Washington, DC – As the administration announced that the unemployment rate hit 10.2% and 190,000 jobs were lost last month alone, Ranking Member Lamar Smith (TX-21) released a letter that he and 21 other Members of Congress sent earlier this week to White House. The members recommend enforcing current immigration laws to open as many as seven million jobs for citizens and legal immigrants.
Ranking Member Smith: “There are more than 15 million Americans out of work and an estimated seven million jobs held by illegal immigrants. The administration has the tools to address this disparity.
“Worksite enforcement actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can save and create jobs for citizens and legal workers if illegal immigrant workers are detained and deported. The political appointees throughout the administration must allow ICE’s law enforcement professionals to conduct such actions.
Citizens and legal immigrants should not be forced to compete with illegal immigrants for jobs.”
In addition to Ranking Member Smith, the letter was signed by Representatives Steve King, Brian Bilbray, Jack Kingston, Darrell Issa, Bob Goodlatte, Randy Forbes, Jason Chaffetz, Gregg Harper, Howard Coble, John Carter, Ginny Brown-Waite, Rodney Alexander, Doug Lamborn, Michael McCaul, Sue Myrick, Todd Akin, Phil Gingrey, John Fleming, Gary Miller, Elton Gallegly, Peter King.
Also today, Ranking Member Smith expressed disappointment in the administration’s endorsement of the House Democrats’ health care bill.
Ranking Member Smith: “President Obama told the American people that he opposes providing benefits to illegal immigrants as part of the health care bill. In light of the President’s assurance, it is disappointing that his administration formally endorsed a plan that will do exactly that. The Democrats’ health care bill contains loopholes that allow illegal immigrants to receive taxpayer-funded benefits.
“First, the bill allows open access to the federally run Health Insurance Exchange, subsidized with two billion dollars of taxpayer funds. Second, the bill contains an unreliable verification mechanism. Applicants for federal insurance subsidies will not even be required to provide identity documents to prove they are who they claim to be. And third, the bill leaves open the possibility that if one citizen family member is eligible for benefits, then the whole family, including illegal immigrant family members, is also eligible for the benefits.
“The House Democrats’ health care plan could force all of us to pay for the health care of illegal immigrants. Taxpayers do not want to subsidize those who are here illegally.”
Letter attached: 1022_001 (2).pdf
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