AUBURN - U.S. Rep. Michael Arcuri outlined legislation to strengthen border security against illegal immigrants and opposed Gov. Eliot Spitzer's controversial driver's license plan during a Friday visit to the Boyle Center in Auburn.
“I don't support the governor's proposal,” said Arcuri, D-Utica. “It deals with the effects and not the cause.”
He gave credit to the Democratic governor for bringing an important issue to the forefront, but disagreed with using executive power to enact the proposal rather than letting it drive public and legislative discussion. Spitzer has proposed that illegal immigrants be authorized to get a driver's license without a Social Security number.
Allowing illegal aliens to use a valid passport to obtain identification would increase safety by documenting more than 1 million people believed to be hidden across the state. Foes have suggested Spitzer's move would give more rights to terrorists and devalue driver's license privileges.
“I do understand what the governor is trying to achieve,” Arcuri said. “It's something that we talk about everyday in Congress, and it's something that needs to be talked about a lot more in New York.”
Arcuri is co-sponsoring legislation that will beef up border security and expand the e-Verify system that employers use to confirm the legal status of immigrants. The Secure America with Verification and Enforcement Act would add 8,000 border patrol agents, upgrade border technology, create a pilot program for aerial surveillance, satellite and equipment sharing among federal agencies, and speed up deportation by increasing detention capacity and the number of U.S. District Court judges.
Arcuri hopes to add an amendment to the immigration legislation that would join the National Guard with border patrol agents to bring illegal passage under control. The congressman said getting troops home from Iraq would play a large role in that.
The Iraqi government will only be successful once U.S. forces leave, Arcuri said.
“They will stand up when we sit down,” he said. “We need to set a timetable and bring the troops home within the next year. First and foremost, we need to bring our National Guard home.”
Arcuri also touched on a handful of other topics for a crowd of about 12 senior citizens, including universal health care and economic development. The House of Representatives recently approved creation of the Northern Border Commission, which would invest some of $40 million in federal funding available each year for job creation projects across the Northeast region, including Cayuga County.
Projects would include transportation improvement, broadband development, alternative energy projects, agricultural development, health care facility and other needs. The legislation has moved on to the U.S. Senate.
In addition to his visit to the Boyle Center, Arcuri also spent part of his time in Auburn touring the TRW plant.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
He gave credit to the Democratic governor for bringing an important issue to the forefront, but disagreed with using executive power to enact the proposal rather than letting it drive public and legislative discussion. Spitzer has proposed that illegal immigrants be authorized to get a driver's license without a Social Security number.
Allowing illegal aliens to use a valid passport to obtain identification would increase safety by documenting more than 1 million people believed to be hidden across the state. Foes have suggested Spitzer's move would give more rights to terrorists and devalue driver's license privileges.
“I do understand what the governor is trying to achieve,” Arcuri said. “It's something that we talk about everyday in Congress, and it's something that needs to be talked about a lot more in New York.”
Arcuri is co-sponsoring legislation that will beef up border security and expand the e-Verify system that employers use to confirm the legal status of immigrants. The Secure America with Verification and Enforcement Act would add 8,000 border patrol agents, upgrade border technology, create a pilot program for aerial surveillance, satellite and equipment sharing among federal agencies, and speed up deportation by increasing detention capacity and the number of U.S. District Court judges.
Arcuri hopes to add an amendment to the immigration legislation that would join the National Guard with border patrol agents to bring illegal passage under control. The congressman said getting troops home from Iraq would play a large role in that.
The Iraqi government will only be successful once U.S. forces leave, Arcuri said.
“They will stand up when we sit down,” he said. “We need to set a timetable and bring the troops home within the next year. First and foremost, we need to bring our National Guard home.”
Arcuri also touched on a handful of other topics for a crowd of about 12 senior citizens, including universal health care and economic development. The House of Representatives recently approved creation of the Northern Border Commission, which would invest some of $40 million in federal funding available each year for job creation projects across the Northeast region, including Cayuga County.
Projects would include transportation improvement, broadband development, alternative energy projects, agricultural development, health care facility and other needs. The legislation has moved on to the U.S. Senate.
In addition to his visit to the Boyle Center, Arcuri also spent part of his time in Auburn touring the TRW plant.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
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