Thank You Represenative Tiberi
Thank you Rep Tiberi and Numbers USA, I belong to Numbers USA, where you are able to contact your State Congress, Senate, Represenatives etc. on certain Bills and or problems that you see going on. I sent a fax through Numbers USA to all my State Reps, Senators, etc to have them Support Save Act 161.

I received a letter from Rep Tiberi(I'll have to scan it later on today) stating that he wasn't aware of this Act and thanked me for informing him. I'm not going to say my Fax made him Support this but it also states on Numbers USA that he is in blue and that makes him a new signer! I can hope can't I. I know I'm also going to write him a letter in Thanks for signing and supporting this!

Principles of Attrition Through Enforcement

The principle behind Attrition Through Enforcement is that living illegally in the United States will become more difficult and less satisfying over time when the government – at ALL LEVELS – enforces all of the laws already on the books. It is also imperative that the government with the full cooperation of the private sector, implements certain workplace enforcement measures. The goal is to make it extremely difficult for unauthorized persons to live and work in the United States. There is no need for taxpayers to watch the government spend billions of their dollars to round up and deport illegal aliens; they will buy their own bus or plane tickets back home if they can no longer earn a living here.

We know Attrition Through Enforcement works because, in states that have passed tough new laws to penalize employers of and deny public benefits to illegal aliens, the illegal aliens began to move out of those states, often before the new laws are even implemented. As it currently stands, almost 200,000 illegal aliens self-deport from the United States every year, but imagine how many more would leave if our government refused to award illegal aliens another amnesty, mandated all employers to verify a person’s eligibility to work here, cracked down on identity fraud and enabled local police to easily transfer illegal aliens in their custody to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.

Among many detailed border security provisions stressing more agents and better technology at minimal operating costs San-Diego-Symphony-Finances , the SAVE Act would:

* increase border patrol agents by 8,000, utilize new technology and fencing to secure the border;
* expand specialized enforcement programs, such as the "Tunnel Task Force";
* and, address the "jobs magnet" by strengthening The Employment Verification Program (E-Verify) to close security gaps, address loopholes, and make it mandatory for employers.

The E-Verify program provides employers with an inexpensive, quick, and accurate way to verify employee eligibility. E-Verify has already achieved tremendous success, but is currently voluntary and offers little incentive for employers to participate. This puts users at an economic disadvantage when it is only being used by a fraction of U.S. employers and competitors continue to hire illegal aliens.

Last, but not least, the SAVE Act would address interior enforcement by employing more ICE agents, training additional state and local law enforcement personnel, and expediting the removal of illegal aliens by expanding detention capacity and increasing the number of Federal District Court Judges. Furthermore, this legislation would begin a targeted media campaign to inform illegal aliens of new laws and penalties, while also informing employers of penalties for hiring illegal immigrants.

Send a fax to your Member of Congress to cosponsor this legislation, or thank your Member who is already a cosponsor in order to help expedite the Committee process so we can have true immigration reform in the 110th Congress.

Attrition Through Enforcement Is the True Middle-ground Solution

President Bush and the rest of the open borders crowd constantly tell the American people that there are only two solutions to our nation's illegal alien crisis – give illegal aliens amnesty or round them up and deport them. This is a diversionary tactic to draw public attention away from the most effective and efficient solution – Attrition Through Enforcement.

The principle behind Attrition Through Enforcement is that living illegally in the United States will become more difficult and less satisfying over time when the government – at ALL LEVELS – enforces all of the laws already on the books. It is also imperative that the government with the full cooperation of the private sector, implements certain workplace enforcement measures. The goal is to make it extremely difficult for unauthorized persons to live and work in the United States. There is no need for taxpayers to watch the government spend billions of their dollars to round up and deport illegal aliens; they will buy their own bus or plane tickets back home if they can no longer earn a living here.

