43 Conservative Leaders Pledge to Withhold Support for Lawmakers Voting for Amnesty
Jim Kouri, CPP
July 06, 2006
Forty-three conservative leaders in the Secure Borders Coalition have signed a Conservative Leadership Declaration Opposing Amnesty / "Guest Worker" Proposals, which pledges to withhold political support from any member of Congress who votes for any legislation that is enacted providing for either amnesty for illegal aliens or the importation of massive numbers of so-called guest workers.
The signers also dedicate themselves to opposing, in both primaries and the general election, any presidential candidate, Republican or Democrat, who supports such legislation.
The Declaration specifically cites as totally unacceptable both the Senate-passed immigration bill (S. 2611) and the immigration plan (Amnesty Lite) proposed by Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN), which provide for the wholesale importation of aliens and a path to citizenship for them.
The Declaration is currently being circulated among other conservative leaders and grassroots activists as part of a national campaign to prevent passage of any form of amnesty for persons who enter the U.S. illegally or any "guest worker" program. The Declaration represents a major break with the Bush White House reminiscent of the battle over the Harriet Miers nomination to the Supreme Court.
The full text of the Declaration follows:
CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP DECLARATION OPPOSING AMNESTY/ "GUEST WORKER" PROPOSALS
We, the undersigned, oppose any amnesty or guest worker plans like the Senate bill (S. 2611), the Pence bill, or any other such proposals.
The Heritage Foundation estimates the Senate bill will bring in at least 60 million foreigners during the next 20 years.
If the demographics of the so-called temporary workers are similar to those of the illegal aliens already here, more than half will be high
school dropouts. They will work low-paying jobs that require payment of little or no income tax. They will be 50 percent more likely to receive
government benefits than those in non-immigrant households. And 42% of their children will be born out-of-wedlock -- but all their children born
in the U.S. will automatically become American citizens.
The cost of the Senate amnesty for illegal immigrants alone would be $50 billion a year for entitlements, including Medicaid, Social Security,
Supplemental Security Income, Earned Income Tax Credit (cash handouts as much as $4,400 a year to low-wage households), the WIC program, food
stamps, public housing, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, and federally funded legal representation.
Any amnesty would move America toward a future like France, which is staggering under the burden of "guest" workers who never went home.
The Senate proposal has three main features that together, will cause the illegal immigration problem to reach critical mass:
1. AMNESTY: The proposal grants legalization to 85% of the nation's current illegal aliens. The Senate bill repeats the mistakes of the
Simpson-Mazzoli amnesty bill of 1986. It also provides an amnesty for employers who have hired illegal immigrants.
2. PERMANENT "TEMPORARY" WORKERS: The proposal sets up a so-called
"temporary guest worker" plan for individuals who will be here
neither temporarily nor as guests. The so-called guest workers will
be given new "H-2C" visas, that they can convert to legal permanent
status with green cards. After five years, they will be eligible to
become U.S. citizens. In the first year this scheme is in effect,
the U.S. will import 200,000 new foreigners on H-2C visas.
3. FAMILY CHAIN MIGRATION: The number of immigrants will accelerate as
"family chain migration" allows more new residents to bring in more
and more relatives. The H-2Cers can immediately bring in their
family members on H-4 visas, without any health requirements, and
they will also get permanent legal residence and citizenship.
After the so-called temporary workers and their spouses become
citizens, they can bring in their parents as permanent residents on
the path to citizenship. Although the parents have never paid into
Social Security, they will be eligible for Medicaid and Supplemental
Security Income benefits. Siblings and adult children and their
families will be given preference in future admissions.
In addition, the Senate bill gives so-called temporary workers preferences that American citizens do not enjoy. They can't be fired from their jobs except for cause. They must be paid the prevailing wage. They can't be arrested for other civil offenses if they are stopped for traffic violations. Also, these illegal aliens are forgiven two years in back taxes, something the IRS would never do for American citizens.
The Senate bill grants in-state college tuition (something that is denied to U.S. citizens in 49 other states), plus certain types of college financial assistance to illegal immigrants. As minorities, they may even get "affirmative action" preferences in jobs, government contracts, and college admissions.
Even more outrageous, the Senate bill cedes American sovereignty by requiring the United States to consult with the Mexican government before building a border fence.
The so-called compromise proposed by Rep. Mike Pence would place no limit whatsoever on the numbers of foreign workers who could be imported by U.S. employers from any country anywhere in the world.
By flooding this country with so many immigrants, legal and illegal, controlling immigration will become impossible and by dumping that burden onto an already-overburdened system of government benefits, these proposals are a threat to the future of the United States. They must be defeated.
THEREFORE-
Passing no bill is better than passing any new amnesty, legalization, guest worker or foreign worker program of any kind.
We call for enforcement now. We favor a policy of attrition of the illegal population through strong enforcement of our nation's immigration laws, which includes, first and foremost, the securing of our borders.
