America’s diverse ethnic backgrounds are a fundamental source of our national strength and growth. This country was built on immigration, and immigrants have been – and continue to be – the backbone of our nation. However, one of the most common misperceptions about today’s immigration debate is that illegal aliens are “immigrants.” In reality, they are not and in the opinion of many Americans referring to illegal aliens as “immigrants” demeans the struggle so many true immigrants had to endure in order to come to this country legally. These kinds of word games only serve to muddy and politicize the legitimate issue of immigration.

 

I believe our immigration policies sorely need to be upgraded, but at the same time, that does not excuse the thousands upon thousands of illegal aliens who break our laws every single day.   Especially in our post-9/11 world where terrorists are looking to exploit any weakness to strike at the heart of America, we cannot continue to allow illegal immigration to go unchecked. We need to more tightly control our borders so that we know who is trying to enter our country; and we need to create disincentives that discourage people from trying to sneak across our borders illegally.

 

For example, by giving social services to illegal immigrants, we are implicitly condoning their illegal activity and undermining the efforts and commitment of immigrants who choose to respect and abide by our laws, and enter America the legal way. We need to be clear that there is a right way to come to our country, and ideally only when someone goes through the proper channels should they be recognized and helped.

 

On January 4, 2007, Representative Ron Paul of Texas introduced the “Social Security for Americans Only Act of 2007” (H.R. 190). This bill, of which I am a cosponsor, would amend the Social Security Act to prohibit people who are not citizens or nationals of the United States from being credited for coverage under the Social Security program. In addition, the bill ends the practice of totalization; where the Social Security Administration takes into account the number of year's an individual worked abroad, and thus was not paying payroll taxes, in determining that individual's eligibility for Social Security benefits. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means’ Subcommittee on Social Security for their review and consideration. Although I am not a Member of this Committee, I am watching their deliberations on this bill closely, and you can be sure I will support this bill should the full House of Representatives have the opportunity to vote on it during the 110th Session of Congress.