Speech #1090119573

Mr. President. I too rise to strongly support the general thrust of the Presidents border security bill. As the essential first step in this great challenge. we must take strong. meaningful actionnot just talk but action to prove that we can and will secure our borders and return to the rule of law with regard to our immigration system. I too rise as a descendent of immigrants to this country. and I am very proud of that. Both sets of my grandparentson my moms side and on my dads sidecame from France. They came first into New York but very soon thereafter to Louisiana where there are many other French immigrants. and they settled. What Is so unique about this debate is that here in the Senate. every Senator rises and begins with a similar sort of story. We are all the descendants of immigrants. That is what makes America so magical and so unique. For a young country. we are an immigrant country. and we celebrate that. But we also want to preserve that. To me. that comes down to two fundamental traditions in this countrythe two fundamental reasons I am supporting the Frist border security billand that focus as a first step in this great debate is one tradition. the tradition of immigration. but it is a proud. strong tradition of legal immigration throughout the history of our country. at least until recently. The other great tradition which I will base my vote on is the very important traditionin fact. one of the leading reasons so many people. including my grandparents. came to this countryof the rule of law which forms the basis of so much of what we do. Let me talk briefly about those two traditions.