Our current system doesnt protect us from people who want to harm us. It doesnt meet the needs of our economy. and it leaves too many people vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Throughout this debate. we will be reminded that immigration is a national security issue. and it is. It is also a matter of life and death. We have hundreds of people trying to cross our borders every day. an estimated 12 million people living in the shadows of our country. While we believe the majority are hardworking people contributing to our economy and society. we can also assumle there are some people who want to do us harm hiding among the millions who have come here only in search of better lives for themselves and their families. We need new policies that will allow us to concentrate our resources on finding those who have come here for purposes more dangerous than finding a job. Last year the Senate passed a comprehensive immigration bill. but it never even got to conference. This year we realized we had to take a different approach if we wanted to enact real reforms. New ideas and concepts were incorporated into the bill that helped to enhance the comprehensive nature of the bill and ensure the strongest tools were in place to enforce our laws and secure our border. First and foremost among our priorities was to ensure this bill included strong border security and enforcement provisions. We need to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security has the resources it needs to secure our borders to the greatest extent possible. These include manpower. vehicles. and detention facilities for those apprehended. But we also need to take a 21st century approach to this 21st century problem. We need to create virtual barriers as well through the use of unmanned aerial systems. ground sensors. cameras. vehicle barriers. advanced communications systems. and the most uptodate security technologies available. This legislation mandates that before we can move forward with a program to address the undocumented workers currently in the United States or future workers wishing to enter. we must meet certain enforcement and security benchmarks that will let everyone know we are enforcing our laws and that we are not going to repeat the 1986 amnesty. These triggers include the hiring of 20.000 Border Patrol agents. the construction of 300 miles of vehicle barriers and 370 miles of fencing. the establishment of 105 groundbased radar and camera towers along the southern border. and the deployment of 4 unmanned aerial vehicles and supporting systems. It also includes the end of catch and release. the ability to detain up to 31.500 aliens per day on an annual basis. the use of secure and effective identification tools to prevent unauthorized workers. and the receiving. processing. and adjudication of applications for the undocumented workers applying for legal status. Every one of these items must be in place and fully funded before a single temporary worker enters our country or a single undocumented immigrant receives a permanent legal status in the United States. I believe these requirements are a substantial improvement over previous measures. Not only will this legislation finally accomplish the extraordinary goal of securing our borders. it will also greatly improve interior enforcement and put employers on notice that the practice of hiring illegal workers simply will not be tolerated.
Identified stereotypes
Generalization that some immigrants want to harm the US.