Speech #1090108919

Mr. President. I rise today to introduce a bill regarding immigration: the Welcoming Immigrants to a Secure Homeland Act of 2006. As a border State Senator and the son of immigrants. I have a unique perspective on immigration. I understand the need to provide a secure homeland for my constituents who see the problems caused by illegal entries into our country every day. I also understand the need to welcome immigrants to our country. so that America remains a country where hardworking. entrepreneurial. and intelligent immigrants can prosper. My perspective is the basis for the WISH Act. I believe we can welcome immigrants to a secure homeland by addressing five areas. First. we must improve security at our international borders. On November 17. 2005. I introduced the Border Security and Modernization Act of 2005. S. 2049. That bill calls for improvements to our port of entry infrastructure. increased Department of Homeland Security. DHS. and Department of Justice personnel. new technologies and assets for border security. increased detention capacity. and additional Federal assistance for States. I believe these actions will provide the necessary increased security at our borders. Second. we must improve enforcement of our immigration laws. The WISH Act addresses this situation by increasing the number of DHS personnel who investigate human smuggling laws. employment of Immigrants. and immigration fraud. My bill also increases penalties for violations of immigration laws and provides for a system to verify a workers employment eligibility. Third. we must create a new guest worker visa that Is easier to obtain and lets individuals who want to come to the United States to work know that if they are hardworking and industrious. we want them in America. The WISH Act creates such a visa. which is valid for up to 9 years if the guest worker remains employed. After the applicant has worked in the United States for 6 of those years. he or she may apply for permanent resident status. An applicants spouse and unmarried minor children may be admitted to the United States with the guest worker. To ensure that such visas are issued only to legitimate guest workers. my bill requires applicants to provide information on his or her criminal history. gang membership. immigration history. and involvement with groups that have engaged in terrorist acts. genocide. persecution. or plans to overthrow the United States. It also provides for the completion of all necessary background checks. Fourth. we must account for the millions of undocumented aliens residing in the United States. I believe that the vast majority of these aliens are honest. hardworking individuals who are contributing to our country in positive ways. so the WISH Act allows them to obtain the guest worker visa I just mentioned without leaving the United States if he or she pays a fine. This will allow for these aliens. and their immediate families. to remain in the country doing the work they already do. In order to provide for their timely and orderly transition into legal guests. my bill requires undocumented aliens to apply for this visa or leave the United States. Failure to take one of those actions means they will be removed from the United States and will be unable to return. For aliens who have been working in the United States for at least 5 years before enactment of the WISH Act. my bill allows them to apply for any visa. adjustment of status. or immigration benefit except adjustment of status to that of a permanent resident after they have worked as legal guests for 5 years. However. such applications may not be granted until the alien has returned to his home country. Lastly. we must create a more welcoming environment for students and visitors to our country.