CNN "Starting Point" - Transcript

Interview

Today, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison joined Soledad O'Brien on CNN's Starting Point to discuss recent trends in immigration and immigration policy. Below is an excerpt of her interview, or to watch the full video, click here.

Soledad O'Brien: According to Pew Hispanic Research, from 2005 to 2010, 1.4 million immigrants moved to the United States. During that same time, 1.4 million moved from the U.S. back to Mexico. Joining me this morning is Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, who has dealt with a number of immigration issues in her time in office. Thanks for being with us, we appreciate it. This report I thought was interesting, this idea of a net zero. What do you think has caused that? The number moving in the same as number moving out?

Sen. Hutchison: I think our bad economy is a major reason. We just have not been able to employ the people coming here seeking employment. I also think that we are beginning to get border control and border enforcement in order -- and I think people are realizing that they may be deported and may never be able to come back in legally if they are deported because we're getting better data banks. So, all of these things, I think, are a factor. But I think it still begs the question: Why don't we have an immigration policy that supports our border control and also allows legal immigration?

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