Thank you for contacting me regarding immigration reform. I appreciate hearing from you and having the benefit of your views.

Please be assured that I understand your concerns. I believe that first and foremost, we must secure our borders. In the post 9/11 world we live in, our national security depends on our border security. We need to know who is coming into the country, where they are from, and what they are doing here. Securing our borders means securing every point of access into our country, whether that is by land from Canada or Mexico, through our airports or through our seaports. In order to effectively secure our borders, we must maintain the rule of law, which means not providing amnesty for those who are here illegally, regardless of how long they've been here.

As the son of an Italian immigrant, I strongly believe this nation must remain a bastion of opportunity for those seeking a better life. My grandfather came into this country as a legal immigrant, worked as a coalminer, and earned his status legally. Most immigrants who enter the United States legally make great contributions to our country. It is the responsibility of the Congress and the President to develop a clear and coherent immigration policy, which will reduce the incentive for illegal immigration.

As the debate on immigration continues, please know that I will vote for legislation that secures our borders, reforms our legal immigration system, and acknowledges the important contributions legal immigrants make to our country, without rewarding illegal behavior. I will not vote for legislation that contains amnesty provisions. While I am aware of the concerns advocates of amnesty have, providing amnesty for those who have committed an illegal act sets a dangerous precedent for future immigration policy.

Congress is scheduled to debate a number of bills over the next few months regarding comprehensive immigration reform. As the Senate continues this debate, I will be sure to keep your views in mind.

Thank you again for contacting me. If I can be of further assistance on this or any other matter, please do not hesitate to call on me again.
Sincerely,

Rick Santorum
United States Senate