OUR BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM
Senator
Richard Shelby
Richard Shelby
March 19, 2006
During my recent county visits throughout the state, one issue was brought up at every meeting – Illegal Immigration. My goal during these meetings is to learn from Alabamians about the problems they face each day and issues that concern them. These meetings provided me a true understanding of the concerns Alabamians have about illegal immigration and I want you to know that I agree. This is a problem that must be addressed immediately and comprehensively.
I believe the first step in immigration reform should be to stem the flow of illegal aliens moving across our borders. Each day, thousands of illegal immigrants enter the United States with little or no resistance, and although accurate statistics are difficult to obtain we can estimate that currently there are at least 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States. The consequences of our porous borders and the illegal immigration it fosters are not limited to immigration violations. We have also experienced breakdowns in national security, weapons and drug smuggling across our borders, disruption of U.S. military training programs and, maybe most importantly, an overall decline in respect for the laws of this land. As we continue to fight the Global War on Terror, such a porous border represents a significant security risk that is unacceptable.
While there are currently 11,308 border patrol agents protecting our country, I believe we must work to increase the number of agents and ensure that they are better-trained. We must commit the resources and effort necessary to protect our borders. I also believe we should to take advantage of techniques and technologies that will physically secure our borders, including barriers or fences. For example, a 14-mile fence along San Diego’s border has proven nearly impenetrable, and it is my hope that we will continue to physically block our borders.
In addition to border enforcement, I believe that effective reform should contain practical measures to track immigrants who come here legally and ensure that they abide by the terms of their visas. Today, it is estimated that one-third of illegal immigrants actually came to the United States legally but over-stayed their visas and are now illegal. Those who blatantly violate the law, such as visa over-stayers, should be deported. While there are systems in place to track aliens through an automated entry and exit data system, problems with the program leave it largely ineffective. We must work to ensure that the process is streamlined in order to document immigrants who arrive in this country legally and ensure that they do not overstay their visas. Such a system should allow us to quickly and easily identify those who do, so that appropriate action may be taken.
Further, I believe that we should work to establish a more efficient and accurate method for employers to confirm the legal status of potential employees. Such a system will allow employers to more readily and easily comply with the law. Those employers refusing to do so should be punished to the full extent of the law. Moreover, we should ensure that immigrants here legally and their employers document their work and pay the appropriate taxes. Demands on social, medical, and welfare service throughout this country are already one of the government’s greatest costs, and should not be further extended for individuals who are residing in this country illegally.
I do not support amnesty for illegal immigrants. I believe that granting legal status to those who have broken our laws, by entering the United States illegally or overstaying their visa, is simply wrong. We must not reward bad behavior. We do not turn a blind eye to lawlessness in any other respect in the United States, and continuing that practice with respect to illegal immigration is a mistake that we must not make. In addition to being wrong in principle, such proposals diminish the notion of citizenship to this great country. It is offensive to legal immigrants who have stood in line and played by the rules to become citizens of this country, as well as those still waiting legally to enter.
This country is a nation of immigrants. Indeed, much of this country’s greatness – its strength historically – is due to the unique, diverse, and rich mix of its social makeup, however, we must not forget that those immigrants who have made our country so great have done so by coming here legally. The time has come for us to separate our nostalgia for immigration from today’s harsher realities.
To date, a number of immigration reform proposals have been introduced in both chambers of Congress. I believe that the United States can and should send the message that we will not tolerate illegal immigration. I intend to support the strongest, most comprehensive immigration reform that comes before the United States Senate for consideration.
Alabamians, I have heard your concerns and I will continue to work to represent your interests. In the coming weeks and months, Congress will consider this and many other issues that directly affect you. I look forward to working to ensure that the interests of Alabama and the nation are protected and I expect that I will hear from many of you on issues about which you have concerns.
I believe the first step in immigration reform should be to stem the flow of illegal aliens moving across our borders. Each day, thousands of illegal immigrants enter the United States with little or no resistance, and although accurate statistics are difficult to obtain we can estimate that currently there are at least 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States. The consequences of our porous borders and the illegal immigration it fosters are not limited to immigration violations. We have also experienced breakdowns in national security, weapons and drug smuggling across our borders, disruption of U.S. military training programs and, maybe most importantly, an overall decline in respect for the laws of this land. As we continue to fight the Global War on Terror, such a porous border represents a significant security risk that is unacceptable.
While there are currently 11,308 border patrol agents protecting our country, I believe we must work to increase the number of agents and ensure that they are better-trained. We must commit the resources and effort necessary to protect our borders. I also believe we should to take advantage of techniques and technologies that will physically secure our borders, including barriers or fences. For example, a 14-mile fence along San Diego’s border has proven nearly impenetrable, and it is my hope that we will continue to physically block our borders.
In addition to border enforcement, I believe that effective reform should contain practical measures to track immigrants who come here legally and ensure that they abide by the terms of their visas. Today, it is estimated that one-third of illegal immigrants actually came to the United States legally but over-stayed their visas and are now illegal. Those who blatantly violate the law, such as visa over-stayers, should be deported. While there are systems in place to track aliens through an automated entry and exit data system, problems with the program leave it largely ineffective. We must work to ensure that the process is streamlined in order to document immigrants who arrive in this country legally and ensure that they do not overstay their visas. Such a system should allow us to quickly and easily identify those who do, so that appropriate action may be taken.
Further, I believe that we should work to establish a more efficient and accurate method for employers to confirm the legal status of potential employees. Such a system will allow employers to more readily and easily comply with the law. Those employers refusing to do so should be punished to the full extent of the law. Moreover, we should ensure that immigrants here legally and their employers document their work and pay the appropriate taxes. Demands on social, medical, and welfare service throughout this country are already one of the government’s greatest costs, and should not be further extended for individuals who are residing in this country illegally.
I do not support amnesty for illegal immigrants. I believe that granting legal status to those who have broken our laws, by entering the United States illegally or overstaying their visa, is simply wrong. We must not reward bad behavior. We do not turn a blind eye to lawlessness in any other respect in the United States, and continuing that practice with respect to illegal immigration is a mistake that we must not make. In addition to being wrong in principle, such proposals diminish the notion of citizenship to this great country. It is offensive to legal immigrants who have stood in line and played by the rules to become citizens of this country, as well as those still waiting legally to enter.
This country is a nation of immigrants. Indeed, much of this country’s greatness – its strength historically – is due to the unique, diverse, and rich mix of its social makeup, however, we must not forget that those immigrants who have made our country so great have done so by coming here legally. The time has come for us to separate our nostalgia for immigration from today’s harsher realities.
To date, a number of immigration reform proposals have been introduced in both chambers of Congress. I believe that the United States can and should send the message that we will not tolerate illegal immigration. I intend to support the strongest, most comprehensive immigration reform that comes before the United States Senate for consideration.
Alabamians, I have heard your concerns and I will continue to work to represent your interests. In the coming weeks and months, Congress will consider this and many other issues that directly affect you. I look forward to working to ensure that the interests of Alabama and the nation are protected and I expect that I will hear from many of you on issues about which you have concerns.