Speech #1090119600

We tried to identify the principles that each of the problems raised. In other words. we recognized that since we are a nation united by principles. we wanted to be able to understand the principles and have a principled discussion when we got issues like school choice or support for faithbased institutions. Perhaps the issue that created the most discussion in our class that semester was a question that was presented in this way: Should illegal immigrants in the State of Illinois have State drivers licenses? The President of Mexico. Vicente Fox. had come to Chicago and asked the Illinois legislature to do that. If one of my students had stood up and said: I have a proimmigrant or an antiimmigrant solution to this problem. that student would probably have earned an F because I asked them to identify the principles that this issue raised. This was a typical university class of pretty smart students in an area where more of the students are to the left. I would say. There were several refugees from the recent Clinton administration. there were some international students. and there were students from all over our country of many races and backgrounds. But the first issue this class raised when considering the question of drivers licenses for illegal immigrants in Illinois was the principle of the rule of law. Then we went right through the other principles that I have just discussed today. And a little bit to my surprise. this class came down very hard on the idea that. of all the principles considered. the principle of rule of law required no drivers licenses for people not legally here. They came to that conclusion quickly. But they also came quickly to the conclusion that in a country that always values equal opportunity. laissez faire. and a nation of immigrants. that we should have clear rules for welcoming people who are temporarily working here and temporarily studying here. that there should be generous allotments for that. that it was in our interest. They also spent a lot of time talking about those three words above the Presiding Officers chair. about how can we help all those who were here legally to learn what it is to be an American. I was very impressed with the way our class 4 years ago at that university dealt with the issue of immigration. It had a similar problem to the one we are facing. They considered all the principles. It was not considered to be a proimmigration or antiimmigration result. It was a discussion about principles in which we all agree. which collide. and it was up to the students in that class to come to a solution which was principled. That is our job in this body. We need to let the American people know that we honor each of the principles that we talk about today. We should not step back one inch from honoring the principle of the rule of law. but we shouldnt be hesitant for one minute to welcome those who work here and study here because we also honor the principle of equal opportunity. being a nation of immigrants and the free market economy that we are. I hope before we are through in these 3 weeks that we will do as the students did 4 years ago and realize that above all. when we talk about immigration. about people coming to this country. that what is distinctive about America. what is our greatest accomplishment. is not that we can figure out a way to create laws and virtual laws to control our borders. not that we can come up with some mathematical number of people who can work and study here. but what we have been able to do that France has not done. that Great Britain has not done. that China and Germany have not doneno country in the world has ever done the way we haveis that we have taken people from all different backgrounds and said we are the United States of America. And to become an American you believe in ideals. and it doesnt matter where you come from. what your race is. what your background is. It is important that we keep that up front. that we honor our diversity but more important that we can be proud of where we come from but prouder where we are. that we honor the oath of allegiance that our amendment will seek to make law. where George Washington and his officers said we put aside where we came fromwe may honor it. we may be proud of where we may go to reunions and talk about it. but we are Americans. That is the most important subject for an immigration debate. and this bill will not be complete without it. I look forward to offering an amendment at the appropriate time that adds to our discussion of helping prospective citizens become Americans. This would be the only country in the world in which such an amendment would have that kind of meaning.