Speech #1090173248

Again. I would say that I think what is being revealed to the American people Is that this administration is really driven by politics. We hear now about immigration and border protection. but for 6 years they have been the majority in this body. they have been the majority in the Senate and have owned the White House. they had an opportunity to vote and to support Democratic proposals which would have strengthened border security. And a comparison. I think. is in order here right now. The average number of new Border Patrol agents that were added per year during the Clinton administration was 642. during the Bush administration. 411. Immigration fraud cases that were completed in 1995. almost 6.500. in 2003. on the average. 1.300. And what I find particularly fascinating is those cases that were filed against employers for hiring illegal immigrants. in 1999 there were some 417. In 2004. there were three. The reality is the resources were never provided to enforce the existing laws that would have served us well. and now we are hearing about border protection. There is no other conclusion that one can reasonably reach other than it is great politics in an election year to energize the socalled base. But it is not fair to the American people on an issue that really needs to be debated in a respectful and civil way and analyzed appropriately.