January 17, 2007
In this update:
AgJobs Debuts as First Guest Worker Amnesty Legislation of 110th Congress
Proposal by Governor Schwarzenegger Would Provide Health Care Coverage to Illegal Aliens
Members of Congress Speak Out on the Ramos-Compean Case; Judge Rules Border Patrol Agents Must Report to Prison
Recent Floor Statements
Press Release
AgJobs Debuts as First Guest Worker Amnesty Legislation of 110th Congress
Last Wednesday, Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Larry Craig (R-ID), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Mel Martinez (R-FL), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and George Voinovich (R-OH) introduced the first guest worker amnesty legislation of the 110th Congress. Entitled the Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits and Security Act of 2007, or known by most as the "AgJobs" bill, this legislation would allow illegal aliens who have worked in the agriculture sector for a portion of the past three to five years to apply for temporary legal status and then permanent resident status, putting them on a path to citizenship. Families of the 1.5 million illegal aliens receiving guest worker status would also be eligible for legalization (and eventual citizenship) if they are already living in the country.
In addition to providing amnesty to agricultural guest workers, the AgJobs bill would speed up the approval process for workers who come to the U.S. under the H-2A program. The H-2A program is an existing guest worker program that allows an unlimited number of agricultural workers to work in the U.S. on a temporary basis. Employers and farmers, however, argue that this program is too cumbersome and that the process needs to be "streamlined" to better serve the businesses that depend on guest workers.
AgJobs was part of S.2611, the massive guest worker amnesty legislation that passed the Senate last spring. Over 400 business and special interest groups support Senator Feinstein's AgJobs legislation.
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Proposal by Governor Schwarzenegger Would Provide Health Care Coverage to Illegal Aliens
Last week, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger released a $12 billion proposal for universal health care insurance, extending coverage to all of the state's 36 million residents. Approximately 6.5 million Californians are uninsured, significantly more than in any other state. Officials estimate that at least one million of the uninsured are illegal aliens.
Like the Massachusetts health care plan, Governor Schwarzenegger's plan will require that every Californian, regardless of his or her immigration status, obtain health care insurance. For those who cannot afford it, the state will subsidize the cost. Those who go without health insurance will be subject to tax penalties.
The plan will also require businesses with 10 or more employees to offer insurance to their workers or pay 4 percent of their payroll into a state fund. Insurers would no longer be allowed to deny coverage to people because of their medical problems. All children, regardless of their immigration status, would be covered through an expansion of the state and federal Healthy Families program.
Much of the immediate opposition, according to The Washington Post, is expected to come from fellow Republicans, who object that the plan will be costly for small businesses. In addition, Schwarzenegger is expected to face opposition for the extension of health coverage to illegal aliens. Indeed, Assembly Republican Leader Michael Villines has already criticized the plan, arguing it would "create a worldwide incentive to come to California for healthcare. The magnet would be enormous."
Californians statewide seem to agree. The Los Angeles Times reports that a new San Jose State University poll shows that Californians generally oppose the idea of the state providing health insurance to illegal aliens. The statewide poll of 985 Californians, conducted just before Schwarzenegger unveiled his plan, proposed generic questions. When asked whether the state should guarantee health insurance for illegal immigrants, 37% answered yes, 52% no. The negative reaction was even stronger among registered voters: 32% yes, 58% no. The strongest support for the plan was in Los Angeles.
Public opposition may be due to heightened awareness of the impact illegal immigration has on the state coffers. For example, The North County Times reports that last spring, the State of California issued a report concluding that a significant number of Medi-Cal paid deliveries were for illegal aliens. Specifically, the report showed that in 2004, providers delivered 248,086 babies statewide at taxpayers' expense. Of those, 42.6 percent were to illegal aliens. Los Angeles County, Orange County, and San Diego County were the top three counties registering births to illegal aliens. State officials estimate that in 2004, the total cost to California taxpayers ran more than $400 million.
Governor Schwarzenegger's proposal will require legislative action to go into effect. If passed, California would become the fifth and by far the largest state to attempt near universal health coverage for its residents. The other four states are Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont and Hawaii.Back to top
Members of Congress Speak Out on the Ramos-Compean Case; Judge Rules Border Patrol Agents Must Report to Prison
Last week, more than 20 members of Congress from both parties sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, expressing their concern over the prosecution and conviction of Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean. These members asked Attorney General Gonzales not to oppose a motion filed in court requesting that the two men remain free on bond pending the appeal of their conviction. Agents Ramos and Compean were scheduled to report to prison this month after being convicted of criminal assault for firing shots at Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila, an illegal alien who was smuggling 743 pounds of marijuana in to the U.S. For doing their job to secure our borders and protect our nation, Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean were sentenced to 11 and 12 years in federal prison respectively.
In a Capitol Hill press conference, Congressmen Walter Jones, (R-NC), Ted Poe, (R-TX), Tom Tancredo, (R-CO), Dana Rohrabacher, (R-CA), and Duncan Hunter, (R-CA), among others, voiced their dismay at how the agents had been treated by the U.S. criminal justice system. Border Patrol Agent Jose Compean and his wife, Patty Compean, thanked the members and all of their supporters for working so hard on their behalf. Also there in support of the agents were: Andy Ramirez, President of Friends of the Border Patrol; T.J. Bonner, President of the National Border Patrol Council; and Rich Pierce, Executive Vice President of the National Border Patrol Council.
Despite these efforts to keep Agents Ramos and Compean free pending appeal, the judge in the Ramos-Compean case ruled against the agents yesterday, denying bond pending appeal and denying an extension of time to report to prison. Agents Ramos and Compean are therefore expected to report to prison today.
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Recent Floor Statements
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) commented on Tough, Practical, Effective Comprehensive Immigration Reform Package Needed (January 12, 2007)
Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) commented on Social Security For Illegals? (January 11, 2007)
Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) commented on AgJobs (January 11, 2007)
Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) commented on Border Agents Ramos and Compean (January 10, 2007)
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) commented on the Fair Minimum Wage Act Of 2007 (January 10, 2007)
Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) commented on Deputy Gilmer Hernandez--Border Lawman (January 10, 2007)
Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) commented on Mexico Goes High-Tech On Illegal Entry (January 9, 2007)
Rep. John P. Murtha (D-PA) commented on Implementing The 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act Of 2007 (January 9, 2007)
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Press Release
New Study by FAIR Shows Illegal Immigration Costs New Jersey More Than $2.1 Billion A Year (January 10, 2007)
FAIR's Reform Agenda for the 110th Congress (January 10, 2007)
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