Heath Shuler proposes the SAVE Act for Immigration Control

The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that Congressman Heath Shuler of North Carolina http://shuler.house.gov/ is introducing the SAVE Act (Secure America with Verification and Enforcement) which will mandate improved border security and employer compliance with immigration laws. Shuler is a populist Democrat and has been a member of the House Immigration Reform Caucus.

Shuler targets immigration
by Doug Abrahms, GANNETT NEWS SERVICE
published November 2, 2007 8:30 pm

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200771102106
WASHINGTON — Employers would be required to verify their workers are in the U.S. legally, under a bill Rep. Heath Shuler will introduce next week.

Shuler, D-Waynesville, who said turning off the employment magnet will reduce illegal immigration, has added 75 House Democratic and Republican co-sponsors for the measure. The bill would require employers to verify workers’ status through a Department of Homeland Security database, which currently is voluntary.

“North Carolina is dealing with one of the fastest-growing illegal immigrant populations in the country,” Shuler said. “This legislation represents a common-sense answer to the immigration problem facing our nation.”

Shuler’s bill also would add 8,000 Border Patrol agents, increase aerial surveillance of the border and spend more on workplace enforcement of immigration laws. So far, 41 other Democrats and 34 Republicans have agreed to co-sponsor the bill, including Reps. Mike McIntyre, Sue Myrick, Walter Jones and Robin Hayes of North Carolina.

Shuler’s bill “seems to be one of the most extensive enforcement bills introduced,” said Steven Camarota, research director at the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington. His group favors stronger enforcement of immigration laws.

Typically, freshman lawmakers stand little chance of getting difficult bills through the House, he said.

But the Democrats who control Congress are struggling with immigration policy, just as Republicans did before 2006, Camarota said. Many Americans are frustrated that so many immigrants continue to cross the Mexican border illegally, he said.

“I think there’s real fear of the issue in the Democratic Party,” Camarota said.
Democracy Corps, a polling company run by Democrats Stan Greenberg and James Carville, released a memo this week warning Democrats that illegal immigration has caused current voter discontent. Many Americans wonder why the U.S. has lost control of its borders and doesn’t go after illegal employment, the memo said.

“Voters want control of the borders and workplace and (to re-create) an immigration system that works and oppose driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants — positions supported by about two-thirds of the country,” the memo said. “If political leaders do not start there, they are not likely to be heard on other steps.”

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One of the leading pro-immigration enforcement organizations, Numbers USA strongly endorsed the Shuler bill. In a letter to Congressman Shuler, Numbers USA President Roy Beck describes the SAVE act as a "middle ground" solution to the illegal immigration matter. Beck's letter is reproduced below:

The Honorable Heath Shuler512 Cannon House Office BuildingWashington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Shuler:

Numbers USA’s half-million grassroots activist voters are dedicated to removing the jobs magnet that is the biggest among many large causes of our illegal immigration nightmare. Your new bill is just what the nation needs.

I am most pleased to offer Numbers USA’s endorsement of your SAVE Act (Secure America with Verification and Enforcement).SAVE Act is the middle-ground answer to the illegal immigration issue. This not only will be the most effective solution, but it is what polls show most Americans want. When given the choice among (a) mass roundups and mass deportations, (b) mass legalizations, and (c) Attrition Through Enforcement & Self Deportation, the public chooses the middle-ground Attrition option which is what your bill offers.

I appreciate the many ways that the SAVE Act would increase our border security and help with interior enforcement.Our greatest excitement is in the promise of finally protecting American workers, legal foreign workers and law-abiding businesses from the unfair competition of massive hiring of illegal workers throughout our economy. And by requiring every worker to be run through the E-Verify system within four years, the SAVE Act would greatly reduce the opportunities for national origin-based discrimination.

Numbers USA has always maintained that very few businesses actually want to hire illegal aliens. And we believe that of the minority of businesses that do hire illegal aliens, most do so without knowing it or do so because they feel forced to do it to keep up with competitors who ARE hiring illegal aliens. Universal mandatory use of E-Verify will protect legitimate businesses, protect U.S. workers and remove the financial ability for most illegal workers to remain in the United States.

Under this bill, we can expect a peaceful self-deportation of hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens a year, immediately bringing relief to overburdened communities and improving wage prospects, particularly for the 23 million less-educated Americans who do not currently have a job.The sight of so many of their countrymen returning home after failing to find or hold U.S. jobs, will be a significant deterrent to foreign nationals seeking to enter our country illegally or to overstay their visas.

The SAVE Act builds on the assets of the E-Verify system and strengthens it in several regards. Most importantly, it deals with the current inability of E-Verify to catch illegal workers who have stolen the identities of Americans or of legal foreign workers. But the SAVE Act has provisions that creatively will identify these cases of identity fraud and will eliminate the ability of most identity thieves to remain in a job for long.

One of Numbers USA’s chief missions is to end illegal immigration in order to have a society that is more economically just. Our half-million members are fairly evenly distributed through every Congressional district and every county in the country. All have a stake in resolving illegal immigration for a better quality of life in their own communities. Thank you for introducing the SAVE Act. We will work diligently to educate the nation and the Congress about the need for its passage.

Sincerely,

Roy Beck

President,

NumbersUSA

http://www.numbersusa.com/

I applaud Heath Shuler's efforts. The American people are ready for real action to solve the illegal immigration problem. With Shuler's constructive leadership and growing bi-partisan support, we can secure our borders and protect the interests of America's working families.