Speech #1090173748

We have the possibility of terrorist organizations using our open. porous border as an opportunity to get a foothold in this country. As I have said. we have a lot of law enforcement issues related to people who come here illegally and then commit illegal actsthe methamphetamine Incidents I talked about in South Dakota being one example. But. clearly. we need to start sealing. securing this southern border to make sure the people of this country have confidence that we are taking the steps necessary to stem the flow of illegal immigration and to get this issue under control. I appreciate the work the chairman of the Budget Committee and others have done to put more resources and funds toward that because I think it has made a profound difference already. But. frankly. this legislation we are considering today is important because it will send a loud. clear message to the people in this country that we are serious about this issue of illegal immigration. starting with securing the border. The other issues that follow from that we can debate. There is an agreement on that. I think the one thing there is agreement on. the one thing people in this country want to see action on now is lets get this border secure. So this border security bill that has come over from the House and is being debated in the Senate. I hope we will get a vote on it and be able to pass it through the Senate and put some52. Pt. 14 18937 thing on the Presidents desk that will move us in the right direction. a direction that will discourage people from coming here illegally. The thing we want to do is discourage people from coming here illegally. I say that as a person one generation removed from immigrant status. My grandfather and greatuncle came here from Norway in 1906. We are a nation of immigrants. People come for the same reason they did: they want to experience the American dream. We are a welcoming nation. and we are also a nation of laws.