Speech #1140056128

PEP has only been operational for a short time. We need to give it a chance to work before we rush in to pass this legislation which could only make the problem worse. The best way to fix our broken immigration system. incidentally. and make our communities safer is to pass comprehensive immigration reform once and for all. The bill the Senate passed in 2013 would have made unprecedented investments in border security. would have cracked down on employers who hire undocumented immigrants. and ramped up interior enforcement of immigration laws. The bill would have invested $46 billion in new resources in border security. including no fewer than 38.405 U.S. Border Patrol agents along the southern border. enhanced penalties for increased immigration violations with sentences of up to 20 years for those with criminal histories. and increased penalties for passport and immigration document trafficking and fraud. Most important. this bill would bring millions of people out of the shadows and require them to prove their identity. pass a criminal background check. and pay all fines and taxes. This would allow immigration enforcement to focus on the people who are truly a public safety threat. So instead of this Senate taking up a bipartisan bill for true immigration reform. we have this bill. a bill not likely to go much further than this procedural motion which we will face tomorrow. This bill on the floor would not have prevented Kate Steinles tragic death. Here is the reality: The vast majority of immigrants are hardworking. lawabiding individuals with strong family values. I work with them. I know them. I trust them. and I believe they have an important role to play when it comes to this countrys future. Many studies have shown that immigrants are less likely to commit serious crimes than nativeborn individuals. This bill unfortunately focuses on the violent acts of the few to scapegoat an entire community. This is dangerous and irresponsible. This bill continues down a dangerous path by promoting the myths that immigrants pose a threat to our Nations safety. I urge my colleagues to reject this legislation. I yield the floor.