Washington, D.C. – Today Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05) announced he has introduced new legislation, the Jobs for Americans Act of 2011. The Jobs for Americans Act removes federal barriers to states who undertake their own legal measures to control illegal immigration.

Congressman Brooks said, “Illegal immigration in our country is a serious problem. Illegal aliens suppress the wages of American blue collar workers, hold millions of American jobs, and drain local and state governments of critical resources.

“The Jobs for Americans Act of 2011 helps states like Alabama, Georgia, and Arizona, who are addressing the illegal alien issue because the federal government has failed to do so. The act ensures that the federal government will appreciate, not punish, states that do the hard work of enforcing our laws.

“Specifically, this bill provides that state and local governments may help the federal government by passing laws that identify illegal aliens, deter illegal aliens from entering the United States, apprehend illegal aliens, or encourage or otherwise cause illegal aliens to leave the United States. In other words, the federal government would give state and local governments the blessing to help the federal government do its job.”

While the Jobs for Americans Act of 2011 supports state efforts to curb illegal immigration, it does not alter the federal government’s roll. The federal government would still retain control over determining who qualifies as an illegal alien.

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