Speech #1090133939

I understand that. But I want my colleagues who are voting to understand that if this amendment would pass. this whole compromise and this whole legislation collapses because it removes a fundamental principle of this legislation. which is that we give people an opportunity to earn citizenship. which is exactly what the 2- to 5year part of the compromise under the HagelMartinez proposal represents. If you are here between 2 to 5 years. you have to go to a port of embarkation. you come back. you take part in a temporary worker program. and then over time you obtain eligibility for a green card. and ultimately citizenship. That is what America has been all about: people coming here and having the opportunity to obtain citizenship. So we have a fundamental disagreement.