Virginia Foxx: “earlier this week President Bush laid out a plan to strengthen our border security, and I commend him for focusing on…”

“earlier this week President Bush laid out a plan to strengthen our border security, and I commend him for focusing on this vital issue. There is nothing more important to me than the safety and security of this country. Border security is the starting point for ensuring that all Americans remain safe. Don't get me wrong. I sympathize with those who wish to live the American dream. America is a Nation of immigrants, but we must never forget that we are also a Nation of laws. Immigration laws exist to provide the necessary steps for safe and legal entry into this country. And we must be able to enforce them. Illegal immigration is a major problem that is having a very negative effect on our education, health care, Social Security, taxes, employment, wages, crime and countless other areas of our daily lives. Immigration laws exist to provide the steps for safe and legal entry into this country, and we must enforce them. I support doing whatever it takes to secure our border and enforce our laws, including deploying members of our National Guard to our southern border. I also support denying government benefits to illegal aliens, making English our official language, and cracking down on those who knowingly hire illegal workers. However I do not support a guest worker program that has amnesty components or that leads to citizenship for those who break our laws. ____________________”