Georgia representatives insist on security first

July 11, 2006

Two Georgia Congressmen said recently that they support a Georgia senator's amendment to secure borders first before implementing a guest-worker program.

U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey said he agrees with Georgia Sen. Johnny Isakson's proposed but defeated amendment to the Senate immigration bill to secure borders first and worry about guest-worker programs second.

'I have always supported the 'border-security-first' approach,' Gingrey said. 'You have to stop a patient's bleeding before you can heal his wounds. Well, our borders aren't just bleeding, they're hemorrhaging.'

U.S. Rep. Tom Price (R-Roswell) also supports Isakson's immigration ideas.

'It is imperative that we control and secure our borders first in addition to the active enforcement of current law,' he said. 'This is analogous to the Isakson amendment in the Senate, which simply makes common sense.'

Isakson’s amendment was defeated by the Senate in May, but it may find new life in the House of Representatives, which has opted to delay action on immigration until hearings are held in border states in August to discuss the controversial legislation with constituents.

Isakson garnered strong support from his colleagues in the Senate, with 40 senators voting in favor of his border security amendment, a near unprecedented number for an amendment from a freshman senator.

Speaking to the local Chamber of Commerce, Gingrey said immigration is one of the key issues facing Congress and American businesses. He said the politics of the immigration issue affect American businesses by calling a large part of the workforce into question for employers.

'We cannot afford to go back to the policy of 1986 and grant amnesty to 12 million people,' he said, adding that the influx of illegal immigrants is contributing to the rising costs of healthcare, social services, public education and national security.

'We feel strongly about a secure border and sanctions against employers who knew hires were in possession of illegal documents,' he said. 'I feel very strongly the House is right.'

'There's a huge domino effect in business if we can't politically get the job done in Washington,' Gingrey said. 'It's very important for [local businesses] to know exactly what's going on.'