Speech #1090145865

Mr. Speaker. immigration has been the number one concern of many Americans in recent months. The House passed a bill last December which dealt mostly with tough border security. It provided for more Border Control agents. a 700mile fence. different penalties for illegally entering the U.S.. and substantial pen52. Pt. 8 June 14. 2006 alties for employers who employ illegal immigrants. The Senate. more recently. passed a bill with tight border security but also had language which addresses the problem of the 11 to 12 million illegal immigrants now in the United States. Some believe the Senates threetiered approach to dealing with undocumented workers now in the U.S. amounts to what many would refer to as amnesty. Their approach Is as follows: Those illegal immigrants that have been in the United States for 02 years would be deported. those who have been illegally in the United States between 2 and 5 years would have to return to the border for processing and then reenter the country receiving a work permit: those who have been in the country for 5 years or more illegally would be able to obtain a legal status by paying a fine and meeting some other requirements. So many have been concerned about this because it does mean that you could enter the country illegally and gain a legal status while still in the United States. which again many people would refer to as amnesty. So there is obviously tension between the House and the Senate bills. and the concern right now is that there may not be a bill that will be suitable to both bodies that can be achieved in conference. The big concern I think. in the House at least. is what has been referred to as the threetiered approach in the Senate. And. obviously. most people who are here illegally at the present time are going to claim they have been here 5 years. It may be very difficult to ascertain how long somebody who is undocumented has been in the country because they are undocumented. It is very hard to ascertain what records are valid. which are not. and how long they have actually been here. As a result. I have introduced legislation that could represent some common ground. This obviously will be controversial. No one agrees entirely on how we might go about bringing the two bills together. but 1 have introduced a bill called H.R. 4065. and the basic requirement are as follows: It would require illegal aliens to return home to apply for a visa. In other words. they would have to return to their country of origin and apply at their home country consulate. Much of the paperwork could be done in the United States before they leave here. but it would have to be stamped in their home country. They then could reenter the country with a legal status and cross that border with papers as documented workers. Secondly. this would provide for a 3year visa which is conditional on continuous employment. It would be renewed every 3 years. This would be open to undocumented workers with. first. a demonstrated U.S. employment history. They would have had to have been somebody who is employed in the United States. has been employed satisfactorily. good recommendations by the employers. and then no felony convictions or any other major record of criminal activity or history. So this would satisfy the argument that these people have come into this country illegally. remained here. and have gained a legal status. They would have to return to their country of origin. So it establishes a new W visa for those who are classified as undocumented workers but have gone through these steps and stages at the present time. Congressman PENCE has also introduced legislation which calls for illegal immigrants to leave the United States. report to centers located outside the country before reentering the country with a guest worker visa. which is somewhat similar to what I am talking about here. So this is not necessarily a novel or new idea. and many people have taken a look at it. The requirement for all illegal immigrants to leave the United States and enter into the U.S. legally with a W visa may serve as a way to create common ground between the House and the Senate bills. D 1800 It is important that an immigration bill pass this year. I think the American people are expecting it and hope it will happen. Yet we are so far apart in the two bodies that this may be difficult to effect.