With the U.S. Border Patrol reporting nearly 200,000 encounters with migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border in July, the highest monthly total in more than two decades, Congressman Paul Gosar, is introducing the Americans not Aliens Act. The legislation prohibits the federal government from issuing work permits for aliens with orders for removal.
Original cosponsors include: Brian Babin (TX-36), Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Matt Gaetz (FL-01), Louie Gohmert (TX-01), Matt Rosendale (MT).
According to Pew Research:
“Providing work permits to aliens who have been ordered removed from the United States is the very definition of insanity. At a time when American citizens are struggling to find jobs, my legislation removes the incentives for aliens to ignore the rule of law and not return to their country of origin,” said Gosar. “These aliens have already exhausted substantial government resources throughout the removal process and have ultimately been ordered removed from the United States by an immigration judge. It’s time to close this loophole. It’s time they go back to their home.”
Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) added, “it is hard to imagine that we would allow illegal aliens with deportation orders to obtain a work permit in the United States, yet this practice occurs regularly under the current administration. Congressman Paul Gosar’s common-sense bill will prohibit any removable aliens from receiving work permits. We applaud Congressman Gosar’s long and continuing leadership on this issue.”
Under current regulations, an alien who has a final order of removal and who is temporarily released from DHS custody is generally eligible for an employment authorization document (EAD). This creates a disincentive for the alien to depart or cooperate with their home country to obtain travel documents to depart the United States.