Oregon Senators Join with Republican Minority in supporting $7 Billion Dollar Wall of Shame

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2009

Contact:
Francisco Lopez, Executive Director: (503) 269-5694
Erik Sorensen, Communications Director: (503) 488-0263
Oregon Senators Join with Republican Minority in supporting $7 Billion Dollar Wall of Shame
Salem, Ore--CAUSA, Oregon’s Immigrant Rights Coalition is disappointed in the decision of Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley to vote with the Republican minority for a controversial amendment specifying that a 700-mile border “Fence to Nowhere” be completed by the end of 2010.

In a 54-44 vote taken yesterday, Oregon’s two Democratic Senators chose to join forces with the conservative, anti-immigrant minority in supporting the wall of shame along the U.S. southern border.

According to recent polling conducted by the Benenson Strategy Group, more than 85% of Americans support Congress passing just and humane immigration reform, and yet the Senate chooses to play politics.

“How can those who sit in the Senate vote consciously for such a cruel piece of legislation?” asked Francisco Lopez, Executive Director of CAUSA. “Don't they realize how many people have died along the border fences? The US Senate should establish a strategic border enforcement policy that reflects American values, not anti-immigrant right-wing ideology"

It is being reported that the construction of the southern fence will cost Americans over $7 Billion Dollars, causing concerns about its practicality and functionality during a time of great recession in the United States.

In an investigative report aired by PBS’s NOW with David Brancaccio on July 3rd, it was revealed that private contractors are making billions on the border fence that has no chance of working. Not to mention, it has become a nightmare for many homeowners cutting through the middle of some properties, while leaving others untouched. The NOW report added that new technology for a virtual fence has not even been proven to work in the field.

"Those who choose to support enforcement-only schemes are just playing political games with lives and private property and wasting tax-payer dollars", said Lopez. "Comprehensive Immigration Reform that will legalize 12 million undocumented immigrants is the only solution to our nation's broken immigration system and the Senate needs to quit wasting time and money."

CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition, is the largest Hispanic civil and human rights and advocacy organization in the Pacific Northwest. For more information, visit www.causaoregon.org

Resources:

Benenson Strategy Group, Recent Polling on Immigration Reform June 2, 2009 http://amvoice.3cdn.net/ea94778f39d6c895c3_zvm6beppq.pdf

Obama's Border Fence, NOW with David Brancaccio, July 3, 2009 http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/527/index.html

Congressional Record, Senate Amendment 1399 Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC)
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2009_record&page=S7211&position=all

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NOW investigates Obama's Border Fence

The U.S.-Mexico border fence—are private contractors making billions on a project that won't even work? PBS's NOW looks into the issue.



This investigative report offers one more reason why enforcement-only tactics won't work leaving Comprehensive Immigration Reform the only solution to our nation's broken immigration system.

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Tommy Lee Jones Talks Border Fence

This from Greg Siskind's blog for some easy Friday reading. According to an article Greg quotes, Actor Tommy Lee Jones had plenty to say about the border fence plan. Jones says it,

"bears all the credibility and seriousness of flying saucers from Mars or leprechauns. Or any manner of malicious, paranoid superstition. read on>>

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League of Woman Voters Takes Position on Immigration

Last week the League of Women Voters of the United States issued a statement in supportive of citizenship for unauthorized immigrants and in opposition to deportations.

“After a lengthy and comprehensive study of this complex issue by our grassroots members,” said national League president Mary G. Wilson, “the League’s position calls for a path to citizenship for current unauthorized immigrants.”

“As part of overall immigration reform, the League supports a system for unauthorized immigrants already in the country to earn legal status, including citizenship, by paying taxes, learning English, studying civics and meeting other relevant criteria,” Wilson stated. “We oppose deportations of current unauthorized immigrants who have no history of serious criminal activity,” she said.

In addition, the LWVUS came out in support of increased enforcement personnel at borders, more effective tracking of individuals who enter the U.S., and significant fines and penalties for employers who hire unauthorized workers.

Finally, they said they would "champion due process for all persons, including the right to a fair hearing, right to counsel, right of appeal and right to humane treatment".

A copy of their full report can be found below, or here.

LWVUS Immigration Position

The League of Women Voters believes that immigration policies should promote reunification of immediate families; meet the economic, business and employment needs of the United States; and be responsive to those facing political persecution or humanitarian crises. Provision should also be made for qualified persons to enter the U.S. on student visas. All persons should receive fair treatment under the law.

The League supports federal immigration law that provides an efficient, expeditious system (with minimal or no backlogs) for legal entry of immigrants into the U.S.

To complement these goals the League supports federal policies to improve economies, education, job opportunities, and living conditions in nations with large emigrating populations.

In transition to a reformed system, the League supports provisions for unauthorized immigrants already in the country to earn legal status.

The League supports federal payments to impacted communities to address the financial costs borne by states and local governments with large immigrant populations.

Criteria for Legal Admission to the U.S.

The League supports the following criteria for legal admission of persons into the United States:

* Family reunification of spouses or minor children with authorized immigrants or citizens;
* Flight from persecution or response to humanitarian crises in home countries;
* Economic, business and employment needs in the U.S.;
* Education and training needs of the U.S.;
* Educational program opportunities; and
* Lack of a history of serious criminal activity.

Administration and Enforcement

The League supports due process for all persons, including the right to a fair hearing, right to counsel, right of appeal and right to humane treatment.

The League supports:

* Improved technology to facilitate employer verification of employee status;
* Verification documents, such as status cards and work permits, with secure identifiers;
* Significant fines and penalties for employers who hire unauthorized workers;
* Improved technology for sharing information among federal agencies;
* More effective tracking of individuals who enter the United States; and
* Increased personnel at borders.

The League also supports programs allowing foreign workers to enter and leave the U.S. to meet seasonal or sporadic labor needs.

Unauthorized Immigrants Already in the U.S.

In achieving overall policy goals, the League supports a system for unauthorized immigrants already in the country to earn legal status, including citizenship, by paying taxes, learning English, studying civics and meeting other relevant criteria. While policy reforms, including a path to legal status, remain unachieved, the League does not support deporting unauthorized immigrants who have no history of criminal activity.

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Breaking Laws to Build a Border Fence

This one from KJ over at ImmigrationProf Blog about breaking laws to build a border fence. In a post today, KJ asks a great question, "Is it worth bending the rule of law for a fence of no value to effectively address immigrataion control concerns AND results in deaths?"

In response, he highlights an article, "Power to Build Border Fence Is Above U.S. Law", that appeared in the New York Times today.

Securing the nation’s borders is so important, Congress says, that Michael Chertoff, the homeland security secretary, must have the power to ignore any laws that stand in the way of building a border fence. Any laws at all. >>read on

KJ also offers an op/ed on "how the border fence is indicative of American insecurity" by Gregory Rodriguez. You can get that link here

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