Arlen Specter: “It is obviously hard to calculate what is the precise figure among the Senators who crafted the so-called 'grand…”

“It is obviously hard to calculate what is the precise figure among the Senators who crafted the so-called 'grand compromise.' We thought the figure we had here was correct. We are aware that the Senator from New Mexico offered an amendment last year and was successful in reducing the amount to 200,000. But I think either figure would be understandable. But I will stand by what we have worked out in the bill. In arriving at the compromise legislation which has been proposed, there was a great deal of give-and-take. While we are facing a tremendous number of objections from both sides of the political spectrum, for every point someone does not like, there were concessions made by others for some points the person does like. There is no doubt that we are facing very substantial criticism in the initial stages of the consideration of this bill. The criticism came before the bill was even printed. The criticism has continued after it was printed, before people had a chance to read it. There is a great deal of analysis and consideration being undertaken at the present time. I think Senator Lott has expressed the issue very succinctly; that is, do we have a problem? The answer to that is, categorically, yes, we have an enormous problem. We have a border which is porous. We have anarchy in the way the immigration system works at the present time. People are complaining that it is amnesty. In my legal judgment, it is not.”