President. as I noted at the start of my comments. I believe S. 1664 is a good bill. with many tough provisions. In my opinion. this legislation will make significant strides toward reducing the number of illegal immigrants in the United States. and in helping to lift the financial burden for these people from the shoulders of the American taxpayer. At the same time. however. I am disappointed that the Senate did not see fit to address the entire issue of immigration. both illegal and legal. I do not believe. as I know some do. that the issues neatly separate into distinct matters. I do not believe. as some apparently do. that we can have a coherent. integrated policy in this area when we choose to ignore necessary reforms in legal immigration. Mr. President. I believe that the time is way overdue for all of us to take a fresh. cold. hard look at our total national immigration policy and its impact on our society. It is clear to me that such an evaluation is badly needed and that a new consensus about the kind of immigration policies we need to enhance our particular goals must be formulated by the Congress. It seems indisputable to me that any nations overall immigration policy must first and foremost seek to enhance the survival and integrity of that nations culture as a whole by encouraging a broad consensus and shared beliefs. Simply put. our Nation must put its own citizens concerns above the laudable goal of helping people from other nations. We must consider our own national priorities and the needs of our own citizens first.
Keywords matched
illegal immigrants immigration