Speech #1100000899

If the Social Security Administration finds evidence of fraudulent activity. it is required to notify not only the Department of Homeland Security. but also the legal possessor of that Social Security number. This will enable innocent people to take steps to protect their credit. identity. and good name. Although jobs are the primary magnets that bring illegal immigrants to this country. I have also introduced another bill that will remove a major incentive for people to come to this country illegally. The Citizenship Reform Act of 2007 would simply bring our laws into line with virtually every other nation on earth by requiring that at least one parent be a citizen or permanent resident in order for a child to become automatically a citizen. Additionally. I have also introduced a bill that will make our current immigration law more fair. Under current law. an illegal immigrant who leaves the country taces a bar of up to three years if he has been in the country illegally for more than 6 months. and a ten year bar if he has been here illegally for more than a year. However. if an illegal immigrant never leaves the country but applies to adjust his status. he faces no reentry prohibitions. This is fundamentally unfair. My legislation provides that all illegal immigrants face the same penaltyeven if they are eligible for a change in status. Finally. I have introduced two bills that would criminalize actions common among illegal immigrants. Unfortunately. many illegal immigrants who are apprehended and agree to voluntarily depart either fail to leave or leave only to retum. My bill would make it a felony. with a mandatory one year jail sentence. for illegal immigrants agree to leave and then either fail to leave or return illegally. I have also found that too many illegal immigrants have figured out that they are given a "get out of jail free card" when they are given a notice to appear. Another bill I have introduced would make it a felony. with a mandatory oneyear jail sentence. when illegal immigrants ignore the law and refuse to appear in court when ordered. I know that these bills. if passed. will dramatically reduce illegal immigration and identity theft. I ask my colleagues for their support to protect our nations sovereignty and our citizens identities.