Gingrich Criticizes Senate’s Immigration Bill

Date Published: 4/7/06

Former speaker of the house, Newt Gingrich criticized Senate’s Immigration bill during a press conference at MountUnionCollege yesterday.

The bill, approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, gives long-time illegal immigrants the ability to seek U.S. citizenship without ever leaving the country. Gingrich called the bill profoundly wrong and said he is disappointed that the White House has indicated President Bush will support the proposed legislation.

Gingrich said the government will not solve illegal immigration problems by hunting down individual illegal workers. Instead, Gingrich advocates a legal temporary worker program as a more effective way of controlling the immigration issue. This proposed program includes background checks and identity cards with micro-chip technology to prevent counterfeiting. In order to avoid government corruption, Gingrich also suggests outsourcing these activities to an American company with card expertise such as Visa or Mastercard.

According to Gingrich, the creation of an effective temporary worker program will allow the government to enforce harsh fines to American businesses that hire illegal workers. When this happens, Gingrich said illegal job opportunities will dry up and immigrants will be obligated to go through the proper process and apply for temporary worker permits.

Gingrich hopes the current immigration bill will be filibustered in the Senate or rejected by the house.