House Members Urge President to Enforce Immigration Laws to Lower Unemployment

House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) released a letter that he and 21 other House members sent to President Obama, urging him to increase immigration enforcement efforts to help reduce the 10.2% unemployment rate.

The letter addressed, Pres. Obama’s statement on Nov. 2 when he said, “If somebody can show me a strategy that’s going to work, then we are happy to consider it,” while addressing the unemployment situation.

In the letter, the House Reps wrote:

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) worksite enforcement actions save and create jobs for Americans and legal workers if the illegal immigrant workers are detained and deported. Each time ICE conducts a worksite enforcement action, there is an opportunity to ensure that jobs previously held by illegal immigrants are opened to legal workers.

… according to the most recent estimates from the Pew Hispanic Center, seven million jobs are held by illegal immigrants. Any action your administration takes to prevent illegal immigrants from getting jobs will help ensure that an American has a job. Worksite enforcement actions are the most effective way to do so.

— Letter to Pres. Obama from House Members

Rep. Smith further added…

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.”

— Rep. Lamar Smith

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.

To read the full letter, see Rep. Smith’s website.