On the recordFebruary 15, 2018
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my good colleague from Virginia (Mr. Garrett) and everybody else who has participated in this important topic. For far too long, Washington has allowed our broken immigration system to fester. Since 1986, when safeguards were put in place to protect our Nation from illegal immigration, we have seen the rule of law not followed, and it has led to the situation we have today. This is not an overnight sensation that just has happened. If you look at the number one role of government, it is to provide for the common defense of our Nation and the security of our Nation. Madam Speaker, you cannot have a secure nation if you don't have secure borders. That is one of the reasons we lock our car doors. That is one of the reasons we lock our house doors is to secure our family. Well, the government's role is to secure their Nation and the people within it so that we can have a secure nation, the peace of mind that our families are protected from people that shouldn't be here in the first place. We need to reform our system so that we have legal immigration that is not burdensome to the point where it doesn't work, and that is what Washington has been well known for. We need to seek real reforms that cut down on illegal immigration while protecting and bolstering the legal immigration system.…