We call on both Houses of Congress to heed the American people and reject the Senate bill, the Pence bill, or any other bill that provides legalization of illegal aliens or substantial increases in legal immigration. We call on the House leadership to refuse to appoint members to a conference committee for the Senate bill.
If any such bill is enacted, including the Senate bill or the Pence bill, we pledge to withhold political support from any Member of Congress who votes for it.
Finally, we dedicate ourselves to defeating any 2008 presidential candidate who supports the Senate bill, the Pence bill, or any other bill that provides legalization of illegal aliens or substantial increases in legal immigration. We pledge to do so regardless of political party and in both the primaries and the general election.
Signed,
(Affiliations for identification only)
Peggy Birchfield
Religious Freedom Action Coalition
Jim Boulet, Jr.
English First
Brent Bozell
Conservative Victory Committee
Bay Buchanan
Team America PAC
Mario A. Calabrese
Christine Carmouche
GrassTopsUSA
Jim Clymer
Constitution Party National Committee
Kristen N. Cooper
Foundation for American Christian Education
Jerome R. Corsi, Ph.D.
Author
Kay Daly
Tom DeWeese
American Policy Center
James R. Edwards
Consultant to NumbersUSA
Tom Fitton
Judicial Watch
Don Feder
Don Feder Associates
John Fonte
Paul Goedinghaus
Alamo Alliance
William Green
RightMarch.com
Ellen Grigsby
Open Doors USA
Colin Hanna
Let Freedom Ring, Inc.
Carl F. Horowitz
National Legal and Policy Center
David Horowitz
Center for the Study of Popular Culture
Joan L. Hueter
American Council for Immigration Reform
Bishop Harry R. Jackson
Hope Christian Ministries
Kevin Kearns
U.S. Business and Industry Council
Alan Keyes
Declaration Alliance
Mal Kline
Accuracy in Academia
Jim Kouri
National Assoc. of Chiefs of Police
Gary G. Kreep
United States Justice Foundation
Mark Krikorian
Center for Immigration Studies
Deborah Lambert
Accuracy in Media
Rabbi Daniel Lapin
Toward Tradition
K.C. McAlpin
ProEnglish
William J. Murray
Religious Freedom Coalition
John O'Neill
Swiftboat Veterans
Howard Phillips
The Conservative Caucus
Alan Potter
Constitution Party of Virginia
Marc Rotterman
American Conservative Union
Phyllis Schlafly
Eagle Forum
Rick and Caryann Shaftan
Neighborhood Research/Mountaintop Media
Rev. Lou Sheldon
Traditional Values Coalition
Chris Simcox
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps
Kent Snyder
The Liberty Committee
Mike Valerio
Mike and Helen Valerio Foundation
Richard A. Viguerie
Conservative HQ.com
The signers also dedicate themselves to opposing, in both primaries and the general election, any presidential candidate, Republican or Democrat, who supports such legislation.
The Declaration specifically cites as totally unacceptable both the Senate-passed immigration bill (S. 2611) and the immigration plan (Amnesty Lite) proposed by Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN), which provide for the wholesale importation of aliens and a path to citizenship for them.
The Declaration is currently being circulated among other conservative leaders and grassroots activists as part of a national campaign to prevent passage of any form of amnesty for persons who enter the U.S. illegally or any "guest worker" program. The Declaration represents a major break with the Bush White House reminiscent of the battle over the Harriet Miers nomination to the Supreme Court.
The full text of the Declaration follows:
CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP DECLARATION OPPOSING AMNESTY/ "GUEST WORKER" PROPOSALS
We, the undersigned, oppose any amnesty or guest worker plans like the Senate bill (S. 2611), the Pence bill, or any other such proposals.
The Heritage Foundation estimates the Senate bill will bring in at least 60 million foreigners during the next 20 years.
If the demographics of the so-called temporary workers are similar to those of the illegal aliens already here, more than half will be high
school dropouts. They will work low-paying jobs that require payment of little or no income tax. They will be 50 percent more likely to receive
government benefits than those in non-immigrant households. And 42% of their children will be born out-of-wedlock -- but all their children born
in the U.S. will automatically become American citizens.
The cost of the Senate amnesty for illegal immigrants alone would be $50 billion a year for entitlements, including Medicaid, Social Security,
Supplemental Security Income, Earned Income Tax Credit (cash handouts as much as $4,400 a year to low-wage households), the WIC program, food
stamps, public housing, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, and federally funded legal representation.
Any amnesty would move America toward a future like France, which is staggering under the burden of "guest" workers who never went home.
The Senate proposal has three main features that together, will cause the illegal immigration problem to reach critical mass:
1. AMNESTY: The proposal grants legalization to 85% of the nation's current illegal aliens. The Senate bill repeats the mistakes of the
Simpson-Mazzoli amnesty bill of 1986. It also provides an amnesty for employers who have hired illegal immigrants.
