Senate Bill 2611 has passed the Senate and will go to Conference Committee soon to try to reconcile it with HR 4437.
As soon as the House and Senate members of this committee are announced, we need to bombard them with phone calls, emails, faxes, and even good oldfashioned letters and postcards. They need to know that we are watching them with intense interest and will remember and remind everyone else how they voted when the next election cycle comes around. I will do my best to keep you informed; however I will point you to some people who are on the point in this battle.

Another action I would suggest is to enlist others to get involved by keeping them informed. Call your local radio talk shows with information about this debate and how their Congressional Delegation has voted. Give out the local office numbers for your senators and representative on the air so people can get involved. Email a link to the NumbersUSA website to your friends. Donate money if you can/or don't have the time for citizen activism. One more thing, call the White House Comment Line at 202-456-1111 and leave a comment with the operator who answers your call. Be cordial, have a brief comment about your concerns prepared before you call, and stay on topic.

Numbers USA Information

STATUS: On May 25, the Senate concluded work on S. 2611, the “compromise” amnesty bill, when it passed by a 62-36 vote. If the bill became law in its current form, it would create the largest immigration increase in U.S. history – a disaster for American workers and taxpayers. S. 2611 would increase legal immigration by 60 million people over the next 20 years and grant amnesty to an estimated eight to 10 million illegal aliens. The Senate passed the bill despite recent polling indicating that Americans oppose amnesty and want legal immigration numbers reduced. The next step could be a conference committee with the House, which passed a strong enforcement-first immigration reform bill last December.

Houston Chronicle article

May 28, 2006, 4:40AM
Immigration bill divide goes from miles to 'moons apart'


By GEBE MARTINEZ
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - Asked recently how effective President Bush might be in upcoming congressional negotiations over an immigration bill, the point man in the House on the issue sidestepped the question.

"We have a great respect for the Senate," said House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis.

Sensenbrenner's reaction reflected the anger of many House Republicans toward the president as House and Senate members prepare for negotiations on what has become the president's top domestic priority.

Because of the wide differences between the bills passed by the two chambers, and because of the sharp divisions among Republicans, the deliberations are expected to be long, acrimonious and possibly futile.

So far, leaders of the House and Senate have not even been able to agree when to begin the conference committee's negotiations.

"The Senate and House started miles apart, and as a result of some amendments that were offered in the Senate, miles have become moons apart or oceans apart, (making) a difficult task even more so," Sensenbrenner said.

Let your elected critters know you are against this invasion of The United States of America, and you won't go quietly into the night!!!

My intent here is to provide a profile of Senator Dole on the issue of Illegal Immigration. I hope it is of use.

Hot Topic - Border Security and Immigration Reform



We are a nation of immigrants, and we also are a nation of laws. Legal immigration is important for the future of our nation – and we should encourage it. At the same time, unfettered and uncontrolled illegal immigration threatens our national security and our economy. It’s time to resolve this issue.

Our borders are currently not secure, and this is totally unacceptable. Period. Our top priority must be to secure our borders, by increasing the number of border agents, making better use of technology, and having adequate facilities to detain those who are caught illegally entering our country.

I oppose any proposal that provides amnesty to those who have broken our laws and entered this nation illegally. I do recognize, however, that temporary foreign labor plays an important role in the agriculture, construction, and service industries in North Carolina and throughout the country. I would support legislation that secures our borders to stop future illegal immigration and then create temporary worker permits, where people can apply to work in this country for a limited period of time, as long as they pay taxes and obey the law. After a time, the workers would have to return to their home country to reapply for legal admission.

Elizabeth Dole

We are a nation of immigrants.

We are not a nation of immigrants. I was born here, and the overwhelming majority of Americans were born here, and as such, are Native Americans.

and we are a nation of laws.

If we do not enforce those laws, then they are null and void, leading to a general contempt for those who do follow the law. Those who come here legally are what I call Adopted Americans, they are members of our family in a spiritual sense. Those who come here Illegally without seeking Asylum are guilty of Breaking and Entering and Theft. I call these people Illegal because they live outside, or above the law.

Legal immigration is important for the future of our nation – and we should encourage it. At the same time, unfettered and uncontrolled illegal immigration threatens our national security and our economy. It’s time to resolve this issue.

I agree it is High Time for resolution of this highly divisive issue.

Our borders are currently not secure, and this is totally unacceptable. Period. Our top priority must be to secure our borders, by increasing the number of border agents, making better use of technology, and having adequate facilities to detain those who are caught illegally entering our country.

I also agree with this paragraph in principle, fully realizing that the devil is in the details.

I oppose any proposal that provides amnesty to those who have broken our laws and entered this nation illegally. I do recognize, however, that temporary foreign labor plays an important role in the agriculture, construction, and service industries in North Carolina and throughout the country.

I think she is saying that the ends justify the means, that our great need puts us between a rock and a hard place.

I would support legislation that secures our borders to stop future illegal immigration and then create temporary worker permits, where people can apply to work in this country for a limited period of time, as long as they pay taxes and obey the law. After a time, the workers would have to return to their home country to reapply for legal admission.

She is correct in emphasizing closing the borders first, then focusing on a temporary worker permit. My chief concern is whether or not we will be able to go after these people should they decide to overstay their permit. Are we willing to round up, say 10,000 people a year (just a number I pulled out of the air) and send them to their country of origin after a time in detention? What if their country refuses to accept them? We have to grow a Spine on these issues.

On the face of it, this statement of Senator Dole is an acceptable Policy should she follow it as I have laid out. In my next post, I intend to explore her past voting record on Illegal Immigration.

Go here to find out where the North Carolina Delegation ranks.