Speech #1030090049

It is ourselves. our children. our grandchildren. and those yet to come. who will benefit from this treaty in both the short and the long run. Some critics of NAFTA have crossed the line between opposition to a trade agreement and bigotry against Hispanics. NAFTA has been caught up in some of the passion against illegal immigration. The two issues are completely separate. I have a twodecade track record of opposing illegal immigration and supporting tough measures to stop illegal immigration. But illegal immigration should be opposed from all countries. not just Mexico. It should be opposed because it is. by definition. illegal. not because many of the illegal immigrants happen to be Hispanic. The United States admits more legal immigrants than all the rest of the world combined. Many legal immigrants wait for years to come to America. Illegal immigration is simply not fair. We need to keep this debate focused on NAFTA as a trade agreement. and I call on the critics of NAFTA not to cross the line between opposition to a trade agreement and bigotry. and to refrain from the heated rhetoric that fans the flames of ethnic resentment. We have all heard many specific criticisms of NAFTA.