The United States of America is the most remarkable civic experiment in history: a nation built by immigrants and founded on the rule of law. Congressman Akin understands the heartfelt arguments surrounding the current immigration debate and is committed to upholding both of these principles in national discourse.

The immigration system is broken. It is not unusual for productive, lawful immigrants to wade through a decade of bureaucracy in order to become a citizen. Our legal immigration system places those who follow the rules at a disadvantage, while the influx of illegal immigrants threatens both economic and domestic security.

Congressman Akin is committed to supporting immigration reform that prioritizes domestic security by keeping terrorists and criminals from crossing the borders. Throughout history, the rule of law has governed the process for obtaining American citizenship, even as we welcomed people from every ethnicity, culture and background. The Congressman will continue to work for immigration reform that welcomes everyone who loves America, obeys the laws and wants to contribute to society. At the same time, America must not reward those who break its laws or abuse its social safety nets.

Human Trafficking

Porous borders are an essential element of human trafficker’s business plans. Promising good jobs, traffickers lure young girls into sex related industries and keep them there with threats, degradation and abuse. Older men and women who are victimized by traffickers are used for forced labor, working in horrible conditions for little or no pay and often without needed medical attention. The U.S. State Department estimates that over 15,000 people are trafficked into the United States every year. Congressman Akin supported legislation to increase penalties for human trafficking, including the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, which became law in the 110th Congress.

Employment Verification

Under current law, employers are tasked with verifying the legal status of prospective employees before hiring. Historically, this process has been unreliable, as ordinary employers are often not in a good position to determine if the documents presented by the employee are valid. E-Verify  is a voluntary internet based federal pilot program that began in 1997 to allow employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of new employees and the validity of their Social Security Numbers. While errors may occur, E-Verify is currently the best way for employers to check employment eligibility. In the third quarter of 2008, 3.5% of employees who were checked through E-Verify were not confirmed as eligible to work in the United States. Congressman Akin fought for reauthorization and funding of E-Verify as well as for improvements to the system that eliminate errors and help detect identity theft. He also supported legislation requiring federal government contractors and sub-contractors to use E-Verify, while the Democratic majority has been working to eliminate this effective system.

Related News