Immigration

Securing Our Borders

Immigration reform should be a priority for Congress, and for good reason.  Our immigration system is badly broken and needs to be fixed at a fundamental level.  Estimates vary widely on how many illegal immigrants currently live in the United States -- most estimates are somewhere between seven and twenty million, but the number continues to rise.  Not only does this reflect a clear violation of our nation’s immigration laws, but it poses a serious threat to U.S. security.  While I believe that legal immigration is in the long-term interest of the United States, there are several problems posed by our current immigration system which must be addressed.

As Congress considers comprehensive reform of our nation’s immigration system, I am deeply concerned over proposals that would grant amnesty to illegal aliens in the United States.  Giving amnesty to those who have broken our nation’s immigration laws would undermine the policies that were established to regulate our borders and provide an orderly process of evaluating applications for citizenship.  Such action would send a terrible message to all those who have complied with immigration laws and are still waiting approval.  In addition, by rewarding those who violate United States law, we jeopardize the security and safety of our nation and greatly diminish our ability to protect our own borders.

I will continue working to find the best ways to enforce our borders and set new guidelines for immigration procedures.  I have cosponsored legislation to give law enforcement officers power to detain criminals who are also illegal aliens, prohibit states from issuing driver’s licenses to illegal aliens, expedite and fund the construction of a fence along our southern border, and prohibit access to Social Security by illegal aliens.

I believe that these are important ways of combating—and ultimately discouraging—blatant disregard for U.S. immigration laws.  Congress must first secure the borders, remove illegal immigrants who have committed violent crimes, dealt narcotics or committed human trafficking, and then address our broken immigration policies.  I will continue doing all that is within my power to see that immigration remains at the top of Congress’s priorities until these problems are fixed.  I welcome your thoughts as we look for better ways to keep the government accountable to this nation’s Constitution and laws.