John Cornyn's views on Illegal Immigration

[John Cornyn-SAC]

Illegal Immigration is a problem that affects the U.S. specially the southern states. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, "the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) estimates that in January of 2000 there were 7 million illegal aliens living in the United States, a number that is growing by half a million a year. Thus, the illegal-alien population in 2003 stands at at least 8 million. Included in this estimate are approximately 78,000 illegal aliens from countries who are of special concern in the war on terror. Most (...) Mexicans who are in the USA illegally came because of family connections and better job opportunities here, not because they were unemployed or destitute in their homeland. The typical Mexican worker earns one-tenth his American counterpart, and numerous American businesses are willing to hire cheap, compliant labor from abroad; such businesses are seldom punished because our country lacks a viable system to verify new hires' work eligibility. In addition, communities of recently arrived legal immigrants help create immigration networks used by illegal aliens and serve as incubators for illegal immigration, providing jobs, housing, and entree to America for illegal-alien relatives and fellow countrymen.

Cornyn's hometown of San Antonio is only 150 miles from Mexico, and he has taken an interest in immigration and citizenship issues. In January 2005 he became chairman of the Immigration Subcommittee. One of Cornyn's first successful bills reduced from three years to one the waiting period for citizenship for legal aliens serving in the armed forces. He sponsored a bill to increase the time Mexicans with border crossing cards can remain in the United States from 72 hours to six months, the same time allowed for Canadians. And he proposed guest worker legislation, to allow workers with willing employers to get either seasonal visas (primarily farm workers) or nonseasonal visas for 12 months which could be extended to 36 months; some of their wages would be taken by the government and placed in bank accounts in their home countries, for their use when they return. This proposal was criticized by some who want to put guest workers on the path to citizenship and by others who argue that we should deport illegal aliens and not let guest workers in. Cornyn argues that it is unrealistic to expect that we will deport the estimated 8 to 10 million illegal aliens in the country and that people who want to work should be encouraged. He opposes military patrol of the border or building a fence along most of its length--these would disrupt life in South Texas, he argues--but backed the measure passed by the House in February 2005 that would allow completion of the 14-mile fence in San Diego despite the objections of the California Coastal Commission and that would bar driver's licenses for illegal aliens being recognized by airport screeners or federal building security agents. Also building a fence would push some part of the University of Texas branch in Brownsville, Texas, into the Mexican side. The situation would create problems for the university students and would affect wildlife.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn made this statement with the intention to proceed the Dream Ac, according to the article Immigration Reform and Border Security: “As I have long said, I have a great deal of sympathy for the plight of children who have no moral culpability for being in this country illegally. Congress should continue seeking reasonable and responsible ways they can complete their education and achieve opportunity." Unfortunately, the Durbin bill contains a number of gaping loopholes, while failing to address the much larger need for comprehensive immigration reform and the immediate crisis at our borders. For example, it contains no firm requirement for the illegal immigrant to graduate with a degree from an accredited U.S. institution of Higher Education (either a two or four-year institution), it grants them broad access to federal student loans at a time when we are struggling to meet loan needs for our own citizens, and it extends the benefits to adults, rather than focusing on children. Moreover, from a law enforcement perspective, his bill does nothing to prevent fraud, allows certain criminal aliens to qualify for legal status, and ties the hands of law enforcement by severely limiting their access to application information. “If my colleagues who support this measure are committed to solving America’s immigration crisis and the plight of illegal immigrants, then the focus of this Congress should be on passing a comprehensive reform bill that addresses all of our pressing immigration matters, including securing our broken borders and the needs of American businesses for more workers.”

Works Cited

Center for Immigration Studies

<http://www.cis.org/topics/illegalimmigration.html>

US Senator John Cornyn Texas

<http://cornyn.senate.gov/public/>

Almanac of American Politics 2006- Sen. John Cornyn (R)- Texas

<http://nationaljournal.com/pubs/almanac/2006/people/tx/txs2.htm>

Family, better jobs pull Mexicans to USA USA TODAY, December 7, 2005, Wednesday, Haya El Nasser . <http://hermes.sac.accd.edu>

Academic Search Complete. Blumenthal, Ralph. New York Times; 6/20/2007, Vol. 156 Issue 53981, pA17-A17, 2/3p.

This candidate piece was composed by Alana Baron.

[hconklin]

Senator Cornyn, you have introduced information that most people do not publicize - most immigrants living in the US did not leave their home due to a destitute situation. If this is true, that puts a new frame around the immigrant picture. We are glad they like it here, but the Dream Act will be paid for by Americans who pay. I hope you consider some way to have the parents of the children needing help at least realize, if not somehow pay for things they need just as most Americans have to. This is a very complex problem, one that has been with us a while, but it does need solving.

[Patricia]

It is very interesting the way he plans to "solve" the immigration issues. I agree with the Dream Act because it is not fair for those children who were brought here without their full knowledge of what was going on and then just deport them, when they see the U.S as their country as well

[Alana Baron]

I'm not in favor of illegal immigration, but I understand why they come here. The illegals that are here and working honestly should be encouraged; but the ones who want to contraband should be deported. We all know that the US is a country with great opportunities and that there are many people with really tough lives. So I don't blame them for wanting to help their family. I agree with Senator John Cornyn. He doesn't blame the children for being illegal in the country and also proposes a solution for them to continue their education. And for the parents, he proposes that the ones who are willing to work here get a green card so they can stay in the country. So consequently that will probably resolve the problem here, and giving them jobs which they came here for in the first place. He opposes the border fence. I don't know if the fence would be much help because they would find other ways of entering the country. He has some accomplishments including: sponsoring the Comprehensive Enforcement and Immigration Reform Act of 2005, and cosponsoring the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program Reauthorization Bill.