One impact the sour U.S. economy is having is that many illegal aliens are self-deporting. As unemployment rates increase among American workers, the availability of jobs for undocumented workers becomes smaller, and many are leaving the United States without any resistance from immigration authorities.
The 287(g) program was intended to join local law enforcement with federal immigration officials to enforce laws at the local level. The program has been successful and has gained momentum in recent years, but the Obama Administration is revamping its contracts with local law officials, which significantly weakens the purpose of 287(g).
Yesterday, the Senate adopted two immigration-reduction amendments through a voice vote, marking our third and fourth victories this week. Sen. Charles Grassley's (R-Iowa) E-Verify amendment to the Homeland Security spending bill allows employers to check the workplace eligibility of all employees, not just new hires. Sen. David Vitter's (R-La.) No-Match amendment prevents further delay in the implementation of a Bush Administration rule allowing the Social Security to send No-Match letters to employers.
Most of you are shocked by the Senate's passage of 4 immigration enforcement amendments this week that would open up hundreds of thousands of jobs to unemployed Americans over the next year alone. This is the Senate that has stood against U.S. workers in favor of illegal aliens repeatedly. While the victories really do represent great progress for our side, we also can be 95% sure that Senate Leader Reid, House Speaker Pelosi and Pres. Obama have every intention of killing these amendments in a backroom deal, just like they killed House-passed enforcement in February. But you can keep that from happening.
On July 8, the Senate adopted an amendment offered by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) that requires the completion of 700-miles of fencing along the southwest border. The amendment passed by a 54-to-44 roll call vote.
On July 8, the Senate passed by voice vote an amendment offered by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) that would require all federal contractors to check the eligibility of new hires through E-Verify. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) tried to table the amendment, but the motion was defeated 44-to-53, allowing the passage of the amendment.
The Senate approved with a voice vote this morning Sen. Vitter's No-Match amendment to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill. It's another big victory after approving two amendments on Wednesday.
Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) will offer E-Verify amendments to the 2010 appropriation mark-ups for the Energy, Finance, Labor, and Health and Human Services spending bills. The mark-ups are expected to occur on Friday.
A 9.5% unemployment rate and stories of returning National Guardsmen who can't find jobs -- plus constant pressure from home-state voters -- has finally produced a victory for mandating government contractors to use E-Verify to keep from hiring illegal aliens. After several defeated efforts, Sen. Sessions finally won over a majority of his colleagues this morning. Especially interesting to all of us are the 8 Senators who voted to kill this mandate in March but who supported it today.
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) introduced an amendment to the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations bill that would require federal contractors to use E-Verify and permanently reauthorize the workplace verification tool, which is set to expire this fall. The Senate is expected to vote on the amendment on Wednesday.
