http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stori ... 006_07.asp
Border security essential in illegal immigrant debate, politician says
Sensenbrenner says he doesn’t oppose legal immigration


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By LEE COLONY - GM Today Staff
October 21, 2006




U.S. Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. talks about immigration concerns during an interview at the Freeman on Friday. Sensenbrenner said he believes it important to secure the nation's borders to control illegal immigration without adversely affecting legal immigration.

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WAUKESHA - What’s the best way to deal with illegal immigrants in the United States?

Put up a fence, increase border security, enforce the laws on the books and increase penalties to employers with illegal immigrants on their staff. So says U.S. Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., in a Friday interview on a number of topics with The Freeman.

Sensenbrenner has received a lot of publicity on his illegal immigration stance and comments recently. He says he doesn’t oppose immigration - just illegal immigration.

Sensenbrenner said he knew he would get some heat by introducing the Border Security Bill, but believed it to be essential. He claimed putting up a fence and increasing border security are the best ways to deal with illegal immigrants living in the United States. Sensenbrenner was among the congressmen who supported a 700-mile border fence along the U.S. - Mexico border approved last month as part of a Homeland Security funding bill.

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The next steps are to enforce the laws on the books and then to ramp up the penalties to business owners who employ illegal immigrants.

Sensenbrenner also noted, though, that employers should be protected from the use of illegal documentation that illegal immigrants may have used to secure employment.

"I think there has to be differentiation between legal immigration, of which I am all for, and illegal immigration," he said. "Unless we end illegal immigration, we will slowly close the door to legal immigration and that would be a huge tragedy for this to be the result in this country of immigrants."

He pointed to his work to divide the Immigration and Naturalization Service office into two organizations as evidence of his willingness to help those who are trying legally to immigrate. The bill passed in 2002 and went into effect March 2003.

For full story, go to the electronic version of The Freeman. Click here to access the electronic version.