Response from Congressman Farr on immigration bill

Thank you for contacting me to share your views on immigration. This is an issue with strong feelings on both sides. I want you to know that I do not support illegal immigration, that I believe all persons should respect and honor our laws for admission to our country and I am grateful for the US Border Patrol and National Guard who regulate our borders to discourage lawbreakers.

However, the fact is that 12 million undocumented immigrants reside in the United States . This issue will not go away. We cannot turn our backs on the matter and must find some reasonable solution to addressing the issues raised by this many undocumented persons living amongst us.

Since his first year in office, President Bush made the implementation of a guest worker program a priority for his Presidency. It is his position, based on advice from law enforcement, that it is not possible to "round up" 12 million persons and deport them. I have to agree. Another means of addressing the illegal immigration issue must be found. Last December, the House Republican Leadership brought to the House Floor HR 4437. This bill would make anyone in the country illegally a felon, and criminalizes humanitarian aid and religious workers who provide assistance to the undocumented as well. It also calls for a wall along our border with Mexico .

The Senate Republican Leadership also agreed to address immigration reform this Congress. It passed S. 2611 on May 25, 2006. This bill has as its core a guest worker program for the agriculture industry and provides a path to citizenship for the current illegal aliens abiding in the country.

The House and Senate Conference Committee must reconcile the differences in this bill. I will support legislation that strikes a balance between American jobs, border safety and national security interests.

"There is a lesson here for Republicans in the coming elections, but I am sure they are too obtuse and arrogant to get it. They think the voters of Herndon and California 50th are just too stupid. They will learn come November just how smart they are."

Let's not forget about football god Tom Osborne losing the primary in Nebraska because of his pro-illegal stance. And longtime incumbent RINO Cannon is in a runoff due to his love of illegals. They sure as hell better be taking notes. There's a collective Popeye chant out there from "We the People". That's all we can stands and we can't stands no more.

Newt Gingrich on the election of Congresman Bilbray. He may take note of it.

There are three big lessons to be learned from the dynamics that drove this election.

1. Independence and a willingness to stand up for the folks back home overcame President Bush's low approval rating. Ultimately, 2006 is not a presidential election and it will not be a referendum on the President if Republicans go home and do their job of representing the values and concerns of the people who elect them.

2. Fighting to control the border and defend the American people on illegal immigration (the House position) really works. Amnesty (the Senate bill) was clearly repudiated by Republican voters.

3. However dissatisfied Republican voters are with Washington, when they realize the Democrat is a Nancy Pelosi-Howard Dean liberal they turn against them. This means that Republican candidates this fall must be prepared to make their liberal Democrat opponents bear the burden of their positions. The Democrats cannot be allowed to hide their ideology. Remember, the Democrat had 44% in the first round and Bilbray had 15%. Busby couldn't break out beyond her liberal base. She was simply too liberal.

This can be the story again and again this fall. Republicans are not perfect but liberal Democrats are unacceptable as an alternative.

Finally, people should also note that Congressman Tom Reynolds and his team at the NRCC did their job when it really mattered. They won. By contrast, despite all the recent positive press, the DCCC chairman Congressman Rahm Emanuel and his team invested a lot of resources and lost.

This guy's for welfare for illegals, anchor babies, and "a path of citizenship".....BUT, "...I do not support illegal immigration,...". How insulting to read.

Also, where was Congress when the number of illegal aliens was only 1 million? 2 million? 3 million? 4 million? 5 million? 6 million? 7 million? 8 million? 9 million? 10 million? 11 million? Does anyone else believe 12 million is a low ball number?

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