News

MYTH: This bill grants amnesty to 11 million illegal immigrants currently living in the shadows in the United States.

• Conn Carroll: “Gang of Ocho amnesty bill” (@conncarroll, 4/16/13)
• “The bill offers a multi-staged amnesty to at least 11 million people…” (Neil Munro, “‘Gang of 8′ reveals immigration bill, start race to read contents,” Daily Caller, 4/17/13)
• Senator Jeff Sessions: “There will be 11 million, maybe more, given immediate amnesty.” (“Republican Lawmakers Call Citizenship Path ‘Amnesty’,” Bloomberg, 4/17/13)
• FAIR: “As expected, the Gang of Eight’s long-anticipated immigration plan offers sweeping amnesty for illegal aliens … ” (FAIR, “Senate Immigration Bill Delivers Amnesty and Cheap Labor, but Not Immigration Reform,” Press Release, 4/16/13)

FACT: No one gets amnesty. Illegal immigrants who qualify for temporary legal status must pay stiff fines, undergo background checks and pay taxes. After 10 years and if all the border security and enforcement triggers are met, then they go to the back of the line for a green card. However, if we continue to do nothing now, we will continue to live with the de facto amnesty we currently have for 11 million illegal immigrants.

Reporting on the tough steps illegal immigrants must go through under immigration bill:

• “Though bashed as ‘amnesty’ by hardliners, the congressional plans to legalize the status of undocumented immigrants treat them like law breakers who need to watch their step for more than a dozen years.” (Marc Caputo, “Undocumented immigrants face major hurdles, more than decade long wait for U.S. citizenship,” Miami Herald, 4/13/13)
• “In total, the bill creates a minimum 13-year path to citizenship for up to 11 million illegal immigrants, costing them each $2,000 in fines plus additional taxes. Applicants would have to meet other criteria as well in order to qualify.” (“Senators Introduce Immigration Overhaul, Dispute ‘Amnesty’ Claims,” FOX, 4/17/13)
• “[The] bill moves the discussion away from the choice between amnesty and the unrealistic notion of deporting 11 million people.” (Editorial, “Good start on immigration reform,” Tampa Bay Times, 4/17/13)
• Dr. Richard Land: “From what we understand, the bill that dropped this morning has accountability for those who are here in an undocumented status. It provides an earned pathway to full legal status and then to citizenship for those who want it. That is not amnesty in any dictionary in the English language.” (Dan Merica, “Pro-immigration-reform evangelicals: Senate bill is not ‘amnesty’,” CNN, 4/17/13)