foreign worker increase deal still alive in Senate

Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2008 2:39 AM

<<<<< JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER No. 1917 -- 9/16/2008 >>>>>

Several days ago this newsletter had a warning that Congress could pass a huge
green card recapture bill. Unfortunately the news is no better this week.

Roy Beck's message below, and the one from the Immigration Lawyers Website
(ILW) that follows spells big trouble.

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http://www.numbersusa.com/content/nusablog/beckr/september-15-2008/massive-foreign-worker-increase-back-ali.html

Massive foreign worker increase back alive in Senate backroom negotiations

By Roy Beck, Monday, September 15, 2008, 1:04 AM

Just as we had seemed to push back attempts for massive increases in foreign
workers by the U.S. House last week, we now learn the danger has risen to
Orange Alert level in the Senate.
Let's take a look at some of the millions of Americans who are being ignored
by Senate staffers as they negotiate behind closed doors to bring in
additional permanent immigrant workers next year:

THESE AMERICANS BEING SACRIFICED IN BACKROOM SENATE TALKS In August, 592,000
additional Americans were added to the official unemployment rolls.
Total number of Americans who are officially unemployed, looking for a job and
can't find one? 8.28 million!
Current official unemployment rate (highest in 5 years)? 6% Official
unemployment rate considerably higher for Hispanic women: 8.7% Rate twice as
high for Black American men: 12.3%!
Look to see whether Sen. McCain or Sen. Obama show any concerns at all for
these people in their Presidential races.

CLEAN E-VERIFY RE-AUTHORIZATION AGAIN IN DOUBT We had counted on Republican
Senators to agree to stand up to the blackmail of Sen. Menendez that we've
been telling you about for the last month.
(Read background in my previous blogs.) Sadly, we have learned that an
undetermined number of Republican staffers are now also trying to increase
foreign workers during a time of rising American unemployment.

Menendez -- you may recall -- has put a hold on re-authorization of the E-
Verify on-line program that keeps illegal aliens out of jobs.

He has been saying he will let the Senate vote to keep the program going IF
the Senate will also add hundreds of thousands more permanent immigrants.
Our understanding has been that Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-Nevada) was
ready last week to over-rule Menendez and bring E-Verify to the floor. And it
looked like Reid was willing to do it without adding extra foreign workers.

Then at the end of the week, several Republican staffers seem to have re-
opened the whole thing to add foreign workers, apparently to satisfy the
demands of special interest lobbyists.

Our message to every Senate office has to be:

1. No increase in immigration and foreign workers of any kind.

2. Re-authorize E-Verify without any strings -- just like the House did a
month ago.

CAPITOL HILL SWITCHBOARD: 202-224-3121

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http://www.ilw.com/immigdaily/digest/2008,0916.shtm

Congress Is Listening

There is a surprising opportunity for real immigration benefits in the next
two weeks, here's why. There are several immigration bills up for
consideration in Congress, including the recapture of 500,000 unused family
and employment visa numbers (also including nursing relief, relief for
military immigration families, and reauthorization of E-Verify). With Congress
adjourning, the next two weeks are pivotal with all the pending matters over
the past two years being combined in an omnibus appropriations bill. In
addition to this traditional end-of-Congress opportunity, we have a close
Presidential election. Presidential elections happen only every other
Congress, close Presidential elections are even less common (this is the third
close Presidential election in recent history). The historic point is that
this time both political parties are aware that there is a key swing bloc, the
immigrant vote. As usual, both Republicans and Democrats in Congress want to
help their Presidential candidate on key issues before adjourning, and this is
even more important given the closeness of the election. Since it is becoming
clear that the immigrant vote will be the decisive voting bloc in most key
states, Congress is likely to be more sensitive to immigration advocates now.
We urge immigration advocates to reach out to their local newspapers and tv
stations and make the case for immigration benefits, Congress is listening.

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