Bob Menendez: “from the district I had the honor of representing over 13 years in the House of Representatives, one can see the Statue…”

“from the district I had the honor of representing over 13 years in the House of Representatives, one can see the Statue of Liberty. Ellis Island is a place that has been the gateway to opportunity for millions of new Americans. For me, it is a shining example of the power of the American dream, a place that launched millions down their own road to success. Like millions of Americans, my own parents came to this country fleeing tyranny in Cuba and searching for freedom. Because of this debate we continue today, this has a special and personal interest to me. America has a proud tradition as a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. Unfortunately, our current immigration law and systems are broken and have failed us. We need tough, smart, and comprehensive immigration reform that reflects current economic and social realities, that respects the core values of family unity and fundamental fairness, and that upholds our tradition as a nation of immigrants. We need to aggressively curtail crossings at the border. We need tough border security and enforcement measures that prevent undocumented immigration so our immigration system is safe, legal, orderly, and fair to all. Our goal should be neither open borders nor closed borders but smart borders. In a post-September 11 world, our efforts must be tough and swift to ensure the borders of the United States are controlled. Unfortunately, that is not the case right now.…”