Speech #1090131535

The President offered some helpful comments in April. but these words came too late. as the far right wing of his party had already undermined the potential compromise. Democrats were prepared to pass a bill in April and are prepared to pass a fair and comprehensive bill now. The BushCheney administration has gone to great lengths to create the impression that it is now committed to strengthening our border security. The reality is that very little progress has been made. A recent report concluded that the number of people apprehended at our borders for illegal entry fell 31 percent under President Bushs watch. from a yearly average of 1.52 million between 1996 and 2000 to 1.05 million between 2001 and 2004. The number of illegal immigrants apprehended while in the interior of the country declined 36 percent. from a yearly average of roughly 40.000 between 1996 and 2000 to 25.901 between 2001 and 2004. Audits and fines against employers of illegal Immigrants have also fallen significantly since President Bush took office. Given the vast increases in the number of Border Patrol Agents. the decline in enforcement can only be explained by a failure of leadership. The recent aggressive and wellpublicized enforcement efforts to detain illegal immigrants are little more than political posturing that do little to improve the situation. We need comprehensive reform. backed up by leadership committed to using the tools Congress provides. not piecemeal political stunts. Tonight we expect to hear that the National Guard will be deployed to the Mexican border.