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Illegal Immigrants' Care Costs Texas $677 Million

Monday, December 15, 2008, 12:10 PM

A new survey conducted by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission says that an estimated $677 million was spent providing health care to illegal aliens. The survey indicated that most of the money - $597 million - was spent during the fiscal year that ended August 31, 2006.

Pro-Amnesty Groups Lobbying Congress Today

Updated Thursday, December 4, 2008, 11:30 AM

Pro-amnesty grassroots leaders held a press conference this morning to ask Congress and the new Administration for an immediate moratorium on workplace enforcement action and a renewed effort on "comprehensive immigration reform" (see Read Full Article

Candidate for No. 2 House GOP Job Says Stand Firm for Immigration Enforcement

Monday, November 17, 2008, 11:28 AM

Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), running for the No. 2 GOP leadership post in the U.S. House, says Republicans need to change a lot of things -- but not their insistence on enforcing immigration laws.

Nine State Chambers Change Hands

Updated Friday, November 7, 2008, 10:04 AM

Tuesday's elections didn't just impact the federal level of government, but it also had a major impact at the state level as well. At least nine different state lawmaking bodies have seen a shift in party control.

NumbersUSA Election Coverage

Tuesday, November 4, 2008, 7:20 AM

From major elections in the Senate to a completely reshaped House of Representatives to a

Rep. Lamar Smith asks Chamber of Commerce to "Put the American People First"

Thursday, October 9, 2008, 12:08 PM

Rep. Lamar Smith wrote a scathing op-ed in the Washington Times about the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's anti-American worker activities, particularly their opposition to the E-Verify system.

Global Community Harmed by America's Population Growth

Sunday, September 14, 2008, 10:32 PM

The global population is skyrocketing and depending more and more on the United States to help provide a stable source of food as it has done for over one-hundred years.

Senate Recesses Without Taking Up E-Verify Reauthorization

Updated Friday, August 1, 2008, 4:30 PM

The Senate started its summer recess without taking up the E-Verify reauthorization bill (H.R. 6633) the House passed by a 407-2 margin. Sen.

Vote to Re-Authorize E-Verify Expected Before Summer Recess

Tuesday, July 1, 2008, 8:45 PM

CongressDaily reports today that House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) expect to hold a House floor vote on a bill to extend the E-Verify program before the August recess.

House Panel Guts Spending on Effective Enforcement Activities

Updated Thursday, June 26, 2008, 12:40 PM

Dome of the U.S. Capitol
During today’s markup of the FY09 Department of Homeland Security spending bill (no bill number yet), the House Appropriations Committee voted to cut and remove funding for proven enforcement measures such as the 287(g) program, which enables local police and sheriffs to enforce immigration laws,

SEN. FEINSTEIN PUSHING AGRICULTURAL AMNESTY ON THURSDAY

Updated Tuesday, May 27, 2008, 11:47 AM

Diane Feinstein
Our NumbersUSA Capitol Hill Team learned late Wednesday through both Democratic and Republican sources that Sen. Feinstein (D-Calif.) was preparing to add an agricultural amnesty to the Iraq bill Thursday in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Five-year Amnesty Bill Under Discussion

Updated Thursday, April 17, 2008, 2:48 PM

Some House Democrats are having behind-the-scenes discussions about creating a special visa for illegal aliens they believe will enjoy considerable Republican support.

Urge the Senate to Extend E-Verify

Monday, December 8, 2008, 12:55 PM

Last week the Department of Labor issued a grim report on the state of jobs in America. More than 500,000 Americans lost their job in November and more than 2 million so far in 2008.

Pro-Amnesty Sen. Martinez Says He'll Retire

Tuesday, December 2, 2008, 3:00 PM

Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) announced on Tuesday that he will retire at the end of his term, which ends in 2010. Martinez pushed for an immigration reform bill and was one of the biggest Republican boosters for amnesty in the Senate.

