Sustainable Immigration Reform

To Congress and the President of the United States...

We, the undersigned, believe that legal immigration is, in the simplest sense, too much. Exact estimates are hard to come by, but approximately 1,000,000 million people are admitted into the United States by a variety of programs. Current trends show that even if immigration were stopped tomorrow, population growth would continue to the end of the century due to the last three decades of immigration.

Population growth can and most likely will have very negative effects on our nation if current trends continue. Urban sprawl, overcrowded schools, cultural division, and a loss of natural habitat are just a few major negative effects of population growth we will have to face.

Over 90 million people have been added to the United States since 1970, which is almost half of the total 1970 population. If these trends continue the United States will hit nearly 425 million people by 2050. That number, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, will reach roughly 570 by the end of the century.

Those signing this petition are calling on Congress to pass and support legislation calling for the reduction of immigrant numbers. A sustainable population is desired by many, and reason and common sense should reflect immigration policies.

The following ten fundamentals should be adopted to any current or future immigration legislation being proposed...

1. The purpose of U.S. immigration policy is to benefit the citizens of the United States.
2. Since immigration policy can profoundly shape a country, it should be set by deliberate actions, not by accident or acquiescence, with careful consideration to ensure that it does not adversely affect the quality of life of American citizens and their communities.
3. Immigration policy should be based on and adhere to the rule of law. Immigration laws must be enforced consistently and uniformly throughout the United States.
4. Non-citizens enter the United States as guests and must obey the rules governing their entry. The U.S. government must track the entry, stay, and departure of all visa-holders to ensure that they comply fully with the terms of their visas, or to remove them if they fail to comply.
5. The borders of the United States must be physically secured at the earliest possible time. An effective barrier to the illegal entry of both aliens and contraband is vital to U.S. security.
6. Those responsible for facilitating illegal immigration shall be sought, arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law and shall forfeit any profits from such activity. This applies to smugglers and traffickers of people, as well as to those involved in the production, procurement, distribution, or use of fraudulent or counterfeit documents.
7. U.S. employers shall be given a simple and streamlined process to determine whether employees are legally eligible to work. Employers who obey the law shall be protected both from liability and from unfair competition by those who violate immigration law. The violators shall be subject to fines and taxes in excess of what they would have paid to employ U.S. citizens and legal residents for the same work.
8. Those who enter or remain in the United States in violation of the law shall be detained and removed expeditiously. Illegal aliens shall not accrue any benefit, including U.S. citizenship, as a result of their illegal entry or presence in the United States.
9. No federal, state or local entity shall reward individuals for violating immigration laws by granting public benefits or services, or by issuing or accepting any form of identification, or by providing any other assistance that facilitates unlawful presence or employment in this country. All federal and law enforcement agencies shall cooperate fully with federal immigration authorities, and shall report to such authorities any information they receive indicating that an individual may have violated immigration laws.
10. Illegal aliens currently in the United States may be afforded a one-time opportunity to leave the United States without penalty and seek permission to reenter legally if they qualify under existing law. Those who do not take advantage of this opportunity will be removed and permanently barred from returning. (NumbersUSA)

We believe the above points are in the best interest of our great nation and respectfully submit them to you, our legislators, for review.