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California State Government March 2, 2004 Election
Smart Voter

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION REFORM POLICY

By Toni C. Casey

Candidate for United States Senator; Republican Party

This information is provided by the candidate
Toni Casey introduces six-point plan to reduce illegal immigration.
Republican Senate candidate Toni Casey announced her immigration reform proposals last week at a press conference in Sacramento. While giving the President a qualified endorsement, Casey does not support the President's three-year work permit proposal and proposes a tighter temporary work permit program. Casey is concerned that the President's three year work permit could unintentionally produce immigrant workers without jobs by not reflecting the seasonal nature of jobs filled by temporary workers and thereby create the perception of amnesty, which she does not support.

Casey's six-point immigration reform plan is:

  • Tighten border security. The federal government must tighten border security to protect both our economic and homeland security. Casey will support legislation to increase border control.

  • Enforce and strengthen employer sanctions. Casey will work to enact stricter penalties for employers who hire illegal immigrants without temporary work permits.

  • Prohibit drivers' licenses for illegal immigrants. Casey will sponsor legislation denying federal transportation funds to any state that issues drivers' licenses to illegal immigrants.

  • Deny amnesty to illegal immigrants. Amnesty only encourages continued illegal immigration and is a slap in the face to immigrants who have come to the United States legally. Casey will work to defeat any immigration policy that grants amnesty to illegal immigrants.

  • Shift the cost of illegal immigration to the federal government. Immigration control is a federal responsibility and California is spending over $4 billion annually on illegal immigration. Casey will sponsor legislation to require the federal government to reimburse California and other states for those costs.

  • Create an employer based guest worker visa program and a jobs registry database. Casey supports a temporary work permit program offered to immigrants if those employers cannot fill the job with U.S. workers. The permit should be consistent with the employment period guaranteed by the employers; not to exceed one year with unlimited renewals based upon guaranteed job availability.

"Our country is a nation of immigrants," said Casey. "Unless we are Native Americans, we all have our roots outside of America; our country is the leader of the free world because of the hard work and contribution of legal immigration. I support revising our outdated green card policy. However, illegal immigration is a drain on our economy; it threatens our homeland security; and it must be curtailed."

"Over her 12 years in the Senate, Barbara Boxer has done nothing to stem the flow of illegal immigration despite the fact that California bears the highest burdens in the nation," continued Casey. "As our next Senator, I will be a partner to President Bush and the Republican majority, rather than an obstructionist, and help move forward real immigration reform, including these proposals."

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ca/state Created from information supplied by the candidate: February 9, 2004 15:42
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