Take Action: Reject Enforcement-Only Immigration Legislation

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Reject Enforcement-Only Immigration Legislation

In November 2007, the Secure America Through Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act (HR 4088), a bill that would result in egregious and inhumane immigration reform, was introduced in the House by Reps. Heath Shuler (D-NC), Tom Tancredo (R-CO), and Brian Bilbray (R-CA). Recently, the bill's sponsors filed a discharge petition to bring the flawed SAVE Act directly to the floor of the House, bypassing usual legislative procedure and preventing committee debate as well as floor amendments.

Rather than systematically addressing the problems in our immigration system, the SAVE Act throws more money at the border (despite funding increases already appropriated in the 2008 budget), mandates expanded use of a flawed employer verification system, and spends more taxpayer dollars on prosecuting, detaining, and deporting needed workers. The SAVE Act would also impose nationwide requirements on local police officers to act as immigration agents -- a policy that has been shown to foster distrust between law enforcement and the communities they protect. It also calls for millions of taxpayer dollars to construct 8,000 more detention spaces for immigrants even though half of all immigrants in detention have no criminal record.

Subject:

Dear [Decision maker's name automatically inserted here],

(Edit Letter Below)

I urge you to reject the Secure America through Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act (HR 4088) and decline to sign the discharge petition. Proposals such as those contained within the SAVE Act would only exacerbate our broken immigration system, and fail to provide the comprehensive remedies so desperately needed.

The SAVE Act is simply a fear-motivated approach. This legislation would increase deportations and serve to undermine the efficacy of laws in place to protect immigrants. It would accelerate plans to expand an employer verification system that has well documented flaws. This legislation also places an unnecessary burden on law enforcement officials by imposing nationwide requirements on local police officers to act as immigration agents. Such practices have been shown to foster distrust between law enforcement and the communities they protect. In some communities, immigrants have even been targeted for theft and assault because it is known that they will be too afraid and intimidated to report the crimes.

The SAVE Act is a costly and inhumane approach to immigration reform. Please do not sign the discharge petition, and instead work toward a comprehensive solution.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]


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