President. we are down to the final few minutes of what has been a long and complicated process but a very civil process--as some of my colleagues have referred to the process which has been a very civil process in the best spirit of the Senate. The Senate is about to vote at last on an issue that bears directly on our core responsibility to make America a better place by making it a safer place. a more secure place. It is an issue that focuses on our identity as a nation. a bill that rises to the challenge of solving the problem of illegal immigration with a plan that not only secures our border but is a comprehensive plan that balances the needs of a growing economy with our heritage as a land of proud immigrants. This debate has been conducted in the Senates finest tradition. Since I announced last October that the Senate would act this year. the understanding of this issue has increased. and increased every day we have debated and discussed and voted. The conversation both in Congress. in the Senate. and throughout the country has become more mature. more sophisticated. has led to a better understanding of the complexity of the challenge before us. With this better understanding. the fact has become clearer and clearer: true border security combines energetic border enforcement with a realistic program. a practical program which identifies who is in America today. which lays out firm but fair requirements for those who want to be part of our great country. Last fall. I had the opportunity. as so many have. to go to the border. I went then to the Rio Grande border in Texas. The night before Senator HuTcmSON and I arrived. 800 illegal immigrants were arrested there and were -in detention the next morning. and over 200 pounds of marijuana was seized. But you had to wonder how many more people slipped through unseen. Another 400. 500. 1.000. another 1.500. just through that one sector?
Keywords matched
border security illegal immigrants immigrants border enforcement illegal immigration