OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006

Date: May 17, 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Immigration


COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM ACT OF 2006 -- (Senate - May 17, 2006)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I would like to explain my reasons for my vote on the Vitter amendment No. 3963.

It is estimated that there are currently around 12 million illegal immigrants in this country. And I do not support the proposition that everyone of those 12 million illegal immigrants currently in the United States should be given the right to a green card and eventual citizenship.

However, there are certain cases where illegal immigrants have been here for a very long time--in some cases, for decades. Some of these people have families here and deep ties to their local communities.

The Vitter amendment would have made no exception for such cases at all. And I do think that we need some flexibility for humanitarian reasons.

For this reason, I voted against the Vitter amendment. But I would like to emphasize that I am not in favor of a broad, blanket amnesty for illegal immigrants.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

http://thomas.loc.gov

arrow_upward