Speech #1130127631

They opposed the Presidents Executive order. I asked a simple question: This is a world of choices. and we have three choices. and I would like to ask each of you which one you would choose. The first choice is to continue this broken immigration system in America and do nothing. which is the position taken by the House Republicans. They have done nothing for a year and a half. So that is the first choice. We could leave it as isa broken system that we know has 11 million undocumented people in the United States with no registration. no guarantee they are paying taxes. and no criminal background checks. That is choice No. Choice No. 2 is deport 11 million people in the United States of America who are here undocumented. Deport them. That was Mitt Romneys choice when he was running for President. Choice No. 3 is what the President has proposedthat anyone who has been here for at least 5 years must come forward. register with the government. submit themselves to a criminal background check. pay their fair share of taxes for a temporary work permit. which must be regularly renewed so we can check again. If they have done anything wrong or if there is a criminal record. they are gone. If there is no criminal record. they can stay and work on a temporary basis. I said to them: Those are the three choicesthe broken system. mass deportation. or the Presidents approach. Take your pick. They didnt want to make the choice. Of course not. Those are terrible choices if you oppose the Presidents position. I think the President has done what is reasonable. and it is what 11 other Presidents have doneExecutive orders on immigration. I want strict border enforcement. I voted for it here on the floor of the Senate. the strongest in our history. But I cant understand the Republican position which opposes funding border enforcement on a regular basis. opposes filling the position that administers border enforcement. and which has no alternative to offer. That is what we have before us.