George H.W. Bush

Yet the need to secure our border is urgent.

We're going to win the war on terror. I'm doing my job, what the American people want me to do.

No question Iraq is unsettled the American people, I understand that.

I think it'd be too hash a judgment to say to somebody who doesn't support a comprehensive immigration plan that they're racist.

Amnesty, to me, means you're an automatic citizen. And I'm not advocating -- there're some in -- some in the democrat party might be advocating that, but I'm certainly not.

This is an issue I've been living with as a long period of time, as government governor of Texas I understand immigration and I know we got to enforce our border.

We got people coming here to work and uh, they're doing jobs Americans aren't doing.

I'm doing my job, what the American people want me to do.

The president says he has a plan to fight the battle on the border.

The government will do whatever possible within the law to protect Americans.

There ought to be a way for somebody to pay a fine or learn English or, you know, prove that they have been here for a long time working, and be able to get in line, not the head of the line, but the back of the line, in order to become a…

We've got to enforce the borders, but I understand family values don't stop at the Rio Grande River.

Illegal immigration puts a strain on law enforcement and public resources, especially in our border communities.

There are hard-working people here, doing jobs Americans won't do, and they ought to be here in such a way so they don't have to hide in the shadows of our society.

We're a nation of law, and we ought to enforce our borders.

The Guard's providing an interim service until those Border Patrol agents get -- get -- get stood up.

Look, I under -- this is a hard issue for many people.

When people know that they'll be caught and sent home if they enter our country illegally, they will be less likely to try to sneak in.

Never lose sight of the thing that makes America unique, which is we're a land of immigrants, and that we -- you know, we're not going to discriminate against people.

Mr. Bush said there are differences between recent illegal immigrants and those who have been in the country working for years.

We must face the reality that millions of illegal immigrants are here already. They should not be given an automatic path to citizenship. This is amnesty, and I oppose it.

Every human being has dignity and value. No matter what their citizenship papers say.

Some in this country argue that the solution is to -- is to deport every illegal immigrant, and that any proposal short of this amounts to amnesty. I disagree. It is neither wise, nor realistic to round up millions of people, many with…

The Guard will assist the Border Patrol by operating surveillance systems, analyzing intelligence, installing fences and vehicle barriers, building patrol roads, and providing training.

The United States must secure its borders. This is a basic responsibility of a sovereign nation. It is also an urgent requirement of our national security.