Speech #1100145834

I do not disagree with every aspect of my colleagues amendments. In fact. there are two provisions in the Sessions amendment that I wholeheartedly support and they are in my amendment as well. I. as Senator SESSIONS. believe we can do more to remove those undocumented Immigrants In our prison system who should be removed. That is why my amendment would evaluate the Federal. State. and local prison populations that are noncitizens in order to identify removable. undocumented immigrants. I also believe. as Senator SESSIONS does. that we need to do more to Implement the USVISIT entry and exit data system to make sure we are keeping track of those who actually exit our country once their visas expire. That is why my amendment would help to implement the exit data portion of that program. So I will close on this issue by simply saying it Is interesting to see some of those who have some of the harshest rhetoric. as well as some of the harshest legislative initiatives. then come and say: But while I am doing this. we need ag workers. we need H1B hightech workers. or we need H2B lower skilled workers. So they want their piece of the immigration pie. but they also want to portray themselves as sentries at the border. It just doesnt quite work that way. It just doesnt quite work that way. Immigration is a difficult problem to tackle. That is something I think we can all agree on. Any solution needs to be smart. it needs to be tough. and it needs to be effective. That is what my amendment issmart. tough. and effective. It provides for enhanced. improved border security and enhanced enforcement of immigration laws. while allowing the Department of Homeland Security and the States to determine how best to use Federal resources. It provides support for our Border Patrol without threatening the safety or security of our troops serving overseas. or for that matter. people of our States. It gets to the root of the immigration problem by beefing up enforcement against employers acting illegally by hiring undocumented immigrants. the very essencethe magnetof what drives people to this country. So I urge my colleagues to vote for this amendment when we have the opportunity tomorrow rather than the amendment offered by Senator SESSIONS. I think it gets to the heart of the problem that all of us are challenged to achieve.