By Jessica Richardson
Staff Writer

Congressman Heath Shuler has introduced a bi-partisan bill to curb illegal immigration into the U.S. The bill, Secure America through Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act, would increase security on the U.S. borders and introduce a required verification program for employers.

“The three parts of the SAVE Act are a strict emphasis on border security, employer verification, and interior enforcement,” said Shuler (DWaynesville). “The SAVE Act provides a sensible solution to the illegal immigration crisis that is affecting every part of our Nation.”

It is estimated that more than 12 million people are living in the U.S. illegally.

With the SAVE Act, Shuler seeks to increase border control by adding 8,000 additional agents, increase aerial surveillance and provide better infrastructure. Shuler stressed that the various departments involved could work more closely together with Homeland Security.

The plan would also increase a program called EVerify, designed for employers to be able to verify that employees are in the U.S. legally. According to Shuler, the program would be phased in over four years and would begin with U.S. contractors and companies that employ more than 250 people. The targeted employers would have to verify their employees within one year of the bill being enacted.

“It will help employers identify who is here legally and illegally,” said Shuler. “It will help take a lot of the stress off employers. This system, E-Verify is a pilot program being utilized by some 26,000 employers.”

The use of E-Verify would then apply to employers of more than 100 (within two years) and finally small businesses. The employment verification program was included, as Shuler points out, because the job market is what is bringing immigrants to the U.S. He stressed that the program takes the pressure off of employers once they have verified that their employees are legal.

If employers still “elect to break the law” as Shuler puts it, the offenses will begin at $2,500 and increase with each offense.

Shuler said his office has been working on the bill since he took office nearly a year ago.

Immigration has been a hot topic in Washington and the U.S., but lawmakers have not been able to put forth a plan that would stick.

Several other bills to address immigration have been introduced and have all failed. Those bills included a bill in the Senate that would have allowed children of illegal immigrants to stay in the U.S. legally after serving in the military or attending two years of college. Another bill would have legalized millions, increase border security and strengthened enforcement of labor laws.

Shuler hopes his bill has a greater chance of being passed, as he has already picked up more than 80 cosigners from 26 states and from both sides of the political aisle.

“Today, Democrats and Republicans are joining together, putting politics aside and supporting a commonsense bill that is for the good of America,” said Shuler.

The bill has also gained support of the National Federation of Independent Businesses.

Shuler’s bill, unlike others, does not address the immigrants already living here illegally. It does, however, increase training and agents for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in an effort to bulk up investigations. Local law enforcement would also be provided with more tools. Shuler said he has been in discussion with sheriffs in this region to provide the proper training to address “issues related to illegal immigration.” As he points out, one of the most important aspects is enforcement of existing laws.

“The SAVE Act provides the tools, resources and infrastructure necessary to enforce existing federal laws and penalize offenders,” said Shuler. “We must not fail to address these major concerns simply because of our inability to agree on every aspect of the massive immigration issue.”

The cost of the program has not yet been estimated.

Shuler said that there has been discussion in Washington D.C. about the economic strains free trade agreements such as NAFTA and CAFTA have caused in other countries such as Mexico. As Shuler points out, such bills have had negative effects in the U.S. as well.

“This bill is crafted as such that it protects the American workers,” said Shuler. “I oppose any unfair trade agreements. We need to protect the jobs here in America to ensure our American families have an opportunity for a good job, raise the minimum wage that provide more for our families and strengthen our families.

Shuler votes against Peru Free Trade Agreement

In a related move, Shuler voted against the latest “free trade” act, on Nov. 8, claiming that it was an “unfair” free trade agreement that would threaten American jobs by sending them overseas.

The Peru Free Trade Agreement (PFTA), H.R. 3688, duplicates many of the same provisions and language of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). It includes provisions that promote the offshoring of U.S. production and jobs and helps foreign corporations avoid longstanding Buy American and anti-offshoring policies.

“We in Western North Carolina have seen first-hand the results of unfair trade agreements like NAFTA and CAFTA. Rather than working for a truly fair trade agreement that protected American workers and the environments of the U.S. and Peru, this free trade agreement continued the CAFTA model,” Shuler said. “I will continue fighting for fair trade agreements that create jobs in the U.S. and protect America’s working families.”

Shuler said the PFTA would include provisions that limit food safety standards and border inspections. “We need to be looking out for the safety of the American people,” Shuler said. “This bill will increase the risks we are facing from unchecked imported foods.”

The House of Representatives passed the Peru Free Trade Act despite these concerns. It now awaits action in the Senate.

“The people who support these CAFTA-like free trade agreements always say that there will be winners and losers, but the only people who have won are the big corporations. It is time for us to pass some trade agreements that allow the working families of Western North Carolina win,” Rep. Shuler concluded.