Douglas Alexander: “Senator Cornyn and I are introducing legislation to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act. The legislation would be…”

“Senator Cornyn and I are introducing legislation to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act. The legislation would be called the Strengthening American Citizenship Act. Over the next several weeks, this body will be engaged in a debate about immigration reform. It is an essential debate which we must have in order to honor our commitment to the rule of law. I believe that real immigration reform must encompass three important steps. First, we must secure our borders. Senators Cornyn, Kyl, McCain, and Kennedy have introduced differing legislation with that goal in mind. Second, we need to create a legal status for foreign workers and foreign students who come here. Cornyn-Kyl and McCain-Kennedy also address the question of workers. Later this month, I intend to introduce legislation to ensure that our immigration system creates an appropriate legal status for and welcomes the more than 550,000 foreign students who study at our universities and who, incidentally, contribute to our high standard of living by doing so. But there is a third step to any real immigration reform. After we secure our borders, after we create a legal status for foreigners who work here and study here, the third indispensable step is to help prospective citizens become Americans. That is why today I am introducing the Strengthening American Citizenship Act. I am pleased to be joined by Senator Cornyn in this effort.…”