It doesnt happen by happenstance. It happens because the rule of law is an inviolable principle of American democracy. The solution to Americas broken immigration system is really quite simple: Enforce the laws in the workplace and enforce the laws at the border. Sacrificing Americas most basic foundational principle in the interest of a shortterm fix betrays the belief of the millions who are here legally and the millions more to come that America is different because here the rule of law matters. President Ronald Reagan once said that a nation that "cant control Its own borders cant control its destiny." We are a country. we are a nation. We need the strong border security measures in this bill. and we need the strong workplace verification measures in this bill. but the immediate legalization of 12 million people is a bridge too far. It contradicts one of the great ideals of our democracy and sends wrong and conflicting signals to those who are here currently and those who will come in the future. The demand for workers in America can be met when those here illegally go back and return through legal channels or when they are replaced by those who wait to come legally. This bill is the wrong solution. and I believe and I hope that the Senate will reject it. We can get a good immigration bill. a solid immigration bill that secures the border. that deals with the Issue of workplace verification. and It sends the right message to those who are waiting to come to America that America is a nation. a welcoming nation. a nation that is proimmigration. but a nation that fundamentally respects its great tradition as a nation that is based upon the rule of law. I hope my colleagues. as they consider how they will vote tomorrow on these important votes. will think about the importance of that tradition of the rule of law. the importance of the message we send to those who have observed our laws. such as the lady I mentioned whose husband is In Sioux Falls. SD. and she hopes to come back to our great country and to our State.
Keywords matched
border security immigration