Texas Insider

10:50 am CST - May 01, 2009

Sen. Cornyn: I’m Ready To Roll Up My Sleeves And Start Work Again On Immigration Reform

Delivers opening remarks at hearing on comprehensive immigration reform

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, the top Republican on the Immigration, Refugees and Border Security Subcommittee, participated in the subcommittee’s hearing on comprehensive immigration reform. Below are his opening remarks, as prepared for delivery.

Key excerpt
“Our immigration laws have failed us for years – yet we also see new reasons to take action. First, the events this week remind us that border security is a public health issue. I’m not suggesting that our laws can stop the spread of viruses. I am suggesting that as we get a better handle on who is entering and leaving our country, we can give public health officials around the world better information to keep us all healthy.

Second, the U.S. economy is now in a deep recession, although many parts of Texas are still adding jobs because of pro-growth policies. The current downturn shows us why we need the flexibility of a temporary worker program. Such a program would give employers the access to labor when they need it – and give workers who do not want to live here permanently more freedom to seek out economic opportunities wherever they may be.

“For immigration reform to pass this Senate this year, we need much more than hearings and photo ops and press releases and talking points. We will need actual legislation, and leadership on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. … I know I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and start work again.”

Full prepared remarks
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’d like to thank all the witnesses for joining us today. Immigration remains one of the most timely and challenging issues of our time.

I want to make clear that legal immigration makes America a better country. Legal immigration strengthens our economy. Legal immigration forges bonds of kinship between the United States and our neighbors. Legal immigration renews our national identity as the “promised land” for families in every generation.

The people of Texas see the benefits of legal immigration. We see more jobs. We see more cultural diversity. As Texas welcomes legal immigrants from other nations, we also attract newcomers from other states. More and more Americans understand that a state that welcomes legal immigrants is a state that is creating opportunity for all.

Yet Texans also see clearly the problems with our current immigration laws. We see a border that is not secure. We see employment verification laws that are not enforced. And we see millions of men, women, and children who are here in violation of our immigration laws – and who therefore have no protections from all our other laws.

Our immigration laws have failed us for years – yet we also see new reasons to take action. First, the events this week remind us that border security is a public health issue. I’m not suggesting that our laws can stop the spread of viruses. I am suggesting that as we get a better handle on who is entering and leaving our country, we can give public health officials around the world better information to keep us all healthy.

Millions of Americans have a very personal perspective on the flaws in our immigration system. I appreciate all those who will share their perspectives today. Yet I wish we had the opportunity to hear from more witnesses.

Mr. Chairman: if there’s one thing I’ve learned about immigration over the years, it’s that you can’t filter out the voices you don’t want to hear. We need to hear from legal immigrants –those who have obeyed the law and followed the rules. We need to hear from students – and the high-tech employers who want to hire them once they’ve earned their degrees. We need to hear from state and local governments that face higher education and health care costs due to illegal immigration.

Yet the voices most notably absent from this hearing are those of President Obama’s Administration. Mr. Chairman: I appreciate your assurance that the President is serious about immigration reform.

But last night the President backed away from his promise to show leadership on immigration reform in his first 100 days. I don’t think forming a “working group” is showing real leadership.

The last time Congress addressed this issue, the Administration shared its views in person. We had Cabinet officials testify at our hearings – and the Administration showed it was serious through consistent, substantive, high-level engagement. I certainly don’t see that engagement this morning, Mr. Chairman. I don’t see any cabinet secretaries. I haven’t heard from any senior policymakers at the White House. I don’t see a specific plan from the Administration. I also don’t see much leadership from the majority in Congress.

The last time Congress worked on immigration reform – in 2006 and 2007 – we spend a lot of time on it. We spent 36 working days on the Senate floor alone – so that’s doesn’t even include all the committee work and the time we all spent meeting with constituents and stakeholders.

There were a lot of late nights and working weekends the last time around, Mr. Chairman – and it’s going to require a similar amount of time and energy to get anything done in 2009.

I know I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and start work again. But these witnesses and the American people need to know if the majority is ready to roll up its sleeves too – or if this hearing is just for show.

And before you challenge me to propose my own plan, Mr. Chairman, let me remind you that I already have. In 2005, Senator Kyl and I introduced the Comprehensive Enforcement and Immigration Reform Act – and I believe that the principles we wrote into that legislation can still guide us today.

