Speech #1090119669

We simply cannot. as a country. having built what we built to increase our standard of living. decide that we can be the sponge for everybody everywhere who wants to come to our country. We cannot do that. As a result. we have immigration laws. Those immigration laws provide opportunities for others to come to our country. Last year. for example. our Southern border allowed 175.000 people to immigrate legally. Second. through the processes of the visas that are issued for agricultural workers and temporary. seasonal nonagricultural workers. tens and tens of thousands more came across temporarily. That is the way we have always done business. I understand those who have come to this floor saying lets try to find a way to address the status of the 11 million people who are already here. I dont understand this Congress. this President saying: Oh. by the way. we have this huge problem that has become a mushrooming problem. so lets bring in 400.000 more workers each year. and lets add to it by putting a formula in this bill that says we will have an expansion of 20 percent more each year. if you reach the 400.000 in the first quarter. I dont think that makes sense. I understand all those who speak for immigrants. and I dont want to do anything to diminish their value. their worth. their dignity. God bless them all. But I also want to be here standing for American workers who are struggling trying to find their footing. trying to find a job.