Illegal Immigration

Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) reintroduced his comprehensive immigration enforcement legislation that would mandate E-Verify nationwide, strengthen border security, and improves interior enforcement. The SAVE Act (H.R. 2000) was introduced with 36 original co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle. This is the third consecutive Congress Rep. Shuler has introduced the legislation.

The Louisiana State Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill that would require state contractors to use E-Verify. The bill passed by a 34-to-1 margin. It now heads to the House for consideration.

Despite Pres. Obama's claim last week that our nation's borders are secure, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has asked Congress for $30 million to keep 1,200 National Guard troops on the border. The troops were first assigned to the border last year at Pres. Obama's direction.

Rep. Mike Coffman has joined NumbersUSA's elite 5-for-5 Club after adding his name to the list of co-sponsors for the CLEAR Act (H.R.100). By adding his name to the CLEAR Act, Rep. Coffman has now co-sponsored at least one bill in each of our 5 Great Immigration-Reduction Solutions categories.

In coordination with Pres. Barack Obama's renewed call for a mass amnesty, Senator Dick Durbin along with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid have re-introduced the DREAM Act Amnesty. Rep. Howard Berman also re-introduced the bill in the House of Representatives.

Gov. Mitch Daniels signed Indiana's new E-Verify and legal presence bill on Tuesday, capping a four-year effort led by State Sen. Mike Delph. The bill requires state and local government contractors to use E-Verify and also creates a penalty for private businesses that don't use E-Verify.

A new poll conducted by Rasmussen finds that 59% of Americans want to cut federal funding to sanctuary cities. The poll of likely voters also found that 58% of Americans think the Justice Department should take action against sanctuary cities, and 65% oppose the creation of sanctuary cities in the first place.

The federal government interviewed more Chipotle employees this week in two dozen locations in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C. Earlier this year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement launched an audit on the company's employee records, resulting in the firing of approximately 500 illegal aliens in Minnesota, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Reps. Dan Benishek (R-Mich.), Diane Black (R-Tenn.), Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), and Dennis Ross (R-Fla.) have co-sponsored H.R.100, the CLEAR Act, that was introduced by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). The bill would provide the resources and training necessary to local police for enforcement of federal immigration laws.

The Texas State Senate has passed a non-binding resolution that asks the Obama Administration for more financial support in securing its more than 1,200-mile border with Mexico. The resolution also calls for a study to find the true cost of illegal immigration on the Lone Star State.

A bill that would extend in-state tuition rates to illegal aliens was defeated in the State House Education Committee. The bill, SB 126, was passed by the State Senate before being defeated, 7-to-6, in the House committee. It's the fifth time the bill has failed in the Colorado Legislature.

First the federal government audited Chipotle outlets in Minnesota and found hundreds of employees were illegal aliens. Next, the process was repeated in the Washington, D.C.-area with the same result. Now the feds have launched a criminal investigation into the chain's hiring practices.

In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) has branded Utah's guest worker amnesty "illegal."

Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.) has joined the NumbersUSA 5-for-5 club after co-sponsoring at least one bill in each of our 5 Great Immigration-Reduction Solution categories. This week, Rep. Bilbray added his name to the list of co-sponsors for the Nuclear Priority Act that would end chain migration and the CLEAR Act that would require cooperation between local law enforcement agents and federal agents in the enforcement of federal immigration laws.

The Georgia House and Senate have agreed to a bill that will require businesses in the state with at least 10 employers to use E-Verify. The bill expands the state's current E-Verify law that requires state contractors to use E-Verify.

Immigration enforcement bills made progress in Tennessee while Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has said Indiana should focus on mandatory E-Verify legislation

Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) has introduced a bill that would increase border security and strengthen interior enforcement. The Keeping the Pledge on Immigration Act of 2011 (H.R.1274) requires the Administration to deploy national guard troops to the border and includes the CLEAR Act that requires cooperation between the federal government and state and local law agencies in the enforcement of immigration laws.