Project Logic is reporting that Congresswoman Jean Schmidt has signed on to cosponser HR 4313: The “TRUE” Enforcement and Boarder Security Act of 2005. Key components of the legislation [pdf] include building a security fence along the border with Mexico and denying benefits to illegal aliens.

I can just imagine how fun agricultural communities will be with masses of bored and uneducationed immigrant children roaming their streets.

Juan Mann of DeportAliens.com spells out the justification:

But what is “true” immigration law enforcement anyway?

Answer: Real immigration law enforcement is arresting aliens, deporting them, and making sure they stay out.


WRONG

Here’s the answer, and it’s so simple you could do it without passing a single bit of new legislation: ENFORCE THE DAMNED LAWS. Prosecute employers that hire illegal aliens. A few perp walks of Maw and Paw Kettle off their mega farms and presto! problem solved. But we all know that they’ll never attack the problem from the source, because no one that donates to ARMPAC wants to end their access to ultra cheap laborers that have almost no rights. It’s much easier to just use illegals as Piñatas and pour billions more down the crony sinkhole commonly known as the Department of Homeland Security.

I give the very conservative odds of this budget buster passing at 100 to 1 against. Business will put the kibosh on this sucker faster than you can say “cowards cut and run”. Plus, Rove has worked too hard building up Republican support in the Latino community to lose it with this baby. HR 4313 is nothing but vaporlegislation being used as misdirection from the disaster which is the Republican’s handling of the Iraq debate.

UPDATE:

Bloomberg > Bush Seeks to Bridge Republican Split on Immigration Plans
Knight Ridder > Bush tries to straddle divide over illegal immigration to U.S. – TOUGH TALK: BUSINESS LIKES CHEAP LABOR, BUT VOTERS WANT SECURE BORDERS

This bit sounds more promising:

…other lawmakers, mostly in the Senate, have shown bipartisan leadership and a desire to solve the problem, not just its symptoms. Crafted by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act (S 1033/HR 2330) sets realistic immigration levels and adds tough enforcement. It would provide: undocumented workers a multiyear path to citizenship if they live crime-free, learn English, pay taxes and fines. It also provides security enhancements and labor tests so that jobs aren’t taken from U.S. workers. By such reforms we can protect our borders and enforce our law.