White House Meeting on Immigration 'Reform' Likely to Leave Out Interests of the...

White House Meeting on Immigration 'Reform' Likely to Leave Out Interests of
the American Public, Cautions FAIR

WASHINGTON, June 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Tomorrow's long anticipated and
oft-delayed White House meeting on immigration will likely produce a blueprint
for a massive illegal alien amnesty in exchange for hollow promises of future
enforcement, warns the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). The
plan being promoted by President Obama and Democratic congressional leaders is
essentially the same one that the American people rejected in 2006 and 2007.

The American people have little reason to believe that any commitments to
protect their interests would be honored. Since taking office, the Obama
administration has all but abandoned enforcement of U.S. immigration laws.
Worksite enforcement has been dramatically curtailed, implementation of
E-Verify requirements have been scuttled, cooperation with state and local law
enforcement has been scaled back, while the Department of Justice has made it
easier for illegal aliens to remain in the country. Ironically, tougher
enforcement efforts implemented during the final 18 months of the Bush
administration had, for the first time, begun to reverse the flow of illegal
immigration.

"The only thing comprehensive about so-called comprehensive immigration reform
would be the amnesty for people who have violated our laws," observed Dan
Stein, president of FAIR. "While millions of illegal aliens would be rewarded,
struggling American workers and overburdened taxpayers would pay a heavy price
were Congress and the administration to repeat the mistakes of the 1986
amnesty."

Some of the questions likely not to be addressed at tomorrow's White House
summit include:
-- What impact would a massive amnesty have on already soaring
unemployment?
-- How would a repeat of the massive fraud that took place in 1986 be
prevented?
-- How would adequate background checks be carried out on the estimated
12
to 15 million illegal aliens who would be eligible?
-- How many additional relatives, now living outside the U.S., would be
eligible for amnesty?
-- How would future illegal immigration be averted when the
administration
refuses to implement existing systems to prevent employment of illegal
aliens?
-- How would state and local governments - some already teetering on
bankruptcy - pay for services required by newly legalized aliens and
their families?

"The American people have some very clear ideas about the priorities President
Obama and Congress need to address - and a massive illegal alien amnesty isn't
one of them," said Stein. "The public wants our immigration system fixed, but
they expect their interests, not the interests of the people who broke our
laws, to be paramount. Unfortunately, the public interest will at best be an
afterthought as the president and congressional leaders pursue a politically
driven, narrow interest immigration agenda," concluded Stein.

About FAIR
Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With
over 250,000 members nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that
serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that
immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy,
protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is
recognized and enforced.

SOURCE FAIR

Ira Mehlman, +1-206-420-7733, or Bob Dane, +1-202-328-7004, both of FAIR