Reply to Rep. Bonamici on H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act
Below is a letter sent to constituents by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Oregon Congressional District 1, in support of H.R. 6. It contains many statements that can be challenged. See rebuttal comments in italics, inserted in indented paragraphs below each of her questionable statements.
June 7, 2019
Dear [constituent],
Thank you for contacting me about H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act. I appreciate hearing from you.
I spoke on the floor about this crucial legislation. I shared the stories of two Oregonians, both Dreamers, that are living in and serving Northwest Oregon. It’s long past time for Dreamers like Brenda and Gustavo, Americans in every way except on paper, to live out of the shadows.
They are only “Americans” in the sense that they came from somewhere in the Americas, but not from the USA, and they are living here in violation of our immigration laws. Furthermore, they do not “live in the shadows” – many and their supporters flaunt their presence very publicly.
The U.S. immigration system is broken and our existing policies are hurting families, communities, and the economy in Oregon.
That is true but it’s because excessive immigration and illegal immigration have depressed wages and destroyed job opportunities for citizens, allowing employers to hire illegal aliens who can be easily exploited instead of citizens not so easy to exploit and underpay.
We continue to operate under an antiquated system that has left millions in the shadows, unable to fully contribute.
Those truly “left in the shadows” are the homeless, destitute citizens who cannot get a job because of the easy availability of illegal labor, or who may hold a job, but must accept less than a living wage because of competition from illegal labor. Many citizens are having to live in RV’s; many have no shelter at all.
The United States is a country of immigrants, and our nation has grown stronger because of its diversity.
That is her opinion of the history of the U.S., not a universal opinion or a complete statement of fact.
Unfortunately, instead of developing a smart, humane, and efficient immigration system, President Trump has issued Executive Orders, made statements, and promoted policies that have caused chaos and fear in our immigrant communities and throughout our country.
It’s high time a president did “cause fear” in illegal immigrant communities. Legal immigrants have nothing to fear.
I am a proud cosponsor of the American Dream and Promise Act, which would expand protections for vulnerable members of our communities facing deportation by the Trump Administration. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) are all critical protections that provide legal immigration status to eligible individuals and families.
Her description of the bill fails to disclose the enormity of the numbers that would receive amnesty. Read this for a more realistic description.
The American Dream and Promise Act creates a clear and achievable path to citizenship for those currently living under the threat of deportation,
If they are here illegally, they should be deported asap.
as well as for those seeking to reunite with their families.
For legal immigrants, there is already a legal way to do that.
We should allow those who came here seeking refuge from war and strife, or who were brought to the U.S. as infants or children, to expeditiously obtain lawful status.
Note that she is not concerned with any verification of claims by persons claiming to be refugees, nor with the widespread abuse of young children as free tickets for admission, often by unrelated adults. In her view, anyone in the world who wants to come here should be able to enter at any time. Has she ever advocated reducing the overall levels of immigration?
Rescinding the legal status of these individuals and targeting them for deportation divides families, spreads fear among an already vulnerable population, and drives people into hiding.
If they are here legally, they have no need to fear deportation unless they’ve committed serious crimes or falsified their applications.
This bill passed the House of Representatives with my support on June 4, 2019, and was sent to the Senate for further consideration. Dreamers, TPS, and DED recipients are contributing members of communities across the country.
Let them contribute to their own countries. Let them build the kind of country that U.S. citizens have built, not try to crowd in here and do nothing about problems in their own countries.
Deporting hardworking people with children, businesses, and longstanding ties to this country does not make us any safer.
A significant number of illegal aliens have committed terrible crimes here; some have been terrorists causing massive damage; many are involved in expediting movement of illegal drugs that trigger the current “drug crisis.”
Please know that I stand ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass commonsense, compassionate comprehensive immigration reform that will strengthen our economy, enhance our security, and reflect our core values as Americans.
Immigration control is too complicated to’‘reform” in one sweeping bill. See a good lineup of necessary reforms here.
Thank you again for writing to me. If you would like to know more about my work in Congress, please sign up for my newsletter at http://bonamici.house.gov or visit my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/CongresswomanBonamici.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Bonamici, Member of Congress
