Speech #1090132370

It is a completely false argument to suggest that the only alternative to essentially amnesty is to have to do that and deport all 12 million of these people. The practical alternative. which we can absolutely do. is avoid amnesty while implementing steps such as these six things. And that will provide real border security and real workplace security by demanding absolute requirements that ensure that folks getting jobs are legal immigrants. not illegals. That is the practical alternative which. over time. can dramatically reduce the illegal population in the country. I dont know of any single aspect of this bill before us on the floor of the Senate that has Americans more concerned than these amnesty provisions. It goes to the heart of this debate. It goes to the heart of Americans concerns that. once again. we are talking a good game about enforcement. but we are not demanding that it happen before considering other aspects of the bill. It goes to the heart of our experience in 1986. when that agricultural worker amnesty program clearlyclearlywas a huge part of the failure of that attempt to get our hands around illegal immigration. It was a huge part of the flow across our border. ballooning from 170.000 per year to 700.000 per year. and a huge part of the illegal population in our country skyrocketing from about 3 million to over 12 million. So this is an important amendment that goes to the heart of so many Americans concerns about the bill which are reflected in townhall meetings and discussions I have all across Louisiana.