INHOFE INTRODUCES IMMIGRATION BILL

Sen James Inhofe Website ^ | 2 May 2007 | Sen James Inhofe

[PhiKapMom]

May 2, 2007

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) today once again introduced his immigration legislation aimed at addressing the ever-increasing influx of illegal immigrants to the United States and its strain on society. Inhofe’s ENFORCE - Engaging the Nation to Fight for Our Right to Control Entry -Act (S.1269) increases U.S. border security, emphasizes greater enforcement of existing immigration laws and prevents amnesty and other shortcuts for illegal immigrants.

“Illegal immigrants continue to cross our country’s borders, strain our economy and exploit our resources,” Inhofe said. “The gravity of this situation warrants that Americans of all political stripes come together to address this problem immediately. I will not stand idly by and watch our great nation collapse under the pressures of uncontrolled illegal immigration; this is a crisis and one that must be addressed aggressively.

“Simply granting citizenship to immigrants, who are currently in our country illegally, is not the answer. We must enhance our border security, hold those accountable who encourage illegal immigration and ensure that those who violate our laws by entering our country illegally do not have this illegal activity easily forgiven and even rewarded with permanent residence or citizenship. Our nation’s future rests on Congress’ actions of today, and the ENFORCE Act is a strong step in the right direction to help solve our growing problem of illegal immigration.”

Major Provisions in Inhofe’s ENFORCE Act:

· Establishes the National Border Neighborhood Watch (NBNW) Program allowing retired law enforcement officers to assist Border Patrol agents by reporting illegal border crossings.
· Makes unlawful-presence in the United States a felony.
· Establishes an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
· Authorizes funding for online immigration training for state and local law enforcement officers.
· Eliminates the practice of granting automatic U.S. citizenship to children born to illegal immigrants in an effort to reduce ‘anchor babies.’
· Establishes an independent verification system for Social Security numbers; also mandates that immigrant’s Social Security numbers expire when visa runs out.
· Establishes electronic birth & death registries to fight fraudulent Social Security cards
· Helps reduce Individual Taxpayer Identification Number abuse.
· Empowers state & local law enforcement to carryout immigration laws (but does not make it mandatory).
· Establishes penalties for most flagrant employer tax violations—i.e. if an employer willfully files incorrect tax returns, they will be assessed the maximum penalties available.
· Makes it illegal to operate day laborer centers for illegal aliens and to give them unemployment assistance.
· Eliminates in-state tuition benefits for illegal aliens.

[TheBattman]

* Begin immediate depotation of illegal immigrants.

Yep that will do it - kick the illegals out of the restroom....

hehehe....

[TheBattman]

One element of the bill will, I believe, require an Amendment to the Constitution.

Oh? Which one?

[napscoordinator]

Not from Oklahoma, but this Pennsylvanian missed ya! Good to have you posting again!

[CyberAnt]

I agree .. I like this bill a lot.

But .. I would mandate local and state law enforcement getting involved in this process. It only means that whenever there is a traffic stop people should be checked for legal status.

Also .. the fence needs to get finished before ANYTHING ELSE IS DONE!!

[Myrddin]

The bill is simple and to the point. No "surprises" lurking in a mountain of paper. The "birthright" citizenship issue needs to be locked down legislatively and placed "out of bounds" to for judicial challenge. Congress does have the power to define what issues may be considered by the court. The current interpretation of the 14th is just that...and interpretation.

[PhiKapMom]

Bill —

It is too simple so the Judiciary will nuke it IMHO!

We could use your vote back in Oklahoma again!

Sharon

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks! I missed it and all of you — am so glad that things happened the way they did this weekend to push me into writing Jim and coming back. I did not want to start posting until I had talked to him. It feels like home!

[PhiKapMom]

That’s a very good point! I never figured out how illegals could come across the border, have a child, and that child is an American citizen without either parent being an American citizen. Any child born anywhere should have the citizenship of their parents not the physical place they were born. Why is that so hard to understand is what I would like to know?

I have cousins in England who had to choose their citizenship when they reached 18 because their Dad was American and their Mom English.

[truthkeeper]

Thanks for rejoining the debate, PKM. These are troubled times and we need all our soldiers now.
Free Republic is strong, we can handle differences of opinion as long as they are civil. Welcome back.

[bestrongbpositive]

I would trade Isakson and Chambliss any day for two Senator’s like Inhofe and Coburn, true Americans that believe in the rule of law..I’m sending money that I usually send to the RNC to both Oklahoma Senator’s

[bestrongbpositive]

I’ll do my part to help you keep both of your fine Senator’s. Would appreciate any help on getting rid of mine, Isakson and Chambliss ...

[TChris]

Does the ENFORCE Act mandate the construction of a decent fence or wall to protect our southern border?

It should.

Does it mandate a deportation program that would return captured illegals to far southern Mexico, discouraging their quick return?

It should.

Does it mandate sanctions against the Mexican government for their continued lack of law enforcement at our shared border?

It should.

[beltfed308]

No one is allowed to make a mistake?

Of course people make mistakes. At least you have admitted it and that does count for something at least with me. We disagreed in the past and I am sure we will in the future.

[Myrddin]

I had neighbors (surname McGraw) who had their children while abroad in South Africa. Their children were American citizens albeit not "native born". They are typical red headed Scots with a fair complexion. Their daughter tends to be a bit of a liberal. She tried to join an "African American" club at her college. She was rejected. Odd, as she was probably the only person in the room that was truly "African American" by virtue of her place of birth and country of citizenship.

[AuntB]

Does the ENFORCE Act mandate the construction of a decent fence or wall to protect our southern border?

The Senate and House already passed that bill and the pres signed it. This bill unlike the current Senate bill monstrosity doesn't do away with the fence law.

[PISANO]

I believe the 14th amendment [Section One] states something to the effect that any person born in the US is a US CITIZEN.

So this provision of the bill would seem to require the constitutional amendment:

"Eliminates the practice of granting automatic U.S. citizenship to children born to illegal immigrants in an effort to reduce ‘anchor babies."

[expatguy]

I didn’t see the word deportation in there ~ did I miss it?

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks for relating that!

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks! It feels great to be back and I am ready and willing to help in whatever way I can on items that are so important like immigration!

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks! I have a good friend that one of his favorite sayings is that we can agree to disagree but it doesn’t mean we are not friends just that on a certain issue we are on opposite sides.