Mr. President. in the coming weeks. the full Senate will be engaged in the important issue of reforming the immigration laws. Our principal goal is to provide the additional authority needed to combat illegal immigration. Initial progress is being made as a result of increases in resources and personnel of the Immigration and Naturalization Service to deal with this ongoing crisis that is so harmful to the country. but much needs to be done. It would be a mistake. however. to allow the Nations concerns about illegal immigration to create an unjustified and unwarranted backlash in Congress over legal immigration. Legal immigrants come to America within the limits prescribed in the immigration laws. They join their families. roll up their sleeves. and contribute to U.S. communities. There is every reason to believe that todays new Americans will build an even stronger America for the next generation just as our immigrant predecessors did for us. It is especially important. therefore. that any reforms of the laws governing legal immigration must protect families and U.S. workers. Most Americans agree that U.S. citizens should have the right to bring spouses. children. and other close family members to this country to be with them here if they wish to do so. Yet. there are those who would deny American citizens the privilege to reunite their families in America.
Keywords matched
immigrant Immigration immigration immigrants Naturalization illegal immigration