Washington, DC -   Congressman Towns has proposed a "middle ground" to help calm down the debate and uncover the most reasonable solution to the many issues surrounding illegal immigration. Ask Brooklynites about illegal immigration and you are likely to get a dozen different answers in perhaps as many languages.  Illegal immigration and the Federal laws that regulate it are currently a part of a red-hot debate across the country. This debate spans issues like security against potential terrorist threats, family reunification, prevention of illegal border crossings, employment of illegal immigrants and the cost of social services to these populations.  Competing views on these and other issues have caused raucous debates in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"In our debates we seem to have forgotten that immigration is basically a human concern.  It's about the lives of millions of people both illegal immigrants and existing citizens.  No matter our political persuasions, our geographic locations, or our personal experiences, all of us in Congress should want to find the best approaches to illegal immigration that incorporate the principles of Americanism and protect our borders.  That is why I have submitted H.R. 5190 for the consideration of Congress." 

H.R. 5190, creates a short-term, six-month, Joint Senate and House Commission that will work directly with immigration groups from all points of view.  The Commission will have the power to conduct formal congressional hearings, hold formal sessions, conduct site visits, gather the latest federal state and local immigration reports, analyses and secondary research and have the objective of completing its final report six months from the date of its inception. The final report of the Commission should contain an economic cost benefit analysis of immigration, including a review of the impact on low wage earners, native-born minorities, including African Americans and native-born Hispanic workers and the impact upon public health care systems and urban and rural school districts.

With the consideration of this crucial legislation, Congress will come significantly closer to resolving the wide range of issues affected by how we treat the millions of people who have crossed U.S. borders illegally.  

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