Speech #1090134953

So. Mr. President. we have had a productive week in the Senate dealing with the issue of comprehensive immigration reform. Each of us has perhaps won some and lost some in terms of the amendments we favored or disfavored. but I think it has been a good week for the Senate. a good week for the cause of securing our borders and restoring public respect for our laws. At the same time. as we continue to be a nation that does welcome legal immigration. one of the things that I will say that I hope we continue to focus on is what in our immigration system really is in Americas best interestrecognizing that we cant simply open our borders to anyone and everyone who wants to come to the United States or we would be swamped by a veritable tsunami of humanity. We should continue to be a welcoming country but one that respects not only our heritage as a nation of immigrants but also respects our heritage as a nation of laws. Indeed. at this time. we are trying to export that heritage as not only the Democratic country that respects democracy but one that respects the rule of law in places such as Afghanistan and Iraq. and so we need to tend to business here at home. But as we continue to debate and discuss and hopefully pass laws that are in Americas best interest and improve our system. we will look at exactly what type of legal immigration we should encourage. I would ask my colleagues to not only focus on the massive lowskilled immigration that is part of this underlying bill but also focus on those people who have special talents and special educational credentials and experience. highly skilled individuals whom we ought to encourage to come to this country and. if they want to become American citizens. provide them an opportunity to do so. When we look at the costs associated with the underlying bill. what we have learned is lowskilled. poorly educated individuals are more likely to be a financial burden on the American taxpayer than those who are highly skilled and highly educated. Indeed. those highly skilled and highly educated legal immigrants whom we ought to be encouraging to come to the United States and become part of this great country are people who are going to help America to continue to be competitive in the global marketplace. That includes. of course. foreign students who study at our universities. I personally believe that when someone graduates with one of these important advance degrees in math. science. engineering. the very sorts of skills and talents which will make America competitive. we ought to give them preferential treatment when it comes to their application for legal permanent residency and putting them in line for American citizenship. if that is their wish. I hope what is not lost in all of this debate about immigration reform is Americas great heritage as a nation of immigrants. our heritage as a nation that believes in the rule of law. What that means to me is we ought to be encouraging legal immigration that is in the best interests of this Nation while discouraging and preventing illegal immigration by comprehensive border security. interior enforcement. worksite verification. and sanctions against employers who cheat. while we also create a legal immigration system to deal with the workforce needs and our prosperity in America going forward. I yield the floor.