Georgia Congressional District 11 Republican candidates respond to three question on immigration
The Dustin Inman Society GA11 GOP candidate issue questionnaire.
(Un-edited version)
Bob Barr
Barry Loudermilk
Sent to the candidates campaigns on June 17, 2014 at 12:39 PM
Response from Loudermilk campaign received on June 19, 2014 at 4:17 PM
Response from Barr Campaign received on June 20, 2014 at 6:24 PM
1) Driven mostly by illegal employment, illegal immigration is costing Georgia taxpayers and the state budget about $2.4 billion dollars a year according to Gov. Deal in 2011. Georgia contains more illegal aliens than Arizona, according to DHS.
In 1996, congress created what is now known as the federal E-Verify employment verification system. Free to use, internet-based and mostly a voluntary program today, the system was originally proposed as a nationwide, mandatory-use program for all employers. Use of E-Verify uses Social Security numbers and other data already available to the federal government to offer employers guidance on the employment eligibility of already-hired new employees.
Rather like the concept that no one would break into Disney World if they know they can’t ride the rides, most experts on both sides of the debate agree that mandating use of E-Verify would go a long way in reducing illegal immigration and protecting American jobs. E-Verify is already required for many federal contractors. Georgia has had E-Verify use law on the books since 2006.
Q – Given that it is a federal offense to knowingly hire and employ illegal labor, as a member of congress, would you work to pass federal legislation that mandated use of E-Verify for all employers, nationwide? *Note: this is a “YES” or “NO” question.
Barry Loudermilk: “YES”
Bob Barr: “YES”
2) Traditional levels of (legal) immigration is around 250,000-300,000 annually. The U.S. currently takes in more than one million legal immigrants each year, more than any other nation in the world. The Pew Center, the Washington-based Center for Immigration Studies and other authorities report that most immigrants tend to vote big-government Democrat. A coalition of activists on the left who are in search of new voters and business interests looking for higher profits dominate the immigration debate in Washington and are pushing hard for not only another legalization program, but a doubling or tripling of legal immigration and huge expansion of the various existing guest worker programs. The general proposal is to add about 33 million permanent job seekers through legalization and immigration increases over the next decade. Thirty three million is almost the equivalent of California. This does not count the proposed doubling of guest workers that some in Congress are calling for.
Using the logic of natural laws of supply and demand, many voters make the observation that, importing even more foreign labor, legal or not, would surely result in lower wages and more desperation from American workers in the search for jobs.
Q – Are there any circumstances under which you would vote to increase legal immigration and guest worker levels as the people’s Rep from the 11th District of Georgia? *Note: This is a “YES” or “NO” question.
Barry Loudermilk: “NO”
Bob Barr: “NO”
3) In the U.S., there are correctly severe penalties for parents leaving their children alone in a parked car. These penalties are enforced.
Estimates are that by the end of the fiscal year ending October 1, about 90,000 children between the ages of 17-4 will have been brought to and dropped off at the southern border of the USA. because People have been told by news outlets in Central America that congress will soon pass another amnesty or that President Obama will unilaterally grant them and the parents who bring them parents free passage into the country and supply them with benefits and schooling. These illegal aliens are searching for and confidently turning themselves in to American Border Patrol Agents. Many of the illegal crossers are pregnant. President Obama has awarded taxpayer funded legal assistance to these illegal aliens, although there is no requirement that Americans pay for this legal assistance. Reports from Texas alone show that about 1000 illegal aliens are coming over each day.
Q – As a member of congress, what action would you push for regarding these children dropped of at our borders and the people who bring them in to the USA illegally? *NOTE: Please limit your responses to 100 words.
Barry Loudermilk: “The root of the illegal immigration crisis in the United States is twofold. First, the Southern Border is not secure and the Federal Government has not taken steps to secure our nation from illegal entry. Our Border Patrol is underfunded, undermanned and has not been given the technological tools they need to ensure the safety and security of residents who live along the border. Secondly, our legal immigration system and work visa program is broken. Furthermore, the Federal government is not forcing the immigration laws we have on the books. Before we can have any relief from the influx of illegal aliens entering into the United State we must secure the borders, enforce our current immigration laws and reform our legal immigration system.
The current influx of children into the United States is placing a tremendous burden on Border States. My heart goes out to these children and families who are being brought across the border, but the Federal government and especially the current administration have not only avoided preventing this travesty, but are encouraging it by providing legal services for these families, at taxpayers’ expense.
While these families are here and under the authority and care of our immigration and naturalization service, we should provide for their immediate medical and basic needs, but only until they are returned to the authorities of the nation from which they originated to be reunited with their families.”strong>
Bob Barr: “The mass border crossings by “children” reflects a deliberate policy by this Administration to encourage people to enter the U.S. illegally. The Congress must take action immediately – through its oversight responsibility and the power of the purse – to stop this Administration from spending taxpayer dollars dispersing these children around the country.
It is one thing to provide sustenance to the children in the immediate area of the border; beyond that, they should be placed on buses and sent back to Mexico. We must demand Mexico take action to stop this illegal migration, instead of condoning if not encouraging it.”