We are a Nation of Laws

Thank you for your recent letter regarding our national security and immigration policies. I appreciate you taking the time to convey your concerns to me. This issue is one of extreme importance. Let me begin by saying that the founding ideals of the United States of America are essentially twofold. First, we hold that all people are created equal. Second, we hold to the rule of law and not to the rule of men. Our immigration policy, like all other American policies should be firmly grounded in both of these bedrock foundations. America is a nation of immigrants that built this country into the greatest republic in the history of the world. We are also a nation of law. Consequently, if we are to be true to who we are, we must have great compassion for all people everywhere and remain the depot freedom in the world for those who would seek to enter our country legally. However, America also has a right and a responsibility to decide who comes in and out of our country and to require that they do so legally. I am opposed to allowing those who break our immigration laws to gain advantage over those who have abided by our laws. By awarding citizenship to those who have deliberately evaded our legal system, we would in essence penalize those legal applicants who are abiding by the established channels of our legal immigration process. Moreover, the first purpose of this government is to protect our people and our national security. This remains my number one priority in the United States Congress. In a post-911 world, we have a profound responsibility to secure the borders of this nation to prevent another terrorist attack. Jihadists and other terrorists must not be allowed to exploit porous borders to bring a major weapon of mass destruction into this nation and change our concept of freedom forever. Terrorists are looking for our weakest link and will exploit such weaknesses at any cost. Border security and national security are inextricably linked. Thus, as we continue to wage war abroad with Jihadist terrorists who wish to harm America, I believe that an unregulated, unsecured border poses an even more grave threat of terrorist penetration than ballistic missiles coming from rogue nations overseas. Therefore, I will not support any comprehensive immigration reform that does not effectively address border security as its most fundamental and foremost priority. I believe this can be done without undermining the contributions of the hard-working immigrants who enter our country every day by established, legal means, and as Ronald Reagan said, "A nation that cannot control its border is no longer a nation at all." Furthermore, since the 111th Congress began in January 2009, I have and will continue to support legislation that I believe effectively targets the issues surrounding illegal immigration. These include: H.R 4088 - Secure America Through Verification and Enforcement Act, which sets forth border security and enforcement provisions, including provisions respecting: increases in Border Patrol and investigative personnel; recruitment of former military personnel; use of Department of Defense (DOD) equipment; infrastructure improvements; aerial and other surveillance; a national strategy to secure the borders; emergency deployment of Border Patrol agents; and expansion of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism along the northern and southern borders. In addition, the bill sets forth conditions for the mandatory use of the E-verify system. It requires: employer/employee notification of social security number mismatches and multiple uses, and related information sharing with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); and establishment of electronic birth and death registration systems. It amends the Internal Revenue Code to: penalize specified employers for failu!re to correct information returns; and prohibit employers from deducting from gross income wages paid to unauthorized aliens, with an exception for an employer participating in the basic employment eligibility confirmation program.H.R. 1314 - Photo Identification Security Act, which restricts the forms of individual identification that may be accepted by the federal government or by financial institutions. I am a cosponsor of this legislation. H.R. 136 - Identity Theft Notification Act of 2007, which provide that individuals and appropriate authorities are notified by the Commissioner of Social Security of evident misuse of Social Security account numbers. I am a cosponsor. H.R. 138 - Employment Eligibility Verification and Anti-Identity Theft Act, which requires an employer to take action after receiving official notice that an individual's Social Security account number does not match the individual's name. I also cosponsored this legislation. H.R. 849 - Stop the Misuse of ITINs Act of 2007, which requires the Secretary of the Treasury to notify the Secretary of Homeland Security of employer returns showing the employment of individuals not authorized to be employed in the United States. H.R. 850 - IRS Illegal Immigrant Information Act of 2007, which further addresses the disconnect between the IRS and Dept. of Homeland Security. I also recently joined with other Members of Congress to sign a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in which we stated that, "We are united in asking you not to bring amnesty legislation to the House floor... Amnesty hurts vulnerable American workers, burdens American taxpayers, and rewards lawbreakers." Nearly 100 other Members of the House of Representatives signed this letter. It is vitally important that we continue to stand for the principles that have allowed America to achieve a strong national security, the greatest level of human freedom in the world, and economic abundance unsurpassed in the history of humankind. I believe, among other things, this means aggressively protecting our borders and enforcing our legal immigration laws, and, therefore, upholding the honor of all of the Americans who lawfully immigrate to our nation in the hope of embracing freedom. Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. I wish you the very best in life, and I hope you will continue to inform me of the issues that concern you. In the meantime, please feel free to visit my website at http://www.house.gov/franks. Most sincerely, Trent Franks United States Congress