An important part of securing our nation is securing our borders. Illegal immigration is just that — illegal and should be treated as such. Federal law provides enforcement authority to address the illegal population within our borders, but these laws have not been enforced properly. Better enforcement of our laws is the first step.
I oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants. Congress should continue to examine our immigration policy and determine what legislation is needed and in what areas, but for me – amnesty is off the table. Amnesty rewards people for breaking the law. It puts illegal immigrants at the head of the line in front of those who are following the rules in order to gain United States citizenship.
I oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants. Congress should continue to examine our immigration policy and determine what legislation is needed and in what areas, but for me – amnesty is off the table. Amnesty rewards people for breaking the law. It puts illegal immigrants at the head of the line in front of those who are following the rules in order to gain United States citizenship.
Below are my principles on how the Senate can address immigration reform. This six-step proposal reflects ideas and concepts from a host of proposals already discussed. We could enact any one of these sensible proposals today and produce results tomorrow. Amnesty for illegal immigrants is not a part of this proposal and I will not support amnesty.
1. Border Enforcement
· Ensure sufficient authorization of funding for hiring and training border patrol agents.
· Increase oversight of current border enforcement laws (border fence construction and virtual fence implementation).
2. Interior Enforcement
· Provide clarification of the authority for local law enforcement to assist in the detention of illegal immigrants and clarify reimbursement authority of federal agencies.
· Remove loopholes for sanctuary cities which avoid and ignore enforcement of federal immigration laws.
· Increase enforcement against companies that knowingly and willingly hire illegal workers.
3. Streamline Temporary Guest Worker Programs
· Require the State Department to implement uniform procedures at all consular offices for processing temporary workers.
· Reduce the amount of paperwork in the application process and streamline the process by which the validity of the employer’s petition for temporary foreign workers is determined.
· Raise the congressionally mandated cap by reasonable levels and provide DHS the authority to raise or lower caps based on market needs and usage.
4. Increase Usage of the Employer Verification System (E-Verify)
· Extend authorization of E-Verify.
· Require all contractors of the federal government to use the E-verify program.
· Give employers the option to verify the status of all employees, not just new hires.
· Require U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to provide monthly reports to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) listing the data E-Verify finds that should be investigated.
· Require USCIS to create a pilot program that will provide opportunities for small businesses and other rural areas without Internet access to use the E-Verify program.
5. National Language
· Declare English as the National Language of the United States.
· Repeal Executive Order 13166, which requires federal agencies to examine the services they provide and develop and implement a system to provide those services in languages other than English for those with limited English proficiency (LEP). This E.O. could potentially force every federal office to provide paperwork and assistance in any language, a highly impractical and costly obligation.
6. Create a Merit-Based Permanent Alien Program (similar to Canada)
Canada’s point system provides that approximately 60 percent of the aliens awarded permanent resident gain that status based on their skills and their benefit to Canada’s economy. Canada allows approximately 40 percent of permanent resident grants be based on family relations or refugee status. In contrast, U.S. law allows about 70 percent of its annual 1 million permanent resident admissions to be based solely on family relations and about 13 percent to be based on employments (with the rest going to refuges and diversity visas). Related Records
June 2016
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 06/23/16 | Enzi statement on Supreme Court executive amnesty ruling |
February 2016
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 02/04/16 | Senators call for Syrian refugee program pause until authorities can detect fake ISIS passports |
November 2014
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 11/20/14 | Sidestepping Congress on immigration erodes the very foundation of our country, form of government |
January 2014
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 01/10/14 | Senate majority won’t close a tax loophole to help pay for veterans’ benefits |
June 2013
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 06/27/13 | Statement by Senator Mike Enzi opposing immigration reform bill |
| 06/11/13 | Enzi says E-Verify essential for immigration reform |
May 2013
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 05/10/13 | Enzi responds to constituent concerns about immigration reform, representing people with opposing views |
June 2012
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 06/15/12 | Administration circumvents Congress |
March 2008
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 03/05/08 | Enzi, Barrasso join senators to increase border security, stop amnesty |
June 2007
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 06/28/07 | Immigration amnesty bill goes down in flames, again |
