Cornyn: Immigration bill presents 'actual danger'
Texas senator, who was negotiator on measure, speaks out ahead of vote


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By Eunice Moscoso

WASHINGTON BUREAU


Tuesday, June 26, 2007

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Monday that a White House-backed immigration measure presents "an actual danger to our nation."

"This bill puts such onerous burdens on our law enforcement officials and ties the government's hands in so much red tape that it will make us less, not more, safe," he said.


Cornyn, who had been a key negotiator on the bill but walked away from the final product last month, said the measure's "impossible goals," including background checks within 24 hours, could lead to criminals and terrorists gaining legal status and traveling freely to and from other countries.

"I cannot support this flawed bill or this broken secret process that has produced it," he said on the Senate floor.

Earlier, Cornyn joined two ardent opponents of the bill — Sens. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., and Jim DeMint, R-S.C. — at a Capitol Hill news conference.

The measure faces a crucial test vote in the Senate as early as today. If that vote succeeds, about 22 amendments will probably be debated through the week, including some that could gut the legislation.

At the White House, officials were optimistic that the legislation would get the 60 votes in the Senate that are needed to move it forward.

"We do not intend to fail this week," said Joel Kaplan, assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for policy.

Kaplan said the 24-hour background check proposal has been misunderstood. The check is part of the process to give illegal immigrants an initial probationary card, not a longer-term visa, he said.

If they fail the background check, the illegal immigrants will not receive a "Z-visa" that would allow them to stay and work in the United States and would face deportation, he said.

An amendment that would lengthen the amount of time for the criminal background check is expected to be voted on this week if the legislation advances.

The measure would give most illegal immigrants a chance at legal status and a pathway to citizenship, create a guest worker program and increase border security and enforcement of immigration laws in the workplace.

The bill has been assailed by conservatives as an amnesty for lawbreakers. And some on the left don't like its emphasis on worker skills, rather than family ties, as a reason to allow a person to immigrate.


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