Statement of Rep. Barletta Regarding Senate Passage of
Immigration Bill
WASHINGTON – Congressman Lou Barletta, PA-11, today issued the following
statement regarding Senate passage of S. 744, the bill that claims to address
illegal immigration. The statement is as follows:
“It has been the worst kept secret in Washington
these past few months that the Senate was determined to pass a sweeping
immigration bill that in reality isn’t even a Band-Aid on our illegal
immigration problem. We have immigration laws for two main purposes: to protect
our national security and to protect American jobs. This bill violates both of
those principles.
“I cannot support any legislation that does not
secure our borders first. While it is true that this means our southern,
northern and maritime borders, it also means our interior ports of entry. I
fear that not enough people are talking about our visa system. If you consider
that nearly half of the illegal immigrants currently present arrived on a visa
that has since expired, you will realize that if your state is home to an
international airport, you effectively live in a border state. As we have seen
too often – and very recently – the holes in our immigration system represent a
real and credible threat to the safety of Americans.
“If signed into law, this bill will greatly
increase the number of newly-legalized workers in this country, who would then
compete for scarce resources and jobs with legal immigrants and the 22 million
Americans who woke up this morning unable to find a job. Granting amnesty to
millions of illegal immigrants would be a fiscal drain on the federal budget,
the economy and legal American residents. It will suppress wages, and cost
taxpayers about $6.3 trillion in social benefits over the life spans of the new
residents – even after tax receipts are realized – according to a study by the
Heritage Foundation.
“I will oppose this bill when it reaches the
House and anything that remotely resembles amnesty for illegal
immigrants.”