We know Attrition Through Enforcement will work because, until recently, it has been shown to work even with little or no enforcement. As it currently stands, almost 200,000 illegal aliens self-deport from the United States every year, but imagine how many more would leave if our government refused to award illegal aliens another amnesty, mandated all employers to verify a person’s eligibility to work here, cracked down on identity fraud, and enabled local police to easily transfer illegal aliens in their custody to the feds.
People Who Left the Ranks of Illegal Aliens in the Most Recent Year of Official Record*
183,000 Self-Deported
152,000 Amnestied (allowed to adjust to legal status within U.S.)
63,000 Removed by Federal Authorities
27,000 Died
456,000 Total
* Source: Estimates of the Unauthorized Immigrant Population Residing in the United States: 1990 to 2000 ; Office of Policy and Planning, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (1999)

Attrition Through Enforcement will not reverse the pull of the jobs magnet overnight. It may take years for employers to understand the government is serious about enforcement of our nation's immigration laws. As a result of some businesses that neglect to assist the government in weeding out illegal aliens from the workforce, it also may take years for illegal aliens to understand that American employers are less and less willing to hire them. A cascading effect will occur, however, when the Federal government does its job and more communities take a stand. Communities across the nation that have taken action to crack down on illegal immigration often see illegal aliens leave when news about new laws or workplace raids spreads (See more examples). When the illegal aliens move to another location and that community also cracks down, they will become discouraged and eventually self-deport.

It took 20 years to create an illegal population of more than 12 million, and it may take at least ten years to substantially reduce that number, but the increasing number of self-deportations each year will: (1) steadily improve the quality of life and lessen the cost of government for Americans; (2) make jobs available for unemployed and underemployed legal residents; and (3) discourage further illegal migration from other countries.

According to a recent Zogby poll, when given the choice between mass deportations, mass amnesty, and Attrition Through Enforcement, the majority of Americans choose Attrition Through Enforcement. Most polls reported in the mainstream media neglect to include Attrition Through Enforcement as a viable alternative to the two mainstay survey choices (i.e., mass deportations and mass amnesty). As such, it’s easy to see why their results are skewed.

Recent Raids Work, Open Up Jobs for Americans

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted a series of raids on Swift and Company meat packing plants in six states and arrested almost 1,300 illegal aliens towards the end of 2006, ane more recently in July 2007. We learned three very important things from these raids:

* Americans take the jobs illegal aliens leave behind : The day after the raids took place, the media reported that plenty of legal workers lined up to apply for the jobs left vacant by the illegal aliens who fled or were arrested.
* Identity fraud and illegal immigration are connected : Hundreds of the illegal aliens who were arrested are suspected of using the name and SSN of an American citizen. You can fight illegal immigration by fighting identity fraud.
* Attrition Through enforcement works: Over 400 illegal aliens skipped town after Swift dropped hints about ICE's suspicions. Once the message gets out that there aren’t any jobs for illegal aliens, they leave.

These raids are a good start, but raids alone will not solve the illegal immigration crisis. Constant pressure must be placed on illegal aliens and their employers by ICE and local governments as part of an Attrition Through Enforcement strategy.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has said his agency is prepared to launch similar raids on other plants – even those owned by companies that, like Swift, have attested to comply with the voluntary Basic Pilot program to screen employees – and to take additional actions to track down illegal aliens who are guilty of identity theft. NumbersUSA encourages you to help make this happen.

Unfortunately, most of the reaction to the raids in the media is still being reported from the standpoints of immigration lawyers, pro-amnesty organizations and religious leaders who say it is inhumane to arrest people just because they have broken immigration laws and stolen identities in order to get a job (click here to see an example). It is extremely important that Congress continue to hear that public sentiment is overwhelmingly on the side of enforcement rather than amnesty and leniency.

Attrition Stories
Examples of usually small enforcement efforts that stirred illegal aliens to think about leaving.

Illegal Immigrants Scared To Come To R.I.
Turn to 10.com (R.I.); April 8, 2008
"Illegal immigrants living in New Bedford and Fall River said they're scared to cross into Rhode Island, following Gov. Don Carcieri's enforcement of immigration laws..."

Crackdown on Illegal Immigration Quiets Soccer Fields in Pr. William
Washington Post; March 12, 2008
"Officials have said the policy is not meant to intimidate but to remove illegal immigrants, particularly those who commit crimes. The imperiled leagues draw little sympathy from backers of the county's enforcement program..."

