Immigration has been an integral part of American history as the United States has provided various nationalities a refuge to pursue the “American Dream.†However, in the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 immigration policies needed a vast overhaul and restructuring to assure national security. Preventing future attacks on our country remains a top priority, and increasing the security of our borders is an integral component in winning the War on Terror. In December 2005, I voted for H.R. 4437, the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005. This bill has many provisions to secure our borders and prevent American employers from hiring illegal immigrants. In fact, 50 bills related to immigration policies were introduced in the 109 th Congress, and I will continue to support legislation in the 110 th Congress, which provides Americans with increased homeland security and protection from illegal immigration.
We must continue to deal with the problem of illegal immigration and deliver a system that is secure, productive, orderly, and fair. The President called on Congress in his State of the Union address to pass comprehensive immigration reform that will secure our borders, enhance interior security and strengthen worksite enforcement. Along with this, a temporary worker program will be created, to resolve without animosity and without amnesty, the status of illegal immigrants already here because deporting all illegal immigrants is not the answer to this problem. We should be promoting assimilation into our society, but at the same time, providing gainful employment to American citizens, rather than illegal citizens. We have certainly benefited from immigrants contributing to the cultural landscape of America; however, providing jobs for Americans is our first priority. To successfully address this situation we must combat all the problems together; or none of them will be solved.
