Bob Menendez: “I rise to speak against the Vitter amendment. I don't believe it is common sense, I don't believe it is reasonable, and…”

“I rise to speak against the Vitter amendment. I don't believe it is common sense, I don't believe it is reasonable, and I want to lay out the reasons. This body has, during the immigration debate, actually acted on a very similar amendment and defeated it. And the reason this body was wise enough to defeat it was because they understood that some of the toughest law enforcement officials in our country, from sheriffs to prosecutors, and a whole host of law enforcement officials in between, understand that the cooperation of a community is essential for police and law enforcement entities to do their job. Under Senator Vitter's amendment, denying money to municipalities across the landscape of the country--and this would deny monies to about 126 cities in a whole host of States represented by people on both sides of the aisle--would set up a series of circumstances under which a crime could be committed and the witness to that crime happens to be someone who is undocumented in some fashion. Do we want the witness to be able to come forward and provide essential, crucial eyewitness testimony about the crime or do we want them to hide in the darkness and not talk to the police because they are afraid of their immigration status? I want to solve the crime, Mr. President. I want to get the perpetrator. I want to convict that person and put them in jail.”