposals being considered are nothing more than a mechanism to provide amnesty to millions of illegals living in the United States.

"I firmly believe these proposals reward law-breakers and are unfair to law-abiding legal immigrants. They send a message that the United States does not take our immigration laws seriously and that, if only people can get into the country illegally, eventually they can be rewarded with legal status.

"I urge my colleagues in Congress to establish and enforce immigration policy that secures our borders, draws a bright line between legal and illegal aliens and rejects any and all forms of amnesty.

"In 1986, Congress granted amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants living in the United States on the promise that border security would come later. But as with so many other promises made in Washington, steps to stem the flow of illegal immigration passed by the wayside.

"Now, federal, state and local governments spend billions of dollars each year educating, caring for and incarcerating illegal immigrants. Until the federal government secures the border, taxpayers will have to continue to foot the bill for a variety of social services offered to illegals."

http://www.house.gov/garymiller/Immigration27March06.html