CONGRESSWOMAN CANDICE MILLER
by Congresswoman Candice S. Miller

American citizens are quickly losing voices in the United States Congress due to unchecked illegal immigration. States with a large influx of illegal immigrants are taking away seats and influence. For instance, just a few years ago, my home state of Michigan held 16 seats in the United States House of Representatives. Now we're down to 15. Even though Michigan experienced population growth, it could not keep pace with other states where many illegal immigrants settle. Based on current trends Michigan is likely to lose one or two more seats by 2010. Congressional districts are redrawn every ten years, after each census.

Those numbers alone are discouraging. But when I investigated deeper into the reasons behind this trend, I was more than discouraged - I was outraged. To this day, the re-apportionment process includes illegal aliens in its count, with no distinction from American citizens. Some of the states that are gaining population faster, and taking away our representatives in the U.S. House, are doing so because of a spike in their illegal alien populations. Aliens, who are breaking the law by hiding within our borders, are stealing our voices in Congress.

The 14th Amendment to United States Constitution requires that all "persons" residing in each state be counted for the apportionment of congressional districts. Currently, illegal aliens count as "persons" for this purpose. Since only citizens have the right to vote, I am proposing we amend our Constitution to count only 'citizens' solely for the purpose of the allocation of Congressional Districts. This change would restore the full voice of every American citizen. This is about fundamental fairness.

If this amendment had been adopted to the Constitution prior to the last round of re-apportionment, and only citizens were counted for apportioning seats in the House of Representatives, estimates show it would have had an impact on how nine congressional seats were allocated. The state of California, home to an estimated 5.4 million non-citizens, would have been allocated six fewer seats in the House of Representatives. Three other states that would have been allocated one less seat include Florida, New York and Texas. Nine states would have been allocated one additional seat including Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Utah and my home state of Michigan.

The fact that we count illegal aliens when apportioning Congressional districts gives states and local communities an incentive to harbor those aliens. The more aliens you allow to live within your borders; the more seats you can secure in Congress. This may be a reason why we see in areas with a high number of illegal immigrants laws being adopted barring police officials from inquiring about the immigration status of those they suspect are in the country illegally. Do we really want to encourage this illegal, destructive trend?

There can be no question that non-citizens are having a profound impact on our system of representative democracy. Census estimates show that Michigan is estimated to have over 280,000 non-citizens. They also show that one district in California has more than 260,000 non-citizens. In my district in the 2002 election, 216,928 people voted, and there were an estimated 16,622 non-citizens for a ratio of 13 voters for every non-citizen. In California's 31st district there were 67,243 voters and 262,057 non-citizens for a ratio of nearly four non-citizens for every voter.

Our citizen's right to vote is one of our most cherished freedoms. We should not allow that right to be diluted for any reason. Unfortunately, our porous borders and lax enforcement of immigration laws are doing just that. Citizens who live in states with few immigrants, legal and illegal, are disadvantaged.

America is a nation of immigrants and I support immigration, as long as the rules are followed. In fact, my district is home to high number of immigrants from across the globe. These are people who have come to our country to achieve freedom and live the American Dream. I have found that these people, who followed the rules to come to our great nation, are among the most vociferous in advocating tighter control of the borders. They do not deserve to have their voice weakened by those who violate the law.

I urge my colleagues in Congress to approve this important amendment and send it to the various state legislatures for ratification. The time to act is now!

If you wish to contact Congresswoman Miller you may reach her in Washington, D.C. at 228 Cannon Building, Washington, D.C. 20515; Phone: 202-225-2106; Fax: 202-226-1169. You may also reach her in Michigan at Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Township, MI 48317; Phone: (586) 997-5010; Fax: (586) 997-5013.