(Speaking in Spanish.) Mr. President. what I just said is I could not sign on to the agreement announced in principle because it tears families apart. and It says to many that they are only good enough to work here but not good enough to stay. Depending upon the category of individuals. it levies rather high penalties and fines. and it does not provide the confidentiality or judicial review necessary to bring those people who are undocumented in the country out of the shadows and into the light. Now. I have serious concerns about the workability and the fairness of the agreement announced earlier because. first and foremost. it tears at the fabric of family reunification by limiting and eliminating the ability of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to petition for their children. their parents. and siblings to join them in this country. I took it very much to heart when President Bush said family values dont stop at the Rio Grande. that we all share those family values. Yet here we are with a piece of legislation which I gather is largely supported by the White House which undermines the very essence of that. Even under a new point structure that is envisioned under this bill. it seems to me the essence of family could get much more weighty within the context of a whole new process of how we are going to move our immigration system forward. Family is a critical valueI thoughtin our country. It calls for a truly temporary and.
Keywords matched
immigration family reunification undocumented