Immigration

The United States Constitution in Article 1 Section 8 places the responsibility for the regulation of immigration with Congress.  It is my belief that as a sovereign nation we must meet this responsibility and regain control over our borders.  In order to do so we must continue to increase the size of the border patrol by 2000 positions each year and we must double the number of workplace inspectors to enforce the unlawful hiring of illegal aliens. 

I have co-authored with my colleagues Nathan Deal and Brian Bilbray is the Birthright Citizenship Act (H.R. 1868). The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides that "All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and the State wherein they reside." The Birthright Citizenship Act states that a person born in the United States shall be considered 'subject to the jurisdiction' of the United States if born of parents, one of whom is a citizen or national of the U.S.; an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States whose residence is in the United States; or an alien performing active service in the armed forces. The children of those unlawfully present would not qualify for birthright citizenship.

In regard to the question of amnesty, I will oppose any bill brought to the floor of the House that includes an amnesty provision that confers citizenship status.  My major concern relates to the fact that there are millions of legal immigrants who wait years in order to obtain permanent residence and citizenship.  It violates both fairness and respect for the law to allow those who have entered our country illegally to “cut in the front of the line” through the adoption of an amnesty provision.