Speech #1100165674

And we could have done it a lot more. but we have made some progress in convincing the world that our border is not open. that it is a lawful system. and if they want to come to America. they must come lawfully. I think this is bad national policy because it undermines respect for law. It says to the rest of the world: Yes. we say we have the National Guard there. we say we are building fences. we say we put more Border Patrol agents down on the border. but we really dont care. If you can just get in and work here a few days. then you are guaranteed to stay with your family. if you can get them in. Even after you apply for this 5year amnesty. you can bring your family. and then maybe we will talk about what will happen to you 5 years from now. I note also that one of the key points that ought not to be dismissed by the American people is that there is not one provisionnot one provisionin this AgJOBS lite to further enforcementnot onebut everything there is about ignoring and erasing the consequences that naturally flow from violating the laws of America. That is most distressing. I will take a minute to encourage my colleagues to be aware of the H2B returning worker provisions that have been made a part of the war supplemental. also that have no business being part of that bill. It allows any person who has worked in the United States as an H2B workerthat is a lowskilled. nonagricultural foreign workerin the past 3 years to return for another year without counting against the 66.000 annual numerical cap. The exemption would last through 2011. which is important. and the result could easily be a very large increase in the number of lowskilled workers who enter the United States over the next 3 years. and these are not agricultural workers. They will be competing for jobs with American workers. Under the current law. a total of 198.000 workers will enter the United States on H2B visas over the next 3 years. 66.000 per year. If this amendment becomes law. the number of lowskilled foreign workers invited into the United States will soar. Up to 300.000 H2B workers will enter the United States in fiscal year 2009 alone. up to 366.000 will enter in 2010. and up to 432.000 will enter in fiscal year 2011. for a total of up to 1 million workers entering over the next 3 years. That is more than a fivefold increase over the number expected under current law. These workers will be competing with American workers in construction. food production. manufacturing industries. and any other industries of that nature in a time when we have a softening economy and job market.