Immigration

ABOVE: Tammy working in Committee.

Comprehensive immigration reform is needed to secure our borders and strengthen our economy. It is also important for Wisconsin’s dairy farmers. I oppose complete “amnesty,” but believe that there needs to be a path for the estimated 10 million undocumented workers currently in the U.S. to become documented through a legal process of applying for permanent residency or citizenship. I also support efforts to deter illegal immigration, deploy modern and effective border security measures, and ensure effective immigration enforcement in order to protect our national security and fortify our economy.

Amnesty is a general pardon granted by the government with no strings attached. I believe it would be unfair to place those who illegally entered the country ahead of those who have been patiently waiting, perhaps separated from their loved ones, for a legal visa to become available. I support legislation to provide a path that requires people to go through the legal process of attaining a visa, applying for legal permanent residency, paying a penalty for their illegal entry, and then possibly becoming a citizen in the future.

Our state has a long history of welcoming immigrants who have contributed to our economy and our culture. Today, immigrants continue to play an important role in our workforce. In Wisconsin, 40% of all hired dairy employees are immigrants. Farm families depend on these workers, whose hard work is essential to the survival of many farms.

I support bipartisan legislation called AgJOBS (Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits, and Security Act) that will relieve chronic farm labor shortages while protecting the rights of immigrant workers. The legislation makes it easier for farmers to hire temporary immigrant workers after first recruiting Americans workers. It also includes a path to legal status for undocumented workers if they have a clean record and meet certain provisions. I believe AgJOBS will make it easier for Wisconsin farmers to get the help they need, while protecting immigrant farm workers.

I also am a strong supporter of the DREAM Act, targeted legislation that will provide undocumented students who were brought to the United States as children the opportunity to serve in the Armed Forces or pursue a higher education. I believe that it is important for all people to have access to higher education. Individuals who were young dependants when their families entered the United States without documentation should not be denied an education for actions that were beyond their control.

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Immigration

Related Websites:

• Access current information about any bill in Congress at this site, managed by the Library of Congress
  http://thomas.loc.gov
• Center for Immigration Studies
  http://www.cis.org
• National Immigration Forum
  http://www.immigrationforum.org
• US Chamber of Commerce
  http://www.uschamber.com/issues/index/immigration/default
• Federation for American Immigration Reform
  http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer?pagename=iic_immigrationissuecentersa781
• US Immigration Support
  http://www.usimmigrationsupport.org
• League of United Latin American Citizens
  http://www.lulac.org
• Southwest Voter Education Project
  http://www.svrep.org
• Hispanic Federation
  http://www.hispanicfederation.org