Speech #1090139026

That is why I opposed this Initiative and have sought to strengthen the likelihood that we will get more rather than less cooperation from Mexican authorities by proposing an amendment to require advance consultations at the federal. state and local levels of government on both sides of the border before fence construction moves forward. I am grateful to the managers for their willingness to accept this amendment. Securing our borders. while necessary is only one part of the bigger immigration equation. Were we to deal with that issue. while ignoring two other goalsbringing 11 to 12 million undocumented workers out of the shadows. and putting in place limited and carefully regulated guest worker programs to fill jobs when no Americans are available or willing to take them. we would not have fundamentally confronted the national security implications of immigration. In my view. turning our backs on this reality is the same as turning our backs on real and lasting immigration reform. I would say the following with respect to the 11 to 12 million undocumented individuals living within our borders. These are predominantly hardworking individuals. who are not here to flood the welfare rolls or collect our charity. They are here to work and to contribute. They want what all of our families wanted when they came to the U.S.-a piece of the American dream. However. I understand the concerns of those who rightly state that these undocumented workers came here illegally. The pending bill recognizes that fact. And so it wouldnt give them a free ride. Instead. it would penalize illegal immigrants by requiring undocumented workers to pay fines. It would require them to pay all back taxes. submit themselves to background checks. and learn English. And for 152. Pt. 7 9595 those who are eligible. this process would take an average of 11 years. Yet even with these tough measures. it provides an incentive for undocumented workers to come out into the open. Frankly. we need to be honest with ourselves that theyre not going to come out of the woodwork if they face deportation. No rational person would do that. Why is getting them to come out into the open so important? Because the presence of so many individuals � without documentation in our country creates enormous challenges for law enforcement and undermines worker protections. It is bad for our security. bad for the American worker. and bad for undocumented immigrants themselves. But not all people seek to come permanently to the U.S. Many seek temporary work here and desire to return home when that work is complete.