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Imagine if Congress mandated that an arbitrary number of jail cells be filled with prisoners -- regardless of the crime rate. Authorities would be required to incarcerate people, no matter the circumstances or the affront to human rights. That's basically the state of immigration detention in the U.S.
Imagine if a law enforcement agency insisted on incarcerating a certain number of prisoners, every day, every year, regardless of how many of those prisoners actually needed to be there; what the actual crime rate was; and whether there was another, cheaper way to keep track of them.
Washington, DC -- Today, Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21) and Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) sent a letter signed by 63 of their colleagues to President Obama urging him to remove a FY15 budget request for the Department of Homeland Security that mandates Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have over thirty thousand immigrants in detention at all times. The letter emphasizes that in an era of fiscal restraint, this mandate undermines the ability of ICE to exercise discretion and embrace more cost-effective alternatives to detention.
Washington, DC— Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) voted against H.J. Res. 59, the Continuing Appropriations Resolution.
“I am very concerned that the stopgap measure introduced by House Republicans indicates they are more interested in political posturing than passing workable legislation,” said Foster.
Washington, DC—Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) joined a discussion following Citizenship Day highlight the important contributions that immigrants make to our nation and our economy, and the economic benefits of passing comprehensive immigration reform.
Video of the speech is available here.
The full text is below:
PITTSBURGH -- When you're driving in circles, searching in vain for a parking space, do you wish your car could fold into a scooter?
There are now places where you can try your hand at making that scooter. In fact, someone's already working on it.
Welcome to TechShop Inc. -- your dad's basement workshop on steroids. A TechShop is packed with equipment -- plasma cutters, milling machines, 3-D printers and "iron workers" capable of drilling neat holes in thick steel -- and open to anyone with some ambition and $1,400 for the annual membership fee.
U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL,11) discussed the positive impact immigrants have on the housing market and the overall economy.
Washington, DC—Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) met with members of the Newtown Action Alliance and other families impacted by gun violence. The group is calling on Congress to support background checks to prevent gun violence.
After collecting 2,200 postcards from local residents backing immigration reform, a group from Joliet's Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church delivered them Aug. 30 to U.S rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville.
The members of Nuevo Horizonte, or New Horizon, want sweeping changes in the current immigration system. They gathered many of the cards this summer during visits to Catholic parishes in Foster's 11th Congressional District, which includes all or parts of Aurora, Bolingbrook, Darien, Joliet, Montgomery, Naperville, New Lenox, Shorewood and Woodridge.
Washington, DC—Today, Congressman Bill Foster released a statement following President Obama’s address on Syria:
“I am pleased to see President Obama pursuing a diplomatic solution in Syria. Recent developments are an important reminder of why it is critical that we closely examine all the information and options before taking military action.