We Are a Nation of Immigrants

But Also a Nation of Laws

America is a nation of immigrants, but it is also a nation of laws. As a prosecutor, I find it unacceptable to tolerate or condone overt and overwhelming violations of our laws. If we have laws we should enforce them. Any immigration reform must be premised on a clear and definitive distinction between those who play by the rules and those who do not. We need a serious commitment to border security and to prosecuting employers who promote and profit from illegal immigration.

Not only can we not stop illegal immigrants from entering our country, we do not deport them even when they are convicted of crimes. Fellow citizens profit from employing illegal aliens at low wages. When illegal aliens are injured or sick, we pay the cost of their care if they have no health insurance. Unchecked employment of illegal aliens unfairly suppresses fair wages, promotes dangerous working conditions, and unduly shifts benefit burdens away from the illegal employer and onto law abiding businesses and citizens. In Congress, I will work to crack down on employers of illegal aliens, promote an instant check system to verify the legal status of all job applicants and promote a modification of our legal immigration system to encourage, reward and increase lawful immigration.

I am deeply concerned about the threat that our weak borders create. I am concerned about our Homeland Security and the tide of interstate gangs populated by illegal aliens creeping into the First Congressional District. We can never tackle this problem without a serious commitment to improving border security. In Congress I will take this issue seriously. Our elected leaders pass border security and immigration laws, but show little effort to deliver enforcement resources. In Congress I will work to deliver effective enforcement resources to the First Congressional District.

I am not against immigration. I am of Czech, Polish, English and Irish descent and support lawful immigration and the ability of people to come to this country and achieve the American Dream by working hard and finding a better life for themselves and their families. New blood builds America and that is why I am running for Congress. But, we are also a nation of laws and as a prosecutor, father and community leader, I know that blatently ignoring violations of our laws erodes respect for all laws. Doing so is the wrong message for Congress to send.