The Coldwater Daily - Schwarz Aide: Walberg Misinforms On Immigration

Schwarz Aide: Walberg Misinforms On Immigration

June 8, 2006
By Roland Stoy

TIPTON — While lawmakers in Washington seek to reconcile House and Senate immigration legislation, 7th District Congressional primary candidate Tim Walberg said U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz, R-Battle Creek, supports amnesty and said he is "out of touch with the desires of mainstream America."

Schwarz aide John Truscott indicated the Walberg campaign is out of touch with the reality of Schwarz's position.

"There is no truth to what Walberg is saying," said Truscott. "Schwarz does not support amnesty."

Schwarz issued a statement recently in the wake of remarks by President George Bush that a new immigration policy must fall somewhere between amnesty and mass deportation.

He also proposed that up to 6,000 members of the National Guard would be sent to the U.S. - Mexico border.

"I am delighted to hear the president calling for a prudent compromise on our immigration policy. Radical approaches to this issue will not solve any problems," said Schwarz.

Bush this week, according to the Associated Press (AP), insisted Congress must pass a comprehensive new law coupling tight security with a path to citizenship for many undocumented workers.

The Senate bill includes tightened border protection, a temporary worker plan and a mechanism to help illegal immigrants win citizenship, provided they pay fines and back taxes, learn English and maintain a crime-free record.

The Walberg campaign cited a May 29, 2006 Battle Creek Enquirer story reporting that "Schwarz said he would support the Senate approach for dividing illegal immigrants into three categories based on how long they have been in the country," and that illegal immigrants who have been in the country for more than five years would be able to remain.

"We are a nation of laws and illegal immigrants are lawbreakers who have not earned the privileges of United States citizenship. Illegal immigration is a burden on taxpayers and a threat to our national security," said Walberg. " . . .

America welcomes people from around the world to legally come here to work, speak English, realize their dreams, and become American. We must demand people sign the guest book and legally enter the American dream."

The press release said Walberg supports requiring all foreign workers to obtain a temporary, legal work permit.

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