Speech #1030066316

We have worked. and people have made speeches and people have died over the idea of equal rights and the idea that we should be a colorblind society. We have come a long way. but we are a long way from that. This kind of event is not the first time that it has happened. in an attempt to blame illegal aliens for all of our troubles. while really looking at legal immigrants who are maybe not citizens but legal residents in this country and try to deny them services and the ability to be a part of this fabric of our society. I know the gentleman Is aware that prior to the Great Depression. that this country. with the same kind of an attitude. denied all legal immigration into this country. And for a period of years. prior to the Great Depression. more people left this country than came into this country. There was a net loss of people in this country. Yet. it did nothing about changing the economic circumstances of this country that led to the economic depression. So I say to my friend. problems are problems. and we must deal with them in an honest way. as the gentleman has suggested. One of the ways to deal with illegal immigration in this country is to work with those other countries to provide the conditions in those countries and the association with those governments that help us control. Because. after all. there are people coming into this country. but they are leaving that other country. Until we recognize that immigration can only be controlled in concert with the countries whose people are fleeing to this country. we will never do it. And this bill is certainly not the place to do it. This bill is dealing with national service. not immigration. Like the gentleman said. that amendment brings this debate into another realm of another issue that should be taken care of in another place. Does the gentleman not agree?