CNN Lou Dobbs Tonight - Transcript
CNN Lou Dobbs Tonight - Transcript
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
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DOBBS: Absolutely, Lisa. And Senator Cornyn and Senator Kyl, as you reported, today introducing their immigration reform legislation. And it is legislation that is bound to attack special interest groups, particularly particularly Hispanic activist groups seeking open borders in effect, and of course, big business, which are the crux of the issue, because they're the ones hiring illegal aliens.
Thank you very much, Lisa.
Well just what kind of political heat are Senator Cornyn and Senator Kyl expecting to face as a result of taking on big business and those several Hispanic activist groups that are demanding open borders and amnesty?
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SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R), TEXAS: If we're ever going to get to some of the root causes of illegal immigration, we have to concern ourselves with the economic circumstances in places like Mexico and Central America.
What this does is serve our national interest from the standpoint of increased security. It deals with our economic needs in terms of the work. But it also, I think, helps to address some of the root causes of illegal immigration by encouraging people to return with the savings and skills they've acquired in the United States.
DOBBS: Senator Cornyn -- before you answer Senator Kyl, let me again say, you've already sold me, gentlemen, I'll tell you right now.
SEN. JON KYL (R), ARIZONA: Well, good.
DOBBS: You're establishing, with this legislation, if it's enacted as it is right now, it seems to me, you're removing illegal employers from the equation; eliminating the exploitation of disadvantaged, illegal labor. You're restoring dignity to those who are working hard, most working very hard in this country. And you're insisting on respect for U.S. laws and our national security. Those are all good things.
But as I said, Senator Kyl, these things are at odds with the agenda and the initiatives of Hispanic activist groups, some of them, and certainly big business in this country and corporate interests.
What is the reaction you're feeling right now?
KYL: Well, we haven't had reaction in the couple of hours that we've -- after we've announced our intention to file this bill. But let me just address both.
First of all, with respect to those who want amnesty, they're going to be very disappointed in our bill. We do not have amnesty. If you want to become a legal permanent resident in the United States, if you want to eventually apply to become a citizen here, you've got to go home and get in line and wait your turn just like everybody else. You can't use your time here in order to get that, if you came here illegally.
Now with regard to big business, they have been exploiting people, and in effect, the taxpayers have been subsidizing their businesses when they're able to pay at a lower rate, but we end up paying the education, the health care, the law enforcement costs, and the rest.
DOBBS: Absolutely.
KYL: That's going to stop. They're going to have to pay these people what the market will bear if there's not an American to get the job. And when we have the system in place that can verify employment to a virtual certainty, if they are ever caught hiring anybody illegally, the fines are incredibly severe.
And by the way, on the illegal immigrant, you can't come back in. You're going to be removed from the U.S., and you can't come back for 10 years.
So we have a combination of both carrots, but also sticks in this legislation. Those who like amnesty aren't going to like our bill. Those who want to exploit people aren't going to like our bill. We think the American people will like it just fine. DOBBS: It sounds like it. Let me ask you, how does the Senate leadership, or particularly the majority leader like it? And what do you think the odds are of passage?
KYL: Well, first let me say, the majority leader was a little bit misunderstood when he -- when it made it appear as if he he's not going to bring the issue up. He wants to bring it up before the end of the year. He's just not ready to make a commitment that this subject will be dealt with before the end of the year. But he's made a commitment that it will be dealt with within the next 12 months, anyway. And we do need to do that.
With respect to its chances for passage, I'll let Senator Cornyn speculate. I think it'll be a conglomeration of all the different ideas, all the different bills that have been introduced that finally ends up being passed.
CORNYN: One of the benefits, I think, of producing this bill, though, is I think we have, by virtue of the research and the work that we've done and our staffs have done, we provide a foundation and a framework for people then to work from.
Frankly, there are a lot of people who haven't studied this issue very much, and they are puzzled, as many are, about how do we deal with this. Well we, I think, in this bill, provide a pathway for those who are interested in finding a solution. I think there are some people who may not be interested in finding a solution, but we are. And that's what this bill represents.
DOBBS: And I know you gentlemen, in addition to being politically courageous in putting forward this bill and doing a great public service on one of the most complicated issues facing this society. You're also being, within the Senate confines, politically constrained in suggesting that the majority leader should require a full year in which to take on this issue. We will leave your words as the final words on that issue.
Thank you very much, gentlemen. Congratulations.
CORNYN: Thanks, Lou.
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