Arizona Seeing Signs of Flight by Immigrants
New York Times; February 12, 2008
"Carlos Flores Vizcarra, the Mexican consul general in Phoenix, said while he could not tie the phenomenon to a single factor, the consulate had experienced an 'unusual' five-fold increase in parents applying for Mexican birth certificates for their children and other documents that often are a prelude to moving..."

The Frustration of Being Illegal
Washington Post; February 11, 2008
"Celia Llanes came to the United States 4 1/2 years ago with typical immigrant aspirations. She hoped to provide for her family, earn enough to buy a patch of land back home and perhaps take her girls to Disney World. Today, her wish is far simpler: that when she is deported her girls will be deported with her..."

Where have the immigrants gone?
Chicago Tribune; February 10, 2008
"'The state of Oklahoma ought not be in the business of subsidizing the presence of people who are here illegally,' said Republican state Rep. Randy Terrill, sponsor of the Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007, also known as House Bill 1804. 'HB 1804 proves that attrition through enforcement works,' Terrill added..."

Immigration raid in Lindon (Utah) nets 50 undocumented workers; employer indicted
Salt Lake Tribune; February 8, 2008
"More than 50 undocumented workers were arrested here during a morning raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on a metal factory..."

Employer-sanctions law is legal, federal judge rules
Arizona Daliy Star; February 8, 2008
"Arizona's month-old law punishing companies that knowingly hire undocumented workers is legal, a federal judge ruled Thursday..."

Immigration raids keep firms busy
Daily Report; February 8, 2008
"A federal crackdown on illegal immigrants in the workplace has triggered a tsunami of work for immigration lawyers, who say fears of getting hit with an immigration raid or audit are at an all-time high among employers..."

Authorities raid Southern California printer supply company
Associated Press; February 7, 2008
"More than 100 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided a printer supply manufacturer in the San Fernando Valley on Thursday, taking into custody about 120 employees for being in the country illegally and arresting eight on federal criminal charges, authorities said."

Break the law. Get sent home.
Gainesville Times, (Ga.); February 3, 2008
"Starting next week, members of Hall County's sizable population of illegal immigrants will face the very real prospect of deportation if arrested on any charge that lands them in the Hall County jail. That's because Cronic's office has reached an agreement with federal immigration officials that will allow certain deputies to identify and begin deportation proceedings for anyone in the country illegally..."
Immigration fears dampen spirits at Hispanic festival
News & Observer (N.C.); September 10; 2007
"We're hearing a lot of fear and tension in the community," Jimenez McGee said. "We definitely had people telling us that immigration [enforcement agents] was coming to the festival..."
For varying reasons, many leaving U.S.
Nashua Telegraph (N.H.); September 10, 2007
"So far in 2007, 5,000 Brazilians have returned home because of the climate of fear that immigration officials have instilled within the communities," said Fausto da Rocha, executive director for the Brazilian Immigrant Center.
Immigration traffic appears down
Rocky Mountain News; July 30, 2007
"'It's getting too difficult to stay,' said Rodriguez, a construction worker who came to the United States illegally in 2003. 'It was fine when I got here. It was easy to get work. Nobody bothered you. Now, everyone is asking for documentation. I want to live a more tranquil life...'"
Ga. immigration law breeds fear among illegal aliens
The Los Angeles Times; July 29, 2007
"The Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act, which took effect July 1, requires law enforcement officers to investigate the citizenship status of anyone charged with a felony or driving under the influence. It also directs the state Public Safety Department to select and train Georgia state patrol officers to enforce federal immigration law while carrying out regular duties..."
Potential deportees lying low
Palm Beach Post; July 15, 2007
"Some undocumented immigrants are so worried that they are virtual prisoners in their own homes, afraid to run simple errands such as trips to the grocery..."

Fear Seizes Pr. William Immigrants -- Legal and Not
The Washington Post; July 15, 2007
"Although the anti-illegal-immigrant measures approved last week in Prince William County were less severe than proposed originally, Hispanic residents there say a clasp of fear has gripped their community in recent days, as anxiety and confusion over the policies ripple through supermarkets, job sites, hair salons and living rooms..."

