Speech #1090133934

I worry that we will have been engaged in a futile act. and we will have been laboring and debating in vain on this bill. Finally. I believe there are sectors of our economy that create jobs that are not being satisfied adequately by Americans and by legal citizens. legal immigrants in the United States. So I believe that to supply a legal workforce for those sectors that cannot find an adequate workforce among nativeborn and legal immigrants. we ought to create a temporary worker program. as I have described it a moment ago. This would also have the additional benefit of allowing law enforcement to direct their attention at the real problems and to eliminate from their concerns those who simply want to come here and work in a temporary worker program. Mr. President. I also say that the other part of this amendment deals with those who are already here and who. under the underlying bill. would be able to stay in place and then participate in the H2C program or those who would have to go to a port of entry and then who could come back in. participate. and get on a path to legal permanent residency and citizenship. This would say that "notwithstanding any other provision of this act. an alien having nonimmigrant status is ineligible for and may not apply for adjustment of status under this section on the basis of such status." In other words. temporary means temporary. and that a guest is welcome. assuming they qualify. to come for a time and participate in the benefits of this program but not necessarily be put on a path to a green card or legal permanent residency and citizenship. Now. there are those who say that this kind of plan will not work and that we have no option but to legalize those who are here in place and those who want to come in the future. There are those who say there is no such thing as a temporary worker because America has not shown itself capable of enforcing its own immigration laws and making sure that people whose visas expire. in fact. leave the country at the expiration of their legal authorization. I believe that we can. assuming we have the political will. enforce our laws. We can create humane and realistic laws that provide for our Nations needs and that serve our Nations interests and which.