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LA PRENSA TAKE ACTION NOTICE
TAKE ACTION NOW TO DEFEAT SENSENBRENNER BILL
(H.R. 4437)
CALL YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES TODAY AND ASK THEM TO VOTE AGAINST THE “BORDER AND IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2005” (H.R. 4437).
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY VOTE ON THIS BILL AS EARLY AS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2005.
PLEASE CALL NOW!
Call the Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121 or go to www.house.gov to find your representative’s phone number.
Background:
Last week Rep. Sensenbrenner (R-WI) introduced the “Border and Immigration Enforcement Act of 2005” (H.R. 4437). The House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 4437 last Thursday; the bill is expected to go to the full House of Representatives this week. In addition, an amendment to eliminate birthright citizenship for babies born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants and an amendment to build a 2,000-mile wall along the U.S.-Mexico border will be offered.
Among its many provisions, H.R. 4437 would:
* Place religious groups, employers, and even private citizens at risk of criminal prosecution as “smugglers” if they aid or transport an undocumented immigrant.
* Classify all 11 million undocumented immigrants working in the U.S. as “aggravated felons,” subjecting them to deportation and imprisonment and depriving them of any access to a hearing prior to deportation.
* Disrupt the U.S. economy by creating an overly broad and retroactive employment verification system without creating legal channels for needed workers to work lawfully.
* Deputize local police forces in border communities to act as immigration agents, despite the objections of many police officials.
* Make it more difficult for legal immigrants to become U.S. citizens.
Contact your representatives TODAY and urge them to OPPOSE H.R. 4437.
Talking Points:
H.R. 4437 could make YOU a criminal. H.R. 4437 will allow the government to prosecute almost any American who has regular contact with the undocumented.
H.R. 4437 turns 11 million immigrants into criminals. Unlawful status is currently a civil violation of immigration law. H.R. 4437 would classify undocumented immigrants as criminals and “aggravated felons,” subjecting them to imprisonment as well as deportation.
H.R. 4437 will disrupt the economy and destabilize U.S. workers. H.R. 4437 seeks to drive out some seven million undocumented immigrant workers, consequently disrupting the U.S. economy, with no corresponding increase in security or legality. H.R. 4437 will create an Employment Eligibility Verification System (EEVS), which could severely limit workers’ claims, including prohibiting class action lawsuits against the government, and will displace millions of documented workers—U.S. citizens and legal residents alike.
H.R. 4437 denies due process and citizenship to lawful permanent residents. H.R. 4437 limits judicial review of executive branch decisions, violates the constitutional guarantee of due process and separation of powers, and strips the Courts of their role in protecting the individual against excessive governmental power.
H.R. 4437 divides families. H.R. 4437 will separate more U.S.-American families with its excessive deportation authorities.
H.R. 4437 is an attack, not an answer. Don’t be fooled. This is not an antiterrorism bill, not a border security bill, not an enforcement bill, and not an immigration reform bill. This bill fails to address many of the most important elements of immigration reform. Rather, it targets all immigrants for punishment and does not contribute to security or to immigration reform in the United States.
We need a solution, not a headline. We want effective reforms of the nation’s immigration laws, not shortsighted measures that appear tough on immigration but do not resolve the underlying problems. Only a comprehensive approach that provides a path to citizenship for current undocumented immigrants, creates new legal channels for future flows of needed immigrants, reduces family immigration backlogs, and protects worker rights will reduce undocumented immigration and bring order to our immigration system. H.R. 4437 does not take us down the path of real immigration reform.
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