Immigration Reform Setback: SAVE Act 2007

December 4 , 2007

NETWORK has been anxiously waiting for Congress to move on the issue of immigration and to fix our broken system.

We were deeply disappointed when Congressman Heath Schuler (D-NC) introduced the Secure America with Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act (H.R. 4088) on November 6, 2007. This enforcement-only bill has 112 cosponsors, with nearly equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans. A companion bill (S. 2368) was also recently introduced into the Senate by Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) and is currently only co-sponsored by Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA).

An enforcement-only bill fails to recognize the dignity and value of the immigrant population, which has been an important part of our country’s identity for centuries. It also simply drives migrants and immigrant families into the shadows rather than into the open, making it more difficult for our law enforcement officials to protect our country.

NETWORK realizes that enforcing our laws and protecting our country from terrorist threats are important issues. We have supported measures such as the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act and the STRIVE Act that address both the need for security while providing sensible ways to address the current situation. Rep. Joe Baca, (D-CA) echoed this sentiment recently in a statement declaring, “The most effective immigration enforcement policy we can offer our country is one that considers all parts of this equation.”

The main provisions of H.R. 4088/ S. 2368:

• Provide 8,000 additional border patrol agents over the course of four years (80% of whom will go to the Mexican border; 20% to the Canadian border)

• Implement a targeted media campaign to inform undocumented immigrants and employers of new laws and penalties for hiring illegal immigrants

• Increase the investigative abilities of the Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) Agency by employing more agents and training state and local law enforcement personnel

• Aim to deport undocumented immigrants by expanding detention capacity and increasing the number of Federal District Court Judges

• Work to make use of new technology and fencing for border security, and expands specialized enforcement programs such as those aimed at drug smugglers and “coyotes” who smuggle immigrants across the border

• Recruit new agents and border personnel (including former military personnel) with bonuses, student loan repayments, and other financial incentives
• Expand the E-Verify program (program used to check for legal status of hired employees) and makes it mandatory for businesses.

The SAVE Act fails to:

• Include a plan for putting the undocumented in the country on a path to citizenship

• Create avenues for legal migration, and reuniting immigrant families

• Create visas for migrants to enter the country to safely and legally work

• Ensure rights and access to public services for legal immigrants and their families just as every citizen

• Include strong language that would involve working with governments in countries with significant rates of migration to jointly address and solve the crisis.

Current Status (12/4/07)

Currently, H.R. 4088 has been sent to several committees, including House Agriculture, House Armed Services, House Education and Labor, House Homeland Security, House Judiciary, House Natural Resources, House Oversight and Government Reform, and House Ways and Means. The bill’s biggest hurdle is the House Homeland Security committee whose chairperson, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez ( D-CA) has said that the chance of its successful passage through her committee seems slim; much of what the bill seeks to do is already on the law books, however been poorly enforced. The bill could eventually pass onto the floor of the House, but party leaders would have to avoid the committee process to make that happen. Many members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus have voiced concerns about an enforcement-only bill.

This bill has little chance of getting out of committee and is mostly a symbolic measure to shore up political support for the coming election year. The Senate bill has seen no action since its introduction.