Ga. Companies Contracting with State Must Verify Employees
GlobalAtlanta.com; July 2, 2007
"'Many Hispanic contractors are packing up to leave the state,' said Luisa Moreno, programs coordinator and membership services director of the contractors association. 'We are just waiting for federal immigration reform...'"

Arrests of 31 in U.S. Sweep Bring Fear in New Haven, Conn.
The New York Times; June 8, 2007
"[S]tarting at 6 a.m. Wednesday, two days after the Board of Aldermen overwhelmingly approved the identity card plan, federal agents swept into the largely Hispanic Fair Haven community and arrested some 31 people suspected of being illegal immigrants, many in their homes. Within hours, any sense of sanctuary that the city and advocates for immigrants advocates had developed over the years was turned upside down, replaced with fear..."

Cinco de Mayo Festival Canceled Due To Illegal Aliens' Fears
NBC4.com (D.C.); May 4, 2007
"Colonial Beach Mayor George Bone Jr. said it's a problem of concern if the Hispanic community can't feel comfortable in Colonial Beach..."

Immigration Enforcement In Firebaugh Creates Fear In Mexican Immigrants
ABC30.com (Calif.); April 27, 2007
"A series of immigration raids in the town of Firebaugh have residents there concerned ... Immigration officers have arrested hundreds and they have created a sense of panic in farming communities. Even U.S. residents often have relatives or friends who are here illegally..."

Workers at meatpacking towns preparing for possible immigration enforcement efforts
The Associated Press; April 13, 2007
"Frightened by raids last year at six Swift & Co. plants, illegal immigrants in America's meatpacking towns are preparing for their possible arrest ... [S]iince the Dec. 12 sweeps at Swift plants in six states, immigrant advocacy groups have been holding workshops, teaching undocumented workers how to prepare for their arrests by doing such things as drawing up legal documents so someone could care for their children and handle their financial affairs..."

For Many Immigrants, No Answers
The Washington Post, March 20, 2007
"'For 18 years, I only spoke to my daughter by telephone,' Clara Rivas, 72, said in Spanish. 'Now I want to go home...'"

When immigrants flee, crops rot
Roanoke Times (Va.); March 5, 2007
"Immigrants heard Colorado's you're-not-welcome-here message loud and clear. Now the state needs its criminals to fill the workers' former farm jobs..."

Poll: Most support illegals crackdown
Standard-Speaker (Pa.); March 2, 2007
"The poll, conducted Feb. 22 to 26 with 1,000 respondents, shows that by a 68-25 margin, Americans support the ordinances proposed by Hazleton Mayor Louis Barletta and adopted by City Council..."

VIEW LIST of signers of Discharge Petition to bring SAVE Act to floor vote

Dear Colleague Letter from Reps. Shuler and Bilbray Urging Passage of
SAVE Act
Click here to read the letter

NumbersUSA Summary of
the SAVE Act
Click here to read our letter of endorsement

Click here to read Roy Beck's detailed analysis of SAVE Act original signers

Click here to view a comparison chart of the
SAVE Act (2007)
vs.
H.R. 4437 (2005)

Click here to read "Dear Colleague" letter petitioning Senators to cosponsor the SAVE Act (S. 2368) as introduced by Sens. Mark Pryor (R-Ark.) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.)

National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) Endorses
the SAVE Act
Click here to read the letter of endorsement

National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) Endorses
the SAVE Act
Click here to read the letter of endorsement

Attrition Stories
Click here to read examples of usually small enforcement efforts that stirred illegal aliens to think about leaving

Public Opinion
Polls show most Americans SUPPORT TOUGHER ENFORCEMENT
The government has staged a number of raids on businesses that employ large numbers of illegal immigrants where undocumented workers are immediately sent to detention centers. Fifty-five percent of American voters say they're generally support these raids.
Opinion Dynamics / Fox News poll; June 5-6, 2007
View More Polls
Click here to see how states and municipalities across the U.S. are enacting tough immigration laws that are forcing illegal aliens to pick up and move.