FAIR Urges New Congress to Promote True Immigration Reform Enforcement Key to Satisfying Voters and Improving Economy

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Nov 03, 2010, 05:00 ET

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In the aftermath of Tuesday's historic elections, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) looks forward to working with the new congressional leadership to reform America's broken immigration policies. Immigration became a key issue in countless races across the country, and remains one that Americans across the country want addressed in the 112th Congress. Polls clearly demonstrate that voters believe that mass immigration and unchecked illegal immigration undermine American workers, burden American taxpayers and compromise public safety.

"FAIR urges the leadership of the next Congress to embrace the agenda of the American people and transform our immigration policy to place their interests first," said Dan Stein, president of FAIR. "The American people want our immigration laws enforced and overall levels of immigration reduced. They have clearly repudiated efforts to enact amnesty for millions of illegal aliens and increase foreign labor for business interests."

Tuesday's elections also offer new opportunities to promote true immigration reform at the state and local level. Voters around the country have expressed strong support for state and local involvement in immigration enforcement. "FAIR has helped build a strong grassroots movement across the country to promote sensible policies that allow local governments to fill the void left by federal obstruction to immigration enforcement. We look forward to working with newly-elected state and local officials to advance state and local policies that discourage illegal immigration," said Stein.

FAIR notes that there is already bipartisan consensus for many critically needed immigration reforms. Enacting these key reforms must be a high priority for the 112th Congress. Among the reforms that already enjoy bipartisan consensus are:

Mandatory work eligibility verification
Meaningful civil and criminal penalties against employers who hire illegal aliens
Enhanced security along our land, sea and air borders
Increased cooperation with state and local law enforcement
Elimination of sanctuary policies
An end to family chain migration
Elimination of the needless visa lottery program

"These are popular and common sense reforms," Stein continued. "There is no reason or justification to hold these much needed reforms hostage to narrow interests that demand amnesty for illegal aliens or more low-wage foreign labor for business interests."

FAIR commissioned national and state-based exit polling of voters in Tuesday's elections that measure the role of immigration policy in influencing election outcomes. Those national and local polling results will be released later this week.

About FAIR

Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 250,000 members nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced.

SOURCE FAIR