Gang of Eight Bill is Amnesty
Eagle Forum May 9, 2013 Today the Senate Judiciary Committee will begin the process of marking up the Gang of Eight’s proposal that will grant amnesty to 11 million illegal immigrants living in the United States.  Proponents of the bill argue that the bill is not amnesty because those legalized under it have to pay a penalty and wait ten years. But, that is only one aspect of the multi-faceted aspects of amnesty granted to illegal immigrants. Illegal Immigrants Immediately Eligible to Work in U.S. Those pushing for amnesty claim illegal immigrants have to get in the back of the citizenship line, but the bill allows them to line-jump the jobs line.  With so many Americans unable to find work, Congress should crack down on employers who hire illegal immigrants.  Instead, the bill makes it immediately legal for illegal immigrants to work in the United States, and lets the employers who have knowingly hired them get away with it.  Penalty Paid is Low and Not a Penalty at All Under S. 744, illegal aliens can immediately register for Registered Provisional Immigrants (RPI) status when the President signs the bill. They have to pay $500 and the other $500 can be paid in installments over the next six years. That money goes into a fund that offsets the cost of the services provided to walk them through the process of receiving Amnesty. Thus, the penalty is not a penalty at all. Contrary to claims by the bill’s proponents: The Bill does NOT require amnestied illegals to pay all back taxes. Illegal aliens receiving amnesty under the bill must wait 10 years to become citizens, however, the bill contains multiple loopholes. Illegal aliens and their employers receive amnesty under S.744 for a long list of offenses for which U.S. citizens and legal immigrants would face stiff fines and long prison sentences. Click here to see an extensive report prepared by our friends at the Center for Immigration Studies of the extensive amnesty S. 744 gives to illegal aliens and their employers and the fines and penalties U.S. citizens and legal immigrants would face if they broke these laws. Illegals granted amnesty should have to wait ten years before they are eligible for federal welfare benefits, but as Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions points out in this report, they are immediately eligible for many state and local welfare programs, and there are considerable loopholes in the bill that enable them to access federal benefits even sooner. The Gang of Eight bill is thoroughly unjust and as the Heritage Foundation reported this week, will cost taxpayers $6.3 trillion.  Your Senators are being bombarded with visits from highly paid lobbyists and vocal Amnesty advocates. They need to hear from you and from all of your friends and family. Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 We need you to keep the calls coming! Tell your Senators to vote NO on the Gang of Eight’s Amnesty bill today!