I believe we must strengthen border security first.
I believe we must strengthen interior security so that we can remove from our country violent criminals, potential terrorists, and repeat immigration violators.
I believe we must create tamper-proof identification – and deliver an employer verification system that is reliable … works in real time … and does not place the burdens of law enforcement on small businesses.
I believe that we must streamline our temporary worker programs – and offer visas to more highly-skilled workers.
And I believe we must deliver a fair but firm solution to the millions of men, women, and children who are here in violation of our laws.

By “fair” I mean we must show compassion to those who came to this country for the same reason millions of others have: to build a better life for their families. And by “firm” I mean we must ensure respect for the rule of law … honor those who have played by the rules … and welcome those in other nations who are waiting patiently for their turn to enter this country legally.

Of course, I’m not the only one who’s worked on comprehensive immigration reform – and has the scars to prove it. Many of us worked hard on immigration reform during the last Congress. While I ended up voting against the bill, I appreciated the leadership of the man you are replacing on this committee, Mr. Chairman: Senator Kennedy. He and I have disagreed about many issues – but we’ve worked closely together.

In fact, in my first year in the Senate, I was proud to work with Senator Kennedy to pass legislation that expedited citizenship approval for individuals serving in our armed forces. I have always respected Senator Kennedy for being a legislator, first and foremost. He doesn’t really care much for hearing about your principles. He wants to see your legislative text. He wants to get a deal done. He kept this committee on its toes – and he knew that in immigration law, the devil is in the details.

Mr. Chairman: I hope that Senator Kennedy’s seriousness of purpose and attention to detail will define your own tenure as leader of this Subcommittee. I appreciate that you worked on the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act with President Reagan. That legislation was enacted with the best of intentions, but it has failed our country and we need to fix it.

For immigration reform to pass this Senate this year, we need much more than hearings and photo ops and press releases and talking points. We will need actual legislation, and leadership on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.

I believe each of these witnesses is looking for that leadership as well. They want to see what you and the Administration intend to propose. I share their curiosity, and I look forward to hearing their views.

25 Comments

dave
11:46 am CST
May 01, 2009

I like sen. cornyn’s ambition, the GOP needs more of it, for more on immigration reform i believe we should increase the number of visas to highly-skilled workers, something advocated by alan greenspan, it is these individuals who hold up our economy.

kyle
11:52 am CST
May 01, 2009

I completely agree with you dave, and more in immigration: Obama’s Amnesty plan has been tried. It only resulted in more illegal aliens crossing the border. We need to station military troops along our border like every other nation on Earth. All illegal aliens should be deported and we need to change ‘anchor baby’ laws. United States sovereignty should be restored.

OLD COWBOY
1:32 pm CST
May 01, 2009

WONDER WHEN THE POLITICIANS WILL REALIZE THAT WE WANT WHAT IS FAIR & JUST FOR TAX-PAYING TEXANS?? HOW ABOUT SHOWING A BIT OF “COMPASSION” FOR CITIZENS??

WE WANT ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS PROMPTLY DEPORTED & WANT NO MORE TO ENTER THE COUNTRY. NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGALS!

ILLEGALS WASTE OUR TAX DOLLARS IN COUNTLESS WAYS.

IF WE NEED SPECIAL SKILLS THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN USA, ISSUE SOME VISAS. NO ILLEGALS ALLOWED.

G baker
1:49 pm CST
May 01, 2009

I think we need to close the border and then take care of the illegals that are here.
I love my country and I am really feeling sick about the direction that it is going. I hope that the republicans that voted for Obama are happy with there choice!!!!

David Smith
2:56 pm CST
May 01, 2009

I think we need to revoke Congress’ health care benefits and require that Congressmen and their families use County emergency facilities for everything. I’ll betcha we’d get comprehensive immigration reform REAL quick like!

Like, close the borders and enforce our laws.

rcg
3:40 pm CST
May 01, 2009

Send them all back!

