Political Quotes

“as a strong advocate of immigration reform, I am extremely pleased that the House has turned its attention to an issue that has a growing impact on our lives and is very important to those we represent. Due to the hard work and perseverance of our colleague, Representative Lamar Smith, we are considering a sweeping bill that contains strong deterrents to illegal immigration, reduces legal immigration levels, and improves the priorities of legal immigration admission. This bill, the Immigration in the National Interest Act (H.R. 2202), takes an important step toward returning our immigration policies to their original intent: to serve our national interest and make America a better place for citizens and immigrants alike. I commend Representative Smith for his willingness to confront this complex and emotionally charged issue. As with any public policy debate, a thorough understanding of the subject's history is essential to thoughtful and productive discussion. This is particularly true with legal immigration. Unfortunately, those who oppose immigration reform frequently invoke the unjust argument that reform violates the tradition of immigration and disparages the contributions immigrants have made to our society. Such assertions irrationally and unfairly shift the immigration debate from immigration policy to immigrants themselves. Immigrants who come in this country legally are not to blame for the problems associated with immigration.”