Speech #1040203769

I thank the Chair. Let me just say now. we are embarking on the issue of illegal immigration. I hope my colleagues will pay very clear attention to this debate. This is the critical one. This is where we begin to get something done. I must admit. and I thank my colleagues for their patience in my obstreperous behavior to propose to go forward with one or two items that had to do with legal immigration. thinking that I might get the attention of my colleagues to do something with regard to chain migration and other phenomenon. That certainly was a message clearly conveyed that that will have to come at another time. So I will not be trying to link anything. I have no sinister plan to proceed to reconstruct or deconstruct. But the theme of this debate must be very clear to all of our colleagues. and it is very simply said: If we are going to have legal immigrants come to our country. then those who bring them. who sponsor them will have to agree that they will never become a public charge for 5 years. and then when they naturalize. of course. that will end. That has come through very clear. But every single amendment that you will hear which says that the assets of the sponsor should not be deemed to be the assets of the immigrant. then remember that leaves only one person. or millions to pick up the slack. and those are called taxpayers. So every time in this debate when there is an amendment to say. "Oh. my. we cant put that on the immigrant. that that asset should be listed as the immigrants asset." every time that will happen. it means that the obligation of the sponsor becomes less and the obligation of the taxpayer becomes .-eater. You cannot have it both ways. The sponsor is either obligated. and should be. by a tough affidavit of supportand there is a tough one in thereor if they come off the hook. the taxpayers go back on the hook. That is the essence of observing this debate. The second part is very attentive to the issues of verification. because it does not matter how much you want to do something with regard to illegal immigrationand let me tell you. this bill does big things to illegal immigration because apparently that is what is soughtbut you cannot get any of it done unless you have goc: verification procedures. counterfeitresistant documents. things of that nature. which are not intrusive. which are not leading us down the slippery slope. which are not the first steps to an Orwellian society. which are not equated with tattoos. which are not equated with Adolf Hitler. That is not what we are about. But you cannot get there. you cannot do what people want to do some with vigor intensified. you cannot do that unless you have some kind of more counterfeitresistant documentation. or the callin system. or something.