NumbersUSA Election Results

Updated Friday, November 7, 2008, 10:08 AM

NumbersUSA has been keeping a close eye on several races that could impact immigration reform in the United States. Here are some of the major race results. Grade A- Rep. Lampson, TX 22nd, Loses (53% to 45%)To a Tougher-Talking RepublicanUpdate - 11/05/08 - 12:21am

Lamar Smith Issues Statement on Immigration

Updated Friday, November 7, 2008, 10:00 AM

Following the results of Tuesday's election, Texas Representative Lamar Smith and Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee released a statement regarding immigration. "Now that the politics of the campaign are behind us, President-elect

US to Waive Visa Rules for 7 Countries

Friday, October 17, 2008, 10:11 AM

According to a report in the Washington Post, the Bush administration plans to remove visa requirements for citizens of seven allied countries. Requirements could be lifted for citizens from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and South Korea as early as next month.

Congress Recesses after Passing Short-Term E-Verify Extension

Updated Saturday, October 4, 2008, 9:30 AM

On September 27, the Senate cleared a Continuing Resolution (CR; H.R. 2638) that, among other things, extends the E-Verify program through March 6, 2009. The inclusion of a short-term E-Verify extension in the CR was a bittersweet development.

Rep. Tim Mahoney to Introduce Bill to Strengthen Immigration Laws

Updated Thursday, August 28, 2008, 8:23 AM

Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-Fl.) plans to introduce the Officer Andrew Widman Criminal Alien Enforcement Act of 2008. This bill comes in the wake of the violent murder of a Florida police officer by a criminal illegal alien on bail.

Grassley, 12 Other Senators Call for Passage of E-Verify Reauthorization Bill in Senate

Wednesday, July 30, 2008, 10:41 AM

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) yesterday led a group of Senators in asking Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to ensure passage of legislation to reauthorize E-Verify before the program expires in November. In a related press release, Sen.

Pro-Amnesty Rep. Chris Cannon Ousted in Primary

Updated Thursday, June 26, 2008, 12:41 PM

Rep. Chris Cannon (R - Utah) was defeated in the Republican primary in Utah's 3rd district. While considered a staunch conservative on many issues, Rep. Cannon is known for being pro-immigration and has sponsored many bills to allow more foreign workers to enter the United States.

Rasmussen Poll Shows Americans Angry at Government's Refusal to Fix Illegal Immigration Problem

Updated Saturday, June 14, 2008, 1:14 PM

A June 13 Rasmussen poll shows that Americans are still mad at Congress's failure to reform America's immigration system. The poll shows that 1/3 of all Americans are mad about illegal immigration, but Americans blame Washington and not the illegal aliens.

Senate GOP Introduces New Immigration Package and Caucus

Updated Tuesday, April 29, 2008, 5:01 PM

Sen. Sessions (R-Ala.) presents his new immigration bills
Senate Republicans on Wednesday held a press conference to showcase a package of 15 bills designed to make critical improvements to America’s immigration system. The coalition, led by Sen.

In the News

Rep. Lamar Smith: Napolitano Poor on Immigration and Border Security

In the News - Thursday, December 18, 2008

President-Elect Obama’s pick to be secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Arizona Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano, has received media praise for being a “centrist,” while the facts about her record as a policymaker continue to be overlooked. But don’t be fooled by the hype. Gov. Napolitano talks tough, but her record of immigration enforcement is weak. While she may sound pro-enforcement, her policies reflect a pro-amnesty agenda.

By Rep. Lamar Smith, HumanEvents.com

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=29922

Democrats Risk Losing Hispanics

In the News - Monday, December 15, 2008

One of the big bonuses Democrats enjoyed this year was a surge of support among Hispanic voters, a surge larger than the party would have dared to dream of just a couple of years ago.

Now, one of the biggest questions Democrats face is whether hardening attitudes toward immigration, aggravated by hard economic times and rising unemployment, will push the party down paths that could undercut that Hispanic support, much as hardening rhetoric undermined Hispanic support for Republicans in the past two years.

By Gerald F. Seib, Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122938688402208869.html

Lugar's bill aids immigrant children

In the News - Monday, December 15, 2008

Specifically, a bill to give the kids of illegal immigrants a path to citizenship.

