Graves Introduces SAVE Act to Combat Illegal Immigration

Graves' Middle Ground Solution to Illegal Immigration

Introduces bill with three-pronged approach

(Washington, DC) U.S. Congressman Sam Graves introduced the Secure America with Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act, which takes a three-pronged approach to combat illegal immigration through increased border security, mandatory worker verification, and improved interior enforcement.

The SAVE Act increases border security with the addition of 5,000 Border Patrol Agents and improves infrastructure with additional fencing and vehicle barriers at the border. It also enhances existing interior enforcement by increasing the number of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and expediting the process of removing illegal aliens from the U.S.

"Our primary goal in any immigration plan should be to control and defend our borders," said Graves. "This is an important responsibility of the federal government and we are not doing enough, as made evident by the over 11 million illegal immigrants currently in the country."

The SAVE Act also expands and mandates E-Verify to provide American employers with the tools they need to verify that their employees are legally permitted to work in the U.S. E-verify is an effective, inexpensive, and quick way for employers to verify employment authorization. More than 200,000 employers already utilize the highly successful program on a voluntary basis.

"The bottom line is E-Verify works. Our government must do everything possible to ensure the American workforce consists of legal workers, especially during these tough economic times," said Graves.

The bill is also co-sponsored by Representatives Vicky Hartzler of Missouri, Alan Nunnelee of Mississippi, Ralph Hall of Texas and Dana Rohrabacher of California. The bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.