Ken Calvert: “I rise in support of H.R. 4437, the Border Protection, Antiterterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act. I would…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 4437, the Border Protection, Antiterterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act. I would like to thank Chairman Sensenbrenner and Chairman King for the remarkable job they have done to bring this bill to the floor today. A mandatory electronic employment verification system must be a key component in any immigration reform bill worthy of the name. We can never gain control of our borders until we turn off the job magnet that encourages people to flout the law. If illegal immigrants know that a job awaits them in the United States provided they can get past the gauntlet of the border, no amount of border security will ever stop them. Every employee already fills out an I-9 immigration form and presents documents confirming their identify and eligibility to work. Of course, the current system does not work because the documents themselves are easily forged and cannot be checked. The system proposed today would simply require that the information on the I-9 form be confirmed. It is not discriminatory; it is easy to use and will do more to stem the tide of illegal immigration than any other single provision. Many people have commented on the mandatory employment verification system, and some comments have missed the point. This system is all about ensuring a legal workforce by preventing document fraud during the hiring process. I believe that most employers are trying to do the right thing and hire only legal workers.…”