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James Sensenbrenner Not Deterred by Immigration Protests

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Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wisc., says he's not going to be deterred by the wave of demonstrations protesting his bill to crack down on illegal immigration.

Responding to a pro-illegal immigration demonstration in Milwaukee on Thursday, Sensenbrenner called the protest "impressive," but added: "Many have tried to confuse the difference between legal and illegal immigration."

"I do not believe that illegal aliens should receive legal government documents, such as driver's licenses," he explained. "Illegal aliens should not be granted amnesty and a path to citizenship. This would be a slap in the face to all those who have followed the law and have come to America legally."

The Wisconsin Republican's bill, HR 4437, would instruct law enforcement to seek out illegal aliens and cut federal funding for cities, such as San Francisco, that have sanctuary laws. Other provisions include the creation of a border fence, the elimination of the diversity visa lottery system and the indefinite detention of some immigration law breakers.

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  But the proposal - already passed by the House - has spurred protests in Chicago, Los Angeles Phoenix and New Jersey, with some demonstrators arguing that illegal immigrants are being targeted unfairly by looming crackdown.

"Illegal aliens should be protected by the law," one Phoenix protester shouted Friday without a hint of irony.

But Sensenbrenner argues that illegal immigration both compromises U.S. national security and places a tremendous burden on taxpayers.

"Illegal immigration is an expensive problem for law-abiding citizens," he argued. "Americans and legal aliens have to pay more for police protection, for classrooms to educate our children, and for hospital and healthcare costs. This burden on the taxpayer is wrong. It undermines the economy, and it puts undue pressure on people to pay even more in taxes to pay for those who are here in America."

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Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

Homeland/Civil Defense
Immigration/Borders

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