2. PERMANENT "TEMPORARY" WORKERS: The proposal sets up a so-called
"temporary guest worker" plan for individuals who will be here
neither temporarily nor as guests. The so-called guest workers will
be given new "H-2C" visas, that they can convert to legal permanent
status with green cards. After five years, they will be eligible to
become U.S. citizens. In the first year this scheme is in effect,
the U.S. will import 200,000 new foreigners on H-2C visas.
3. FAMILY CHAIN MIGRATION: The number of immigrants will accelerate as
"family chain migration" allows more new residents to bring in more
and more relatives. The H-2Cers can immediately bring in their
family members on H-4 visas, without any health requirements, and
they will also get permanent legal residence and citizenship.
After the so-called temporary workers and their spouses become
citizens, they can bring in their parents as permanent residents on
the path to citizenship. Although the parents have never paid into
Social Security, they will be eligible for Medicaid and Supplemental
Security Income benefits. Siblings and adult children and their
families will be given preference in future admissions.
In addition, the Senate bill gives so-called temporary workers preferences that American citizens do not enjoy. They can't be fired from their jobs except for cause. They must be paid the prevailing wage. They can't be arrested for other civil offenses if they are stopped for traffic violations. Also, these illegal aliens are forgiven two years in back taxes, something the IRS would never do for American citizens.
The Senate bill grants in-state college tuition (something that is denied to U.S. citizens in 49 other states), plus certain types of college financial assistance to illegal immigrants. As minorities, they may even get "affirmative action" preferences in jobs, government contracts, and college admissions.
Even more outrageous, the Senate bill cedes American sovereignty by requiring the United States to consult with the Mexican government before building a border fence.
The so-called compromise proposed by Rep. Mike Pence would place no limit whatsoever on the numbers of foreign workers who could be imported by U.S. employers from any country anywhere in the world.
By flooding this country with so many immigrants, legal and illegal, controlling immigration will become impossible and by dumping that burden onto an already-overburdened system of government benefits, these proposals are a threat to the future of the United States. They must be defeated.
THEREFORE-
Passing no bill is better than passing any new amnesty, legalization, guest worker or foreign worker program of any kind.
We call for enforcement now. We favor a policy of attrition of the illegal population through strong enforcement of our nation's immigration laws, which includes, first and foremost, the securing of our borders.
We call on both Houses of Congress to heed the American people and reject the Senate bill, the Pence bill, or any other bill that provides legalization of illegal aliens or substantial increases in legal immigration. We call on the House leadership to refuse to appoint members to a conference committee for the Senate bill.
If any such bill is enacted, including the Senate bill or the Pence bill, we pledge to withhold political support from any Member of Congress who votes for it.
Finally, we dedicate ourselves to defeating any 2008 presidential candidate who supports the Senate bill, the Pence bill, or any other bill that provides legalization of illegal aliens or substantial increases in legal immigration. We pledge to do so regardless of political party and in both the primaries and the general election.
Signed,
(Affiliations for identification only)
Peggy Birchfield
Religious Freedom Action Coalition
Jim Boulet, Jr.
English First
Brent Bozell
Conservative Victory Committee
Bay Buchanan
Team America PAC
Mario A. Calabrese
Christine Carmouche
GrassTopsUSA
Jim Clymer
Constitution Party National Committee
Kristen N. Cooper
Foundation for American Christian Education
Jerome R. Corsi, Ph.D.
Author
Kay Daly
Tom DeWeese
American Policy Center
James R. Edwards
Consultant to NumbersUSA
Tom Fitton
Judicial Watch
Don Feder
Don Feder Associates
John Fonte
Paul Goedinghaus
Alamo Alliance
William Green
RightMarch.com
Ellen Grigsby
Open Doors USA
Colin Hanna
Let Freedom Ring, Inc.
Carl F. Horowitz
National Legal and Policy Center
David Horowitz
Center for the Study of Popular Culture
Joan L. Hueter
American Council for Immigration Reform
Bishop Harry R. Jackson
Hope Christian Ministries
Kevin Kearns
U.S. Business and Industry Council
Alan Keyes
Declaration Alliance
Mal Kline
Accuracy in Academia
Jim Kouri
National Assoc. of Chiefs of Police
Gary G. Kreep
United States Justice Foundation
Mark Krikorian
Center for Immigration Studies
Deborah Lambert
Accuracy in Media
Rabbi Daniel Lapin
Toward Tradition
K.C. McAlpin
ProEnglish
William J. Murray
Religious Freedom Coalition
John O'Neill
Swiftboat Veterans
Howard Phillips
The Conservative Caucus
Alan Potter
Constitution Party of Virginia
Marc Rotterman
American Conservative Union
Phyllis Schlafly
Eagle Forum
Rick and Caryann Shaftan
Neighborhood Research/Mountaintop Media
Rev. Lou Sheldon
Traditional Values Coalition
Chris Simcox
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps
Kent Snyder
The Liberty Committee
Mike Valerio
Mike and Helen Valerio Foundation
Richard A. Viguerie
Conservative HQ.com
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