December 14, 2007
Dear Member of Congress:
The National Korean American Service & Consortium (NAKASEC), Korean American Resource & Cultural Center, Korean Resource Center, and YKASEC – Empowering the Korean American Community represent the interests of Korean American communities throughout the country on matters of civil rights and immigrant rights. We believe that the “Save America Through Verification and Enforcement Act of 2007” or “SAVE Act” (H.R. 4088 and S. 2368) will in fact not save anyone. To fix the failed immigration system and bring it in line with American values of equality and justice, an approach is required that recognizes the multiple contributions of immigrants and their families and encourages their positive integration to American society. As a result, we cannot support any bill that claims to “save America” by criminalizing, isolating and scapegoating immigrants.
The SAVE Act will put all workers, including U.S. citizens, at risk by mandating the use of an employment verification system (E-Verify) that relies on the Social Security Administration (SSA) database, which according to SSA’s Inspector General contains unacceptably high errors rates. An estimated 12.7 million of the 17.8 million of its records contain errors related to U.S. citizens. Adjusting the SSA “no-match program” by limiting the amount of time to ten days those employers can “fix” the discrepancy and requiring the termination of workers after that ten-day period if there is no fix, employers and workers will face incredibly high burdens. This will open the doors to the unjustified termination of millions of lawfully authorized U.S. workers and imposes substantial risk on good-faith employers who are trying to abide by this “lose-lose” policy.
We have already seen how Congressional inaction to address comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to legalization for the undocumented, keeps families together, protects all workers’ rights, and maintains civil liberties & rights for all, has created a chaotic patchwork of resolutions and ordinances at the local & state level. Korean Americans want real solutions and we are working to strengthen America and the communities we live in, whether it’s in Chicago, Los Angeles, or New York. In closing, we urge you to reject this misguided and politically motivated policy that destroys lives of hardworking Americans.
Sincerely,
EunSook LeeBecky Belcore
Executive Director, NAKASECExecutive Director, KRCC
Dae Joong YoonYu Soung Mun
Exeuctive Director, KRCExecutive Director, YKASEC
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