Mr. President. countless American families want their undocumented relatives to have the opportunity to become residents. One million immigrants rallied in communities across the country last week. and the crowds included thousands of families waving American flags and celebrating America as their adopted homeland. No one believes in amnesty for these immigrant workers and families. but we do believe in giving them a chance to earnearnlegal status. That is the difference. Amnesty is a pardon. We are not pardoning any undocumented immigrants. What we are basically saying is: Come out of the shadows. pay a fine. pay your taxes. learn English. and after all those who are in line to come to the United States at the present time and have come to the United States. go to the back of the line and work your way to citizenship by playing by the rules. There are 70.000 permanent resident aliens who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. If you dont play by the rules. then you are subject to deportation. That is earning legal status. and that is the process we follow. All undocumented immigrants deserve this chance. but only those who pay the stiff fines. work for 6 years. pay their taxes. learn English and pass a civics test will be permitted to remain in the United States. Today. we embark on a historic debate. We have an opportunity to correct these historic wrongs. I look forward to the coming debate. Together. let us move forward. not backward. on genuine immigration reform. Mr. President.
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