Vote recommendations From America’s Voice
Today, the Senate considers amendments to the bipartisan infrastructure package. Reportedly, at least two Republican amendments will attempt to add additional immigration-related measures to the legislation. One, offered by Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), would require contractors to use the flawed E-Verify employment verification system to vet employees. Another, offered by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) would force construction of parts of President Trump’s border wall.
America’s Voice opposes both amendments. The following is a statement by Frank Sharry, Executive Director:
We need to fix our broken immigration system, but these two Republican immigration amendments would make the broken system even worse.
E-Verify undermines worker rights and adds new costs to businesses that will blunt the impact of the legislation to stimulate the economy and promote American infrastructure. It is also widely criticized because of its inaccuracy in falsely preventing authorized workers from working and in its failure to prevent unauthorized people from working.
The Trump border wall is a monument to corruption, wasted tax dollars, xenophobia and the hollow politics of a Trump rally chant turned into a right wing crusade. Efforts to revive a costly and ineffective border wall – a 14th century response to a 21st century challenge – should be rejected with enthusiasm by both parties.
Congress should be serious about hard infrastructure and human infrastructure, not GOP political gamesmanship designed to please the former guy. These amendments, and others like them that may be offered, should be rejected.
