Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief Act, 2005
EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR DEFENSE, THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR, AND TSUNAMI RELIEF ACT, 2005--CONFERENCE REPORT--Continued -- (Senate - May 10, 2005)
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Mr. President, in this post-9/11 world, it has never been so important to work seriously and carefully on efforts to enhance our border security.
We in New York are particularly cognizant of the need for comprehensive efforts to make our borders, our ports, our critical infrastructure, and our airports as secure as possible. Like no other place in America, like no other place in the world, New Yorkers I represent know what terrorism looks like, feels like, and costs to our communities, the economy and our psyches.
It is crystal clear to almost everyone that there are many questions that need to be answered about how we secure our borders. As a member of the Judiciary Committee and a Senator from New York, an enormous amount of my time and energy is devoted to just those questions. And indeed, I don't think we are doing enough to secure our borders. But sneaking drastic changes to our immigration laws into a must-pass measure supporting our troops is not the way to address these Issues.
Opinions are mixed about how effective the REAL ID bill will be in enhancing national security. But regardless of what you might think about the merits of the bill itself--I, for instance, have serious concerns regarding the impact of its asylum provisions--this is an issue that requires serious debate. Instead, the Republican leadership has completely bypassed the committee process and slipped this controversial and complicated proposal into the emergency supplemental bill, which we will have to approve because it provides the necessary support of our men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the vital relief for the tsunami victims abroad.
Immigrants have built New York and this country from the bottom up. Our country was founded by and made stronger by the hard work of immigrants from all different countries, cultures, religions and races. I marvel how our new immigrants remake our land, making it a better place, even as they become new Americans. Just think of how many recent, and expectant immigrants now serve in our Armed Forces, some of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am proud that New York is still an epicenter for immigrants. Just like my ancestors came over from Europe many decades ago, the new generations of people just like us are beginning to take root, making our country, our economy, and our culture that much stronger and diverse.
So any bill that makes such dramatic changes to our immigration laws should be looked at carefully and considered judiciously. We must never bend in our determination to secure our borders and protect our Nation from harm. But nor can we forget what makes our Nation great. These debates and decisions must be reasoned debates, not take-it-or-leave-it ultimatums strategically devised for partisan political benefit.
There are provisions in this bill, for instance, that will make it harder for people persecuted on the basis of their race, religion, national origin, or gender abroad to pursue asylum and the American dream.
There are other provisions that would allow bail bondsmen to play judge and determine which immigrants are dangers to the community.
These are major changes to our laws, and we have a system to debate, discuss and vote on such changes. No bill raising so many questions on issues of such fundamental importance should escape an honest debate in the Senate. I urge my Republican colleagues to rethink this strategy and allow the Senate to do its work the right way.
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