Issue Position: Immigration

Issue Position

With 11 million undocumented immigrants in our country, it is not realistic to think that we could solve the problem by deporting them. The facts are that undocumented immigrants work here, have roots here and many of their children are already lawful Americans. The call for comprehensive immigration reform simply acknowledges these facts.

The recently passed Senate immigration bill is a promising sign. I would vote to provide a measured, but attainable path to citizenship, one that creates a lawful intermediate status during a trial period and the obligation to pay all back taxes and fines.

Having such a large number of undocumented workers is not good for our economy. For instance, local tradesmen in the 1st District have pointed to unfair competition from businesses which employ undocumented workers -- because these businesses underpay them to begin with and illegally avoid paying social security/health care withholdings. This gives a business that is willing to look the other way a substantial advantage over its law-abiding competitors. The large pool of undocumented labor undercuts American workers trying to rise into the middle class.

As provided in the Senate bill, I am in favor of building on the existing momentum to secure our borders, not just for immigration purposes, but also to enhance domestic security. The E-Verify program, which verifies employment eligibility, should be rolled out nationwide. Guest worker programs for seasonal work should be expanded.

Also, while we are providing a path for illegal immigrants, we must also make the citizenship process more straightforward for those who are doing it the right way. Finally, we must favor the immigration status of individuals who would bring special training and skills needed by American employers, particularly in the high tech sector.

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