Session #104 · 1995–97

Speech #1040191260

I offer this amendment along with several of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle. We have been debating this bill for several hours now. and we have more to come. But I am here to tell you that this is the watershed moment in immigration reform. This is the litmus test for sincerity. This is where Members will decide to either get serious about ending illegal immigration. or to just keep talking about it. The simple truth is we not fight illegal immigration without a reliable. reasonable way of determining who is here legally and who is not. We have to start right there. We need a system. a mandatory system. to ensure that Illegal immigrants are separated from the jobs that motivate them to come here in the first place. The voluntary verification system now in this bill will not out it. I have often said that a voluntary system will have about as much effect as a voluntary speed limit. a very little. if any at all. Today the documents are supposed to provide definitive proof of who is here legally and illegally. We have got green cards. we have pink cards. Social Security cards. birth certificates. and a myriad of others. Unfortunately. the range of documents has only widened the range of options to counterfeiters.
Keywords matched
Illegal immigrants illegal immigration green cards immigration

Classification

Sentiment
Negative
Stereotyping
No
Confidence
95%
Model
gemini-2.0-flash
Framing
Economic threat Legal / procedural

Speaker & context

Speaker
ELTON GALLEGLY
Party
R
Chamber
H
State
CA
Gender
M
Date
1996-03-20
Speech ID
1040191260
Paragraph
#0
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