Kanjorski reintroduces bill to combat illegal immigration

Citizens Voice (Wilkes Barre PA) ^ | 7/24/09 | MICHAEL SISAK

[Born Conservative]

U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski this week helped reintroduce the Secure America through Verification and Enforcement Act, an anti-illegal immigration bill he originally introduced in November 2007.

The bill would enable a three-point strategy to combat illegal immigration by securing the borders through an increased number of border patrol agents, mandating employers verify work authorization before hiring new employees, and enforcing existing laws pertaining to illegal immigration.

"Those who want to live and work in the United States need to abide by our laws," Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, said. "By requiring employers to verify the legal status of new employees, we can stop the job magnet that attracts illegal immigrants to the U.S. and depresses the wages of American citizens."

Had the act been in place, a recent case of fraud in Beaver Meadows, Carbon County, could have been prevented, Kanjorski said. In that case, an illegal immigrant fraudulently obtained identification documents and may have received a federal tax refund.

The act would result in the following actions:

* Mandate that within four years all employers check the status of potential employees through an online verification system to confirm the potential employee's eligibility to work. * Hire an additional 6,000 Border Patrol Agents within five years. * Employ 1,750 additional Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents to enhance enforcement efforts over five years. * Require the Department of Homeland Security increase its use of aerial technology, such as unmanned aerial vehicles, cameras, and satellites, among others, to ensure that the borders are watched at all times. * Provide more facilities and resources for the detention, processing, and removal of illegal immigrants. * Require notification of individuals whose Social Security numbers may have been stolen and are being fraudulently used.

[Born Conservative]

This is purely political, IMHO. Kanjorski almost lost re-election last fall to Lou Barletta, who is the well known mayor who had a federal court case against his implementation of requiring landlords to verify citizenship of renters. Kanjorski is voting however Pelosi tells him to, and he knows the voters aren't liking what is being jammed down their throats by this Congress; hence this legislation in man attempt to pacify his constituents.

[RU88]

Could not agree more with your observation.

[Roccus]

"Those who want to live and work in the United States need to abide by our laws."

If only Konjurski lived by those words himself.....

[C19fan]

I was thinking the same thing. The only reason this will come to a vote is if Pelosi knows it will lose. The vulnerable Blue Dogs get a free yes vote to take back to the voters.

[kindred]

As long as the communist democrat party and the liberal GOP remain in power, illegal immigration will continue and be encouraged by those who are arrogant, diverse, racist and stupid.

[Born Conservative]

Ping

[Born Conservative]

Kanjorski looking for votes, Pelosi looking for support from blue dog Dems in NEPA.

[Dr. Ursus]

BINGO!

[askrenr]

“As long as the communist democrat party and the liberal GOP remain in power, illegal immigration will continue and be encouraged by those who are arrogant, diverse, racist and stupid.”

It’s not like George Bush did much to stop the flow of illegals into the country!

[Tribune7]

ping