Sen. Richard Lugar has been a longtime and consistent supporter of such an approach, but intense – and often ugly – emotions have blocked it.

Commentary by Sylvia A. Smith. Ft. Wayne (Ind.) Journal Gazette

http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081207/EDIT0501/812070370

SOLUTION/SMITH: The answer on immigration

In the News - Sunday, December 14, 2008

The U.S. routinely awards green cards to more than a million legal immigrants each year. They play by the rules, and together with those who have come before them, now comprise the largest legal immigrant population in U.S. history. But to sustain this generous legal immigration policy, we must put an end to illegal immigration.

The solution is simple: enforce current law.

By Rep. Lamar Smith, The Washington Times

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/dec/14/the-answer-on-immigration/

Bush considering easing rules on foreign farm workers

In the News - Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Farmers would have an easier and cheaper time securing foreign guest workers under pending Bush administration rules.

The controversial changes to the so-called H-2A guest-worker program could cut wages and speed worker recruitment. They also would relax requirements for providing foreign workers with housing and transportation.

"The Department of Labor is going to weaken oversight and enforcement," Bruce Goldstein, the executive director of the Farmworker Justice Fund, charged Wednesday.

Michael Doyle, McClatchy Newspapers, December 10, 2008

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/257/story/57549.html

Sullivan: Congress considering guest-worker bill

In the News - Saturday, August 23, 2008

"Congress is leaning toward a guest worker-type program as one means of addressing illegal immigration, 1st District Congressman John Sullivan said Friday at a Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce breakfast."

One of the proposals being looked at is a card for those who want to work here that would be good for, let's say, three to five years," Sullivan said. "There'd be some sort of biometric identification and a background check to make sure they're not a criminal. They'd be able to work here, and they'd also pay taxes...."

Randy Krehbiel, Tulsa World, 23 August 2008

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080823_16_A13_BROKEN484605

Senate panel adds immigration measure to Iraq supplemental

In the News - Friday, May 16, 2008

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"The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday added to an Iraq spending bill a controversial provision to help pave the way for undocumented agriculture workers to win legal status, a move that may reopen the divisive immigration debate on the Senate floor...."

Manu Raju, The Hill, 15 May 2008

Download Publication Web Friendly Version http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/senate-panel-adds-immigration-measure-to-iraq-supplemental-2008-05-15.html

SAVE-ing Immigration Reform

In the News - Friday, March 14, 2008

Something unorthodox occurred on Capitol Hill on Tuesday. The House Republican leadership began pushing a “discharge petition” — a procedural maneuver designed to force a floor vote — on a piece of Democratic legislation. The bill in question is the SAVE Act, authored by freshmen Congressman Heath Shuler (D., N.C.). As written, the SAVE Act’s most notable provisions would add 8,000 border-patrol agents, and within four years mandate that businesses use a government program to verify the legal citizenship of all employees...

By Mark Hemingway, in the National Review, March 14, 2008

http://article.nationalreview.com/print/?q=MDk0OTVlMzI0NWI2MjM0OTdhZjc4MjQ0NjhhMGUzZmM=

House GOP wants immigration vote

In the News - Wednesday, March 12, 2008

... Rep. Thelma Drake (R-Va.), backed by her leaders, filed the discharge petition calling for a vote on the Shuler bill, which would add 8,000 border guards to the federal payroll, expedite the deportation of illegal immigrants and expand an existing database for employers to check the eligibility of a potential worker. ...

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0308/8977.html

House Republicans Seek to Force Floor Vote on Immigration Enforcement Bill

In the News - Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Minority Whip Roy Blunt , R-Mo., said he expects about 100 Republicans to sign the petition by Rep. Thelma Drake , R-Va., which seeks to bring to the House floor border enforcement legislation introduced by Rep. Heath Shuler , D-N.C. Shuler’s bill has 141 cosponsors — 93 Republicans and 48 Democrats. But it is not clear how many Democrats will sign the discharge petition. The petition represents a direct challenge to their party’s leaders, who have not embraced Shuler’s bill.

Congressional Quarterly, March 11, 2008

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=cqmidday-000002685542