Speech #1100050972

Think of the strength and courage of that Norwegian woman who decided: I am going to do this. All of us have that story in our backgrounds. So we understand the value of immigration. the value of immigrants. and we provide for it in a quota system by which we accept people from around the world. Last year. nearly 1.5 million people came into this country through that system. In addition. there were other people who came in as agricultural workers. In addition to that. there were people who came in illegally. So here we are on the floor of the Senate saying: Now we have about 12 million people who have decided to come to this country. no. not through the process by which we accept immigration on a legal basis but come to this country in other waysget a visitors visa. come in. get dropped off by an airplane. never go home. stay here illegally. or they come across the border. walk across the border without a visitors visa and decide they are going to stay here without legal authorization. So we have. some say. 12 million people who are in that status. The underlying bill says: Lets decide. as a matter of course. we say to all who came into this country or those who came to this country up until and through December 31 of last year: OK. you are no longer an illegal immigrant. You entered without legal authorization. but as of this day forward. when this legislation Passes. You have legal authorization to stay.