Legalization has its humanitarian aspect which is important. But equally important is the pragmatic commonsense need to avoid the severe disruption of communities and places of business that will take place if there is not a legalization program from the hundreds of thousands of individuals estimated to be affected by S. 2222. I remind my colleagues that American immigration policy has tolerated. and often actively encouraged. persons to enter the United States without proper immigration papers to work and to live here. S. 2222 marks a dramatic reversal of what has been our actual policy for many years. This is not a case where the law and practice have been clear and consistent. This is not an amnesty. As a matter of fact there is little for which to absolve undocumented workers. They are significant contributors to American productivity. They aided the growth of my State and much of the Southwest.
Keywords matched
undocumented immigration