Second Amnesty Bill in Two Weeks Shows Immigration Used as Political Prop

Interests of American Public Disregarded

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) responded to Sen. Robert Menendez's (D-N.J.) eleventh hour introduction of amnesty legislation calling it "yet more last minute political theater designed to impress special interest voters, and not a serious effort to fix our broken immigration system." S. 3932, The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2010, features mass amnesty for millions of illegal aliens as its centerpiece and large increases in future immigration to the United States. It is essentially a carbon copy of legislation that was rejected overwhelmingly by the American people just three years ago, contends FAIR.

With near unanimous consensus that S. 3932 will never be considered this session of Congress, the bill is seen as an effort by congressional Democrats to motivate Hispanic voters in the upcoming elections. "Last week, Senators Durbin and Reid played political football with the Defense Authorization Bill by trying – unsuccessfully – to attach the DREAM Act. Yesterday Senator Menendez introduced an even larger amnesty package," said Stein. "This combined last ditch effort to gin up the Hispanic voting base is a glaring example of why Americans believe that Congress is out of touch with the concerns of their constituents and polls show that the public has little faith in the Democrats' ability to reform our immigration policies."

"Both the Obama administration and the Senate leadership have made it clear that they cannot be trusted to enforce U.S. immigration laws and protect the interests of ordinary Americans," Stein asserted. "The American people want immigration reform that places their interests first, and they want the federal government to demonstrate that it will enforce the laws it passes. Instead, Sen. Menendez has presented a bill that offers concrete benefits to illegal aliens, still higher levels of immigration, and empty promises of future enforcement."

Recent evidence demonstrates that illegal immigration can be effectively deterred and many illegal aliens can be convinced to return home voluntarily when immigration laws are enforced. Reports by both the U.S. Census Bureau and the Pew Hispanic Center confirm that diminished job opportunities for illegal aliens, owing to the recession and a serious effort to enforce immigration laws in the workplace during the final months of the Bush administration has resulted in more illegal aliens leaving than settling.

"Amnesty for illegal aliens is a political choice, plain and simple," said Stein. "Senate leaders and President Obama see a political advantage in mass amnesty and are trying to sell it as a political necessity. While the American people want laws against illegal immigration enforced at our borders and in the interior of the country, and greater participation by local law enforcement, this administration, with the support of congressional leaders, has systematically dismantled our enforcement capability," charged Stein. "We hope that when the new Congress takes office next year they will present serious immigration reform legislation that recognizes and advances the interests of the American people."

About FAIR

Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 250,000 members nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced.

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