Congresswoman Watson Opposes Flawed Immigration Bill

December 16, 2005

Congresswoman Watson Opposes Flawed Immigration Bill

(Washington, DC)— The House is considering H.R. 4437, an immigration and border control bill. Congresswoman Diane E. Watson (CA-33) opposes H.R. 4437 and made the following statement:

"H.R. 4437 fails to address the real need for immigration reform on a comprehensive basis.

"America is a nation of immigrants. Many of us can recount with pride the struggles of our families to build our part of the American dream. But our current immigration system is suffering under dramatic pressures. Meanwhile the threat of terrorism has raised the stakes. We must reform our immigration laws to ensure that we keep terrorists out while continue protecting the ability of law-abiding immigrants to come to America to build a new life.

"I have pledged to people in my community that I will support immigration reform legislation that protects both American lives and the American dream of so many immigrants. This legislation fails on both counts. H.R. 4437 does not in any way address the flaws in our immigration system that encourage businesses and immigrants alike to wink and nod at our laws. Instead, it seeks to criminalize hard-working immigrants and the good samaritans that help them.

"H.R. 4437 is not practical legislation; rather it is a last-minute political message, designed in these last days of the year to appease Republican Congressman by scapegoating immigrants. The most telling signal of this fact is that the Senate will never pass H.R. 4437, and it will never become law.

"I urge my colleagues to put aside H.R. 4437 and come back immediately after the new year to work on comprehensive, bipartisan legislation to fix our broken immigration system, secure our borders, and keep America as a beacon of freedom and opportunity."

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ca33_watson/051216.html