Political Quotes

“I am coming to the floor tonight to talk about the issue of immigration here in the United States of America. I think all of us are very familiar with the Statue of Liberty--a symbol we know about from the time we begin to talk, a symbol that represents much of the history of our country, where so many of us coming from every corner of the globe have family histories that involve parents or grandparents or great-grandparents or, generations ago, people fleeing persecution from around the world. That welcoming sign--``Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free''--those words inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty represent the fact that when it comes to people fleeing persecution, America is a place ready to receive them. This isn't just something that is woven into the history of our country. It is not just something woven into the DNA of our souls as Americans. It is also woven into our laws--our national laws and our international treaties--for how to treat refugees fleeing persecution. It works like this: A family who has been in horrific circumstances can come to the U.S. border and announce that they are fleeing persecution and wish to seek asylum in the United States of America. They are then given a court date to appear to present their case.…”