Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005
BORDER PROTECTION, ANTITERRORISM, AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION CONTROL ACT OF 2005 -- (House of Representatives - December 15, 2005)
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Mr. CANNON. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to support HR 4437, the Border Protection, Antiterrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act.
The debate over our nation's immigration policy has steadily moved from the back of the newspaper to the front page. I should know. I've been working on this issue since I first came to the House of Representatives in 1996.
Americans are rightly concerned about the security and the integrity of our nation's borders because the very system designed to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into our country is broken. Current statistics estimate that we now have at least 10 million illegal aliens in this country.
Mr. Chairman, if we are going to fix this system, it is important that we fix it in the right way, comprehensively, so that we are not back debating this issue within a year.
We need a system that will encourage well-intentioned, contributing aliens out of the shadows so they can be identified. Standing on the soap box, spouting fire and brimstone is not going to do that, but laws implementing a guest worker program will.
From 1990 to 2000, the number of U.S. Border Patrol agents nearly tripled, but illegal immigration increased by as much as 5.5 million. Increasing enforcement resources to keep out willing immigrant workers, as we did throughout the 1990s, has obviously failed.
Mr. Chairman, as most are well aware, I have long stated that enforcement, border security and a guest worker program are the pieces of the puzzle that need to be linked together to allow us to effectively control our border. A broader strategy that includes both enforcement and the creation of adequate legal channels for immigration serves our nation's interests.
Our immigration laws and policies must reflect the realities we face today. Our economy demands workers, but our national security demands that we identify those lurking in the shadows.
An editorial that ran on KSL-TV of Utah last week stated: ``Steps must be taken to stop the torrential northward flow of illegal workers. As that is accomplished, attention can focus on rationally dealing with the millions of illegal immigrants already here. A realistic temporary worker program, in some form, must be part of the effort.''
Mr. Chairman, KSL has it right. Enhanced enforcement must be a priority for immigration policy, but as part of today's debate, we must realize that we owe it to our constituents to resolve all the issues that contribute to true immigration reform and that includes a guest worker program.
I would like to note that the Mexican government and their President Vincente Fox have taken steps to work cooperatively with the United States to protect our southern border. What often goes unnoticed in the immigration debate is Mexico's efforts to reign in organized crime, stymie drug trafficking and the ongoing cooperation between our Attorney Generals to combat narcotics, illegal immigration and related violence on the border. The OASISS, a prosecution program launched by our countries this year to stop human smuggling by criminal rackets, has helped stem the illegal flow of persons, but there is more to do. President Fox has shown himself to be an ally of America's national and economic security by standing up to the dictators of Latin America, like Hugo Chavez, and this should not go unnoticed.
I encourage my colleagues to support this bill. Broader immigration reform has been outlined by President Bush, and there are ideas in both Houses of Congress that will restore public confidence in a safe and secure immigration system.
I stand committed to seeing comprehensive immigration reform passed out of Congress and sent to the President for his signature. That is what America wants and needs.
I would like to thank Chairman SENSENBRENNER for his tireless work on this issue. I support this bill as the first step in the process towards true immigration reform.
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