Speech #1100055883

That is the point of my amendment. We need to put together a good bill that secures the border first. After border security. the other biggest problem is what to do about those already here illegally. I think that issue is less of an issue if most Americans believe we would pass a law that permitted the Border Patrol agents and the verification system to be done. that we would fund it and we would actually do it as certified by the Director of Homeland Security and the Governors on the border. Then I think they would be willing to accept different solutions for those already here. But the week before last I voted for the amendment offered by Senator VrrTER that would have sent the bills drafters back to the drawing board on the question of what to do about the 12 million illegal persons. more or less. who are already here. Senator HUTrCHISON and Senator CORKER have done some very important work on this issue. which I intend to support and to cosponsor. That amendment would require illegal immigrants. who want to work here. to return to their home countries and reenter through legal channels in addition to paying a fine and passing the criminal background check. In addition to that. this bill should be about another subject about which we hear almost nothing. and that is the number of people who come here legally every year. A little more than a million people come into the United States each year legally.