WASHINGTON  -  U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) today cautioned that the U.S. Senate’s proposal to reform American immigration laws will meet with her stern opposition if the measure reaches the U.S. House of Representatives.  The immigration reform measure is set for a Senate vote tomorrow.

“Living in America is a privilege, not a right, and this is an irresponsible bill that puts amnesty ahead of American law.  It’s absurd to reward illegal immigration at any point, but it’s downright unintelligent to do so when our borders are still unsecured,” Emerson said.

Most recently in the debate over the immigration reform bill, the U.S. Senate approved
amendments to limit a proposed new temporary guest worker program to five years, and blocked illegal aliens given legal status under the bill from receiving the Earned Income Tax Credit.

“I think some of the people working on this bill are missing the point,” Emerson said.  “These amendments don’t change the facts of the case: there are people living in our country illegally, who have willfully ignored U.S. law, and the Senate is debating how to bring more immigrants to our country and which tax breaks they should or shouldn’t get.  Why aren’t we attacking this problem at the root source?”

Emerson cited her previous votes on border enforcement in the U.S. House of Representatives as proof that legislation can address border security without taking on the question of amnesty or immigration reform.

“I for one cannot look past the violation of our laws and borders that has led to an estimated 12 million illegal aliens living in our country.  I worry about the future when Congress is actually trying to provide incentives for illegal immigration.  We have a duty to secure U.S. borders and protect the laws that make our nation the envy of the free world,” Emerson said.  “This bill does not take that mandate seriously.”

Emerson also cited a congressional rule that requires any legislation requiring new funding to originate in the House of Representatives.  Under the rule, the Senate bill could be disqualified from consideration in the House and not reach final passage.

“I’m not concerned with how we stop this misguided bill – I care about how soon we can stop it,” Emerson said.  “Every day this proposal gets credible exposure as a serious possibility is a day we are giving a good reason for someone in a foreign country to choose illegal immigration over the legal process.”

An independent analysis of the bill by the Congressional Budget Office found that, even with the law enforcement and employer verification provisions of the bill intact, the legislation could only be expected to reduce illegal immigration into the United States by 25 percent.