September 30, 2005Seven House Republicans, including three Texans, have called for a get-tough assault on illegal immigration, submitting legislation that would subject illegal immigrants to felony jail sentences and impose stiff fines and jail time on their employers.
Rep. J.D. Hayworth, Arizona, described the 115-page proposal as 'a call to action' to overturn decades of lax federal enforcement on millions of illegal immigrants and the employers who hire them. 'We must send a different message -- zero tolerance of illegal immigration,' Hayworth said.
The measure calls for:
- Spending $2.5 billion immediately to purchase force-multiplying technology, such as cameras, radar and unmanned aerial vehicles for the Border Patrol.
- Increasing the penalty for hiring undocumented workers to $50,000 per worker and up to five years in jail.
- Ending the practice of granting citizenship to any child born in the United States.
It also calls for deploying military forces to help the Border Patrol keep illegal immigrants out. More than 11 million illegal immigrants, mostly from Mexico, are believed to be living in the United States, drawn by wages that are often 10 times higher than salaries in their native countries.
In a provision that could invite a constitutional challenge, the bill would end the practice of granting U.S. citizenship to any child born in the United States, unless at least one of the parents is in the country legally. The 14th Amendment to the Constitution declares that all people born or naturalized in the United States, 'and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,' are U.S. citizens.
Hayworth and his allies said the measure, which has at least 23 Republican co-sponsors, underscores the need for tough enforcement provisions as Congress considers a far-reaching overhaul of the nation's immigration laws. They denounced proposed immigrant guest-worker programs as a form of amnesty that would reward illegal behavior.
The measure would give illegal immigrants 30 days to leave the country voluntarily. Those who remained would be committing a felony and face up to a year in jail. The bill allows a defense for 'exceptional or extremely unusual hardship.'
Hayworth's bill also aims to cut off job opportunities that draw illegal immigrants, increasing fines against employers who hire illegal workers from $10,000 to $50,000. Jail terms for employers would be increased from six months to a maximum five years.
http://www.usbc.org/info/2005/oct/hayworth.htm
September 28, 2005
Hayworth Introduces 'Enforcement First' Immigration Reform BillWASHINGTON- U.S. Rep. J.D. Hayworth today introduced sweeping legislation containing core conservative principles that should guide the national effort to confront illegal immigration.
The Hayworth bill, a 115-page document incorporating new proposals authored by the Arizona Republican and a host of anti-illegal immigration measures offered by House conservatives, takes an enforcement first approach and rejects guest worker plans.
Hayworth said he hopes the Enforcement First legislation "will serve as a rallying point for the overwhelming majority of Americans that are dedicated to creating an effective, commonsense approach to immigration. If we leave this issue to the powerful self-interest groups in Washington, the opportunity to heal and strengthen our broken immigration system will be lost for generations and perhaps forever," Hayworth said.
During a Capitol Hill news conference on Thursday to announce the introduction of the "Enforcement First Immigration Reform Act," Hayworth said America's borders are being overrun by illegal aliens "and the blame for this failure rests squarely with the federal government."
Thanks for posting the proposed Hayworth bill. Although it will undoubtedly have to be negotiated with the LIBS of this country who want NO BORDERS, I think it is a much better start than McCain or President Bush - both are Amnesty lite. Why would anyone believe the "guest workers" would go to the back of the line when we have a history of not enforcing our own immigration laws for decades?
Whoa...once again...great post and links...Thank you!