Mr. McCain on Immigration

Word

John McCain believes America’s immigration system is broken. He is committed to a two-step process to reform.

“we’ve got to secure the borders first“, secondly…

Implement an electronic employment verification system

Identify and aggressively prosecute employers that continue to hire illegal immigrant.

implement temporary worker programs that will reflect the labor needs of the United States

• Reform caps for H-1B visa program to rise and fall in response to market conditions.  Reduce bureaucracy and waiting times
• Implement a usable, market based system for low-skilled workers to enter the United States in an orderly fashion
• Offer a limited number of green cards to reflect the small number of workers that may wish to remain in the United States permanently

Reality

Mr. McCain has sided with the pro-amnesty, open-borders crowd.

In 2006, Mr. McCain voted for an amendment to S. 2611 offered by Sen. Arlen Specter to require consultation with the Mexican government concerning the construction of fencing along the U.S.-Mexican border. According to Numbers USA, an organization that lobbies against illegal immigration, this amendment would have effectively guaranteed that the border fence was never built.

Supported Social Security benefits for illegals and voting against an amendment last year that would have permanently barred gang members, terrorists and other criminals from the United States.

The May 29, 2003, Tucson Citizen quoted Mr. McCain as stating that “Amnesty has to be an important part of” any immigration solution. He was part of the bipartisan coalition that tried to pass amnesty legislation in 2006 and 2007. In 2006 he voted in favor of S. 2611, legislation that would reward between 10 and 11 million illegals with amnesty if they apply for legal status and pay a $2,000 fine.

Mr. McCain was a cosponsor of S. 774, the Dream Act, providing in-state tuition for illegal aliens. The legislation would have enabled illegal aliens who entered the United States before age 16 to obtain a green card and then use their newly acquired status to obtain green cards for the millions of parents who illegally brought their children with them into the United States.

Voted to permit the sharing of information contained in amnesty applications if requested by a law enforcement or intelligence agency and voted to make it more difficult for illegals to benefit from sanctuary-city policies

In 2006. Mr. McCain joined with Mr. Kennedy in working to defeat an amendment by Sen. John Ensign, Nevada Republican, that would have barred Social Security credits for work being done prior to their receiving amnesty