I was very angry at some pieces that managed to get in. But we had a real debate. and we took our time. and we understood what we were talking about. And then this bill was taken over by the Judiciary Committee. usurped. with many. many more pieces put on. pieces that do not make any sense and really are not about border security. They are not about getting rid of the catch and release process that we have right now. they are not about tightening. They are about being mean. mean to immigrants in this community. And not just those who have no documents to be in the United States. This bill dangerously is unfair and penalizes everyday Americans regardless of what their immigration status is. Under this legislation. the Sensenbrenner bill. it would be a criminal offense. criminal offense. to be in the United States in violation of immigration laws. It would affect millions of legal immigrants. including lawful permanent residents and nonimmigrants who accrue technical violations of immigration regulations. like failing to report a change of address. Now. I know this because we have been working. we have been thinking. and we have been looking. But many of my colleagues may not understand the impact that the Sensenbrenner bill has on the people of America. legal residents in some cases. People would be criminalized under H.R. 4437. In addition. this bill criminalizes anyone who assists undocumented immigrants in the United States. and this would include. listen to this. please. it would include churches. other faithbased groups. volunteers that provide food aid. shelter. or other lifesaving assistance to members of its community who may not have documents. Do we really want to clog up the Federal system with decent people who are just trying to be Good Samaritans? Is that what this is about?
Keywords matched
undocumented border security immigrants immigration