Washington, D.C. - Following the release of House Republicans’ principles to guide future immigration legislation, Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX – 26) released the following statement:

“Amnesty by any other name is still amnesty.  I oppose amnesty and any path leading to the legalization of people who have entered our country illegally. Right now our obligation is to the 11 million citizens looking for work.  Opening doors to additional competition is ill-advised at a time when our economy is still struggling under the harmful policies of the current administration.  Enforcing existing law would go a long way to solving our problem. 

We must remove the limitations preventing all employers from utilizing the effective E-verify system to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining employment.  The United States has a sovereign right to define and defend its border, as every nation on earth has done since the beginning of time. 

Barack Obama has proven himself untrustworthy at enforcing existing law.  I see no advantage to giving new laws to this president which he would simply ignore. 

Until our border is secure, the conversation can go no further.”

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