Source:  Press Release, 12/10/10
 

Dear Friends,

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that there are over 10 million illegal aliens within our borders, and 6.7 million of them have arrived in the last 10 years. Our current immigration system cannot handle the ever-growing demands placed upon it. Illegal immigrants drain resources and opportunities for citizens and legal residents.

This week I voted against the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act which grants legal status to the children of illegal immigrants.

The bill does nothing to help secure our border and fix the broken immigration system which has allowed millions of illegal aliens into our country. Instead of making unauthorized alien students eligible for in-state tuition or legal status, the Federal government should focus on securing our borders and not granting residency and citizenship to people here illegally. Furthermore, granting taxpayer subsidized benefits to unauthorized alien students and a path to citizenship for those here illegally is a bad deal for taxpayers and punishes people who follow the law and immigrate through the legal process.

I am committed to protecting our borders and am an original co-sponsor of H.R. 4088, the Secure America with Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act. The SAVE Act is a 3-point plan to significantly reduce illegal immigration. Specifically, the bill addresses border security by increasing manpower, technology, and infrastructure needs on our northern and southern borders. The bill also protects American workers, legal foreign workers, and law-abiding businesses from the unfair competition created by a massive illegal workforce. Finally, the SAVE Act provides the tools, resources, and infrastructure necessary to enforce existing immigration laws and penalize offenders.

I will continue to strongly support efforts to discourage illegal immigration into the United States and improve our border control.

Sincerely,

U.S. Congressman Mike McIntyre
Representing the 7th District of North Carolina