Speech #1090122433

Mr. President. I rise to talk about immigration reform. Over the past week. I have heard many of my colleagues describe the important contributions immigrants have made to American society and culture. Like my colleagues. I agree that the United States has a long and proud tradition of immigration. Immigrants have contributed in many ways to our Nation since its birth. Many Americans are descendants of immigrants who came to America seeking a better life. Unfortunately. today we have a huge illegal immigration problem that threatens our Nations security and our economic security. I was recently contacted about this issue by a constituent of mine. She is a young IrishAmerican woman whose parents emigrated from the Republic of Ireland to the Commonwealth of Kentucky over 20 years ago. When talking about her experience of immigration to the United States. this young woman stressed to me what a privilege immigration to our country truly is. She is right. Immigration is a privilege and not an entitlement. This distinct privilege of immigration is one which is unique to our great Nation and one which is currently being threatened by the flow of illegal immigrants into our society. Like so many of my colleagues. I would like to see this countrys traditions of immigration preserved. But it must be done in a way that does not reward those who broke our laws and came to this country illegally. Looking at immigration reform. I believe we must start with securing our borders. to stop those who illegally try to enter the United States. Border security is the foundation on which we must build immigration reform. It is essential to our national security that we make it our No. 1 priority. We need to keep a close eye on who the people are who are entering this country and the purpose they have for coming here.