A Nation Founded and Built by Immigrant Families

Legal immigrants have made the U.S. the greatest nation in history

By, Elizabeth Emken

Candidate for Congress, California’s 11th District

Most every American can proudly claim they are children, grandchildren or great grandchildren of immigrants. We are a nation founded and built by immigrant families who came to our country legally, seeking American citizenship and the opportunity for a better life. It takes exceptional people to meet the requirements of American citizenship which is as it should be--we are an exceptional country.

Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution charges Congress to “establish a uniform rule of Naturalization.” Yet, Nancy Pelosi’s Democrat controlled Congress has shamelessly politicized the immigration debate with amnesty as their ultimate goal. In the wake of Arizona’s much discussed and much distorted immigration bill signed into law this past week, it is important to keep the rights of U.S. citizens, legal immigrants and the need for a secure border front and center. The current obfuscation by the left is designed to upend uniformity and punish the efforts of honest, law abiding immigrants who have followed the rules of the United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) to become legal citizens.

In California, illegal immigration is adding enormous costs to an already deficit burdened state. According to a 2004 study conducted by the Federation of American Immigration Reform (FAIR) a non-partisan, national public interest organization, illegal aliens cost the state of California approximately $10.5 billion per year. At the end of 2004 when the study was completed, FAIR estimated the annual cost to each California household was $1,183 to educate, incarcerate and provide health care to illegal aliens. Imagine the cost in 2010.

Some have said that illegal aliens are willing to do jobs that California’s won’t. With over 12% of the state’s population unemployed, that argument withers. Others have argued it is impossible to verify citizenship. Or that we simply can’t stop the flow through our porous borders. I emphatically disagree. My good friend, Congressman Ed Royce (CA-40) was a co-sponsor of the Secure Fence Act that would establish double fencing in the areas of highest border traffic. The bill passed by overwhelming majorities in both the House and Senate. Subsequent bills passed by Nancy Pelosi’s Democrat controlled Congress have undermined the Secure Fence Act and put up numerous bureaucratic and legal hurdles to prohibit completion of the fence.

According to Rasmussen Reports, 67% of voters believe illegal aliens are a significant strain on the U.S. budget. And 68% say “gaining control of the border is more important than legalizing the status of undocumented workers already living in the United States.” Yet Nancy Pelosi and her gang refuse to listen to the people. Once again.

Of the four candidates running in the Republican primary (June 8th) for California’s 11th District, I offer the strongest stand on immigration policy. As your member of Congress I will take targeted steps to deal with the crisis at the border including reinstating funding for the Secure Fence Act and advocating a military presence until the border is secure. I will advocate increased usage of the E-Verify program by employers, and enhanced prosecution of those employers who knowingly hire illegal workers. I will fight to remove the incentives--free education and health care--for illegal aliens and assist them in returning home. I will stand by my oath to establish a uniform rule of Naturalization according to the Constitution. And I will continue to support and encourage all those seeking a better life in the United States to follow the legal immigration process.

Oh yes, and there is one more thing I promise to do if elected: help take back the gavel from Speaker Nancy Pelosi.