Speech #1090179443

Its a feel good plan that will have little effect in the real world. We all know what this is about. It may be good politics. but its bad immigration policy. That is not what Americans want. They deserve something better than a fence. Over and over and over again. the American people have told us that they want our immigration system fixed. and fixed now. They have told us that this complex problem requires a comprehensive solution. The American people want tough but fair laws that will strengthen our borders and crack down on employers who hire undocumented workers. but at the same time provide a practical solution that will allow undocumented immigrants to become taxpaying legal workers who perform tasks needed by our economy. Today or tomorrow. this Republican Congress will recess for the elections. and leave this issue still unresolved. I hope that we can use the next few weeks productively to work together on compromises that can be adopted when we return in November. What is the solution? How do we control our borders effectively? How do we restore the rule of law and make sure that immigrants come to this country with a visa. not with a smuggler? The bipartisan bill passed by the Senate is the only practical way to cure what ails us. The only way we can truly bring illegal immigration under control and achieve border security is to combine enforcement and border protection with a realistic framework for legal immigration. Its obvious that we have insufficient legal avenues for immigrant workers and families to come to this country. and no path to citizenship for the 12 million undocumented workers and families already here. The problem is fueling a black market of smugglers and fake documentmakers. to the peril of citizens and immigrants alike. Rather than saberrattling. chestthumping. and ranting. the American people would like to see both parties and both Houses of Congress come together to negotiate a realistic and enforceable policy for immigration. Piecemeal proposals wont work. They will only make a bad situation worse.