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Dear Friends,

The Senate has been debating the so-called "Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007" (S.1348) for almost two weeks.  Last night, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) filed a cloture motion to end debate, which means that a vote could happen as soon as tomorrow (Thursday, June 7).

It is absolutely critical that you call your Senators today at (202) 225-3121 and urge them to vote against ending debate, even if you have called your Senator on this bill previously.  Sen. Reid is using legislative processes to end debate on this important legislation before every Senator has had a chance to offer amendments on this bill.  He wants to rush ahead to a vote before this 700+ page bill can be fully debated.

Furthermore, Sen. Reid is playing politics with our border security.  He has indicated that if he does not get the votes necessary to move the bill for a vote as is, he will pull the bill.  Causing him to pull the legislation off the Floor would be a huge victory for those of us who believe that we must make the border safe from terrorists and illegal immigration.  That's why your calls in the next 24 hours are so important.

Below are talking points from last week's e-alert.  Please call your Senators at (202) 225-3121 today and tomorrow and urge them to vote against ending the debate on S. 1348. 

·         Concerned Women for America is apprehensive about the lack of border security to protect our country from terrorists and all illegal aliens.  We firmly believe that our government's priority is to develop and maintain strong border controls to protect us from foreign terrorists and the flow of illegal immigration.

·         This so-called comprehensive reform legislation simply does not do this, no matter how loudly proponents of this bill say otherwise. S. 1348 is nothing more than a shell game that does not protect our borders!

·         Proponents of this bill are touting the so-called "triggers" that must pass before granting amnesty, such as border control agents and adequate facilities to detain illegal immigrants. However, the bill only authorizes these provisions without actually providing the funds, so it is not clear if these "triggers" will actually ever be met.  This is not the first time the Congress has done this.  During last session the Senate passed a bill that would authorize the building of a fence to secure our border but didn't actually appropriate any money for construction.  Proponents of this new bill actually used the building of the fence as a "trigger" but are insisting that only half of the fence be built before the amnesty provisions kick in.  With the government's lackluster 25-year track record on this issue, can we truly believe this fence will ever be fully constructed?

·         Worse yet, under this new bill, before the "triggers" are met, illegal immigrants can receive "probationary visas."  And it's not clear in the bill's language what happens to those with probationary visas if the "triggers" are never met.

·         S. 1348 also lacks provisions that will require cultural assimilation such as English First provisions.  Requirements for new visa holders to learn English will become mandatory only after they live in the U.S. for eight years.

If we are serious about protecting and securing our borders, we must do more than simply engage in emotional rhetoric. Our legislators must consider an immigration bill that actually controls our borders and strengthens our national security!

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Please call your Senators today and urge them to vote against ending debate on S. 1348 and give more time to every Senator who would like to fully debate this bill or offer an amendment. This legislation has too great an impact on America to ramrod it through the legislative process.

Sincerely,

The Legislation Department
Concerned Women for America

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