David
4:26 pm CST
May 01, 2009

I think cornyn’s comments are on the money. However, I completely disagree with more legislation–it will be more laws that will NOT be enforced. The Feds need to prove that they WILL enforce current laws before making new ones. Cornyn says” Our immigration laws have failed us for years”. Well, guess what Senator, any law is going to fail if it is not enforced. Try enforcement for awhile and lets see if it works or not. Just because you write something on paper does not mean it will work. You must back it up with enforcement. Speed limits don’t work either unless you put a few cops out there writing tickets.
1. Seal the borders.
2. Deport all illegals
3. Then review the laws

Chas
4:26 pm CST
May 01, 2009

Senator Cornyn is to be commended for getting beyond the hot retoric and real concerns about illegal immigration to look for real common sense legal solutions that both protects our economy and requires long term foreign workers with out proper visas to register and identify themselves and for those who pay fines and back taxes and commit to learn English they are entitled to apply for a temporary work permit; we also need a workable legal system by which employers can quickly and clearly identify who are legally authorized to work in the US and a workable temprary workers program that has protection for US workers

RWB
4:32 pm CST
May 01, 2009

The situation in this country now requires that we stop all immigration until our own workers are again employed. The falsehood that these workers take jobs our people don’t want is wrong. I have people who would like to work in construction, etc., that are unable to because the jobs are held by illegals. The employers who foster this practice need to be prosecuted. If they can’t exist without cheap illegal workers, they need to fail and leave the field open to those who employ legal workers and pay proper wages.

SJK
4:42 pm CST
May 01, 2009

Senator Cornyn has to regain my trust before I will ever voyte for him again. Sometimes he seems to be representing his constiuents who put them there, and then there are the times that he seems to be going his fellow liberals way—which is nt representing why his constuents put him in office! I hope he is successful with immigration reform, and we get more border security, “all” illegals sent back to Mexico, and the fence is bulit! I will be watching him very closely in the years he has left in office, then make my decision as to whether he will have my vote again!

brenda
4:51 pm CST
May 01, 2009

Don’t know how many people have heard about this, but I want to get the word out. Obama quietly signed an executive order day before yesterday, HR 1388 which authorizes 20.3 million to allow and pay tickets for thousands of Palestinians with links to Hamas to come to the US. You can check it out. It is true.

Allen
4:59 pm CST
May 01, 2009

Sen. Cornyn has stated that our immigrations laws have failed us for year. That’s not exactly the case. Rather our failure to
enforce these laws has failed us. I suggest that sanctuary cities receive no Federal funds at all. I urge that we put our military on the border, and let them be armed and able to make
arrests. We need a border fence as promised and supposedly funded by the government. We can move the illegals out of our country quickly ………. heavily fine any one who employs these
people, including private citizens. Most of the illegals live in given areas and can be easily arrested and deported. I’m also tired of hearing about adults being deported and having to leave
their children behind. I don’t believe they have to leave their children at all, so they should take them back to the parents country. No more anchor babies!!!!!

OLD COWBOY
6:13 pm CST
May 01, 2009

In 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower deported 13
million Mexican nationals! The program was
called ‘Operation Wetback’ so that American WWII
and Korean veterans had a better chance at jobs.
It took 2 Years, but they deported them!

WE CAN MOVE THE ILLEGALS OUT IF THE POLITICIANS WHO ARE INTENT ON INCREASING THE NUMBERS OF “VOTERS” FOR THE SOCIALIST/COMMUNIST PARTY WILL BE
REMOVED.

NO AMNESTY OF ANY DESCRIPTION. ZAP THE FOLKS WHO HIRE ILLEGALS.

OLD COWBOY
6:17 pm CST
May 01, 2009

FIRE THE POLITICIANS WHO THINK IT OK TO GIVE ANY AMNESTY TO ILLEGAL ALIENS (NO MATTER WHY THEY ARE HERE.).

OLD COWBOY
6:19 pm CST
May 01, 2009

BRINGING HAMAS TO THE USA IS REALLY DUMB.

Sharon
6:42 pm CST
May 01, 2009

It is smart to this President—the Hamas love him. He is asking for another 9/11! Then he will be the new all around Muslim leader! A very scary man in office,folks! He needs to go–him and his wholecabinet!

Lib Grimmett
8:45 pm CST
May 01, 2009

Senator Cornyn lost my vote the minute he started dancing around deportation. I really don’t care how long they have been here – they entered illegally, probably used services that are for the American taxpayer, lied to get more services and sent untold amounts of money home. When the likes of John Cornyn start putting Americans first and really enforce the rule of law, then maybe, just maybe, I will look at them again as a contender for my vote. But for now, I am done!!

J Reynolds
3:20 am CST
May 01, 2009

Please read Sen. Cornyn’s last proposal that was in his Comprehensive Enforcement and Immigration Reform Act of 2005 that he plans to present again.

