Derek

I recently wrote to my Congressman regarding my concerns about American Jobs being taken by illegal aliens in our country.  I expressed my growing distaste for the word "comprehensive" coming from anyone in D.C. especially since  alleged comprehensive health care has been pushed upon us against our will.  I suggested that before congress tried to come up with a "comprehensive" immigration plan, they ought NOT to do ANYTHING until we are sure that our borders are absolutely secure. The illegal alien problem would not be what it is today if we were abiding by and enforcing existing law.  Derek is a first term congressman and has not yet started ignoring me like the other elected officials that are supposed to represent me but we think differently. He has already started using some of the status quo cliches from D.C.  What I call illegal aliens he calls undocumented immigrants.  He says we need a pathway to citizenship.  I say we already have that.  My wife took it and is more proud of her American Citizenship than most native born citizens. Unfortunately, what politicians mean by pathway to citizenship is amnesty (look the other way regarding the existing law).  I am not sure he understands what his constituency really believe is needed from our representatives.  I fear Derek is already starting to feel like one of the elite and what HE thinks is more important than what we the people believe.  When we say there are people living among us that are as American as we are except on paper we forget something important.  That is to ignore that fact that an American is one who believes in the rule of law.  Therefore, when one is living among us - contrary to the rule of law, and we say he is an American, it is fundamentally not true.
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Dear Larry, Thank you for contacting me about immigration. I appreciate you taking the time to write and share your thoughts with me. First of all, I am pleased that the Senate has worked together in a bipartisan way to advance comprehensive immigration reform. At this point, it is unclear whether the House leadership will bring the Senate bill to the floor of the House for a vote or if they will consider separate legislation. I value your input and will keep it in mind however the House decides to move forward. Having said that, I would like to tell you what responsible, comprehensive immigration reform looks like to me. We need an immigration system that is reflective of both our needs and our values. Our nation's immigration laws are outdated and broken   – there are an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. We need a modern immigration system that will safeguard America's security and prosperity. The system of legal immigration needs to work better to make illegal immigration less attractive. In my view, that requires Congress to move forward in a bipartisan way on comprehensive immigration reform. The first step in achieving comprehensive immigration reform must be to secure our borders – including our ports – and safeguarding our communities. Illegal border crossings can threaten our national security and undermine our ability to protect Americans from those who are involved in drug or arms trafficking, or who pose a threat to our communities. Additionally, more must be done to ensure employers have access to the workers they need and that there is a level playing field.   I'm concerned that some employers are undercutting the wages of working Americans by hiring undocumented immigrants. This hurts our economy and can often give way to dangerous working conditions for undocumented workers. This problem suggests the need for three reforms. First, we need a smarter, better system of temporary immigration for industries that employ immigrants. While some industries are calling for more visas (including H1B visas for high skilled industries) to meet their growth needs, I think it makes sense to put the revenues derived from visa fees into providing more opportunities for Americans to get the skills required to fill these jobs in the future.   Second, an expanded, streamlined national verification system will assist employers in ensuring that every employee they hire is in the United States legally. Third, we should strengthen enforcement to eliminate any incentive for employers to break the rules. In addition, to be competitive in a global, 21 st  Century economy we need to capitalize on foreign students' skills to develop cutting-edge research and new businesses and technologies that will create jobs. Today, too many talented foreign students benefit from our universities and then immediately head back to their country of origin to help foreign economies.  As we look to grow our economy, those policies should be revisited. Finally, I support the bipartisan plan for a path to citizenship for the undocumented immigrants who have been here for years. It is not practical to deport the millions of people who have come to this country in search of a better life. They've started families and businesses. They go to the same  schools, the same parks, and recite the same pledge of allegiance as the rest of our families. Some  have even joined the Armed Forces, risking their lives to defend this country. They are Americans  in every way but on paper. In my view, it makes sense to find a way to for these members of our community to get on a path to citizenship. That process should include going to the back of the line, passing a criminal background check, and paying back taxes and penalties, among other things. Consistent with these principles, I have joined with more than 180 of my colleagues and cosponsored H.R. 15, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. It would provide comprehensive reform and is similar to legislation the Senate passed. A smart immigration policy is not only good for our region and the country, but it's also the right thing to do. We are a nation of immigrants. In fact, I am the son of an immigrant. But we're also a nation of laws. Making smart reforms is important to ensure our laws fit today's realities. I will be sure to keep your thoughts in mind as Congress debates this issue in the future. I encourage you to continue to share your views with me on this topic or any other issue. Thank you for reaching out. It is an honor to serve as your representative. Sincerely,  Derek Kilmer Member of Congress