Speech #1100052027

I want to share a few thoughts tonight. In particular. I wish to talk about the Grassley amendment that deals with the granting of visas. which. by error or inadvertence. could in fact involve individuals who are very dangerous. who would get into our country on a valid visa. and then it be determined that they should never have been issued that visa. That happens quite often. The State Department is concerned about it. The FBI is concerned about it. The Grassley amendment would help fix that in a significant way. In any comprehensive immigration reform. it is my view that should be a part of it. We have talked about this for a number of years. but somehow we never got around to getting it done. I am glad he has offered it. If we are going to pass immigration reform. it certainly should be a part of it. I think one of the problems we have had in our thinking throughout this process is an insufficient understanding that we as Senators should 53. Pt. 10 13659 place our national interests first. and we should set policy that serves our laws. that serves our financial interests. and should validate those who follow the law properly and have consequences for those who do not follow the law. In 1986. there was this discussion that led to immigration reform. It was admitted to be amnesty. and it was supposed to be the last amnesty of all time. a onetime amnesty. and we are going to enforce the law in the future. They promised. Of course. the amnesty took place immediately and the promises of enforcement and funding and enough Border Patrol agents and all the things necessary to have enforcement never occurred for two main reasons. No President of the United States cared to do anything about lawlessness at the border. and the Congress didnt. Congress. every now and then. would rise up and suggest that something should be done. and some Congressman or Senator would talk about it. but nothing ever really got done.