“And I believe we must deliver a fair but firm solution to the millions of men, women and children who are here in violaton of our laws.”

He wants to find a way for them to stay here and that, my fellow citizens, is amnesty. I know this because I read his last proposal.

He denies that it is an amnesty, but any time a person who comes here illegally is allowed to remain here by any means, that is forgiving him of breaking the laws of our country and that is amnesty. Look up the definition.

I would have more respect for Sen. Cornyn if he was honest about his desire for amnesty and explain why he wants it instead of denying it.

If you do not want his amnesty, let him know and stop commending him.. Do not forget that millions of highly skilled American workers are unemployed right now, so why should we increase the visas for more.

Sue
8:40 am CST
May 01, 2009

J Reynolds is correct. Coryn has wanted amnesty from day one and it’s obvious when he throws the children into the debate. Cornyn is spot on with his security measures but he is dead wrong on the amnesty part. The only fair solution to the illegal aliens in violation of our law is to make them go home. If we cut off all the tax-payer benefits and job opportunities for these squatters, they will self-deport. But we all know that will never happen because these thick headed politicians insist on bringing up the cheeldreeen in an attempt to make us feel guilty for wanting to protect our sovereignty, our jobs and our security. It’s what they do…if they aren’t calling us racists or xenophobes, they are calling us cold hearted immigrant haters.

MarkE
3:51 pm CST
May 01, 2009

Mr. Coryn-you are history with my next vote along with so many Texans you have turned on. You support amnesty for these scum bags ? Send them home. Obama sends millions of dollars to Mexico and you voted for this. Thank you-
See you on election day with my photo ID in hand.

OLD COWBOY
5:04 pm CST
May 01, 2009

ENFORCE THE LAWS WE NOW HAVE. ONLY NEW LAWS RELEVANT TO ILLEGAL ALIENS SHOULD PROTECT & GRANT AMNESTY TO THE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

CWJensen
5:41 pm CST
May 01, 2009

Amen Old Cowboy……………………………..this right wing radical believes WE NEED TO STAND UP………………usurpers have taken over the REPUBLICAN PARTY.
VOTE”M all out SEND a message to WASHINGTON.
Peaceful or NOT Change in Government IS COMING.

Kathry
8:01 pm CST
May 01, 2009

Im sick and tired of all of this “what is fair” these illegal immigrants are just that illegal and should be deported.All of these elected officals can be PC all they want but us Tax payers know for a fact that these people are a burden on our economy.As a nurse I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THEY CAME HERE FOR THE WELFARE.Why cant our govt listen to US for a change instead of worring about votes.I have see our local ER being used and abused by illegals that in no way plan on paying for the anchor baby or the ER visit.We the Tax payers do.I give to my church for charity as well as other charitiable events and have trouble paying for my own medical bills so why must I pay for theirs too.

Lonnie Jones
8:43 pm CST
May 01, 2009

We need to resend the law granting citizenship to children of illegal immigrants.

Julie
1:36 pm CST
May 01, 2009

My Grandparents came here LEGALLY to build a better life for their family. THAT, MR. CORNYN IS THE DIFFERENCE. Illegals are here ILLEGALLY!!! And further…THEY WAITED PATIENTLY. Illegals ARE ALL CRIMMINALS…I don’t care if they got a job, they did it illegally. I don’t care if they slipped across the border at night and gave birth. Don’t try to paint a picture of what it actually is: BREAKING THE LAW. Solutions? We have sufficient laws already in place to handle illegals. If you are going to “DO SOMETHING”….ENFORCE THE LAWS!!! How about that??? That too simplified for you? I thought it was YOUR JOB to represent the INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS…ie…LEGAL RESIDENTS OF TEXAS who voted for you! What is up with the “compassion” speech? My vote is NO COMPASSION…send them back!!! And further, that includes stop giving welfare $$$ to ILLEGALS. Stop giving college grant money to ILLEGALS. That’s right folks….tax payer money is given to illegals to go to our school and to college!!! Yep…you read it right here!!! COLLEGE GRANT MONEY. I’m sick to death of this “no brainer” situation. Enough is enough. They are sucking us dry. Folks, unfortunately we have LAME ASS govt. officials who do not look out for us. NO OTHER COUNTRY PUTS UP WITH THIS!!! Cornyn….you got my vote alright…..vote: OUT!!!