Speech #1040190532

SMITH and Mr. BRYANT. for their hard work on this very important bill. I rise in support of H.R. 2202 and this amendment which will bring back honesty and integrity to the U.S. immigration laws. From the earliest days of our Nation. the U.S. immigration policy has provided opportunity for millions of people to come to America and to help us build the strongest and most prosperous democracy in the world. However. many people have begun to take advantage of our opendoor policy and our generosity. I represent 22 Texas counties and many of the judges. the county judges in those 22 counties. tell me they spend substantially over 50 percent of their indigent funds on indigent illegal aliens and not indigent American citizens. Currently. illegal aliens who are deported can turn around and apply for legal immigration or a temporary visa 1 year later. and this amendment will correct that egregious policy. Immigration to the United States is not a right. It is a privilege. If immigrants do not choose to play by the rules. then they should not be allowed to immigrate to the United States. This is a simple commonsense approach to immigration reform. Simply put. if you break our immigration laws. you can never be rewarded with the right to immigrate or enter the United States. People in my district constantly say to me. "GREG. why cannot the U.S. Congress apply some common sense to the laws it passes?" This bill makes common sense.