Broken borders. That’s an oxymoron, something we can’t tolerate.
Borders, are by their nature, our definition as a nation, and our protection, as a country.
Broken borders that doesn’t, they don’t exist. We can’t tolerate them.
So let’s stay, say from the start, that we all in this body, and I know I can speak very firmly for the Democrats, support strong border control, and it must be part, and the first part of any comprehensive immigration reform.
We have, in our obligation, as elected officials, to keep the American people safe and our borders, our first line of defense, one of our early lines of defense to do that.
Democrats support also, enforcing laws, current laws, against those who came here illegally and those who hire illegal immigrants.
Yet, the Bush administration has refused to do just this.
Imagine that for all of this talk about illegal immigration to the United States, and going after those workers who are working here illegally … and we should … but we also must have employer sanctions, where are these people working? Why are we not enforcing the law against employers who hire illegal, undocumented people here?
The Bush administration has prosecuted only three employer sanctioned cases in the last fiscal year. Only three cases.
When? Yes, when are we going to take this issue seriously?
Mr. Speaker, we all know what we must do.
Democrats have long called for strong border security, effective law enforcement, and for comprehensive immigration reform.
In all that we must do at elected officials, we have the responsibility to make the American people safer and make America stronger.
Representative Nancy Pelosi, 2005