Sensenbrenner Statement on Immigration Reform Legislation

12/5/2005 6:11:00 PM


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To: National Desk

Contact: Jeff Lungren or Terry Shawn, 202-225-2492, both of Office of House Judiciary Committee

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 /U.S. Newswire/ -- House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wis.) issued the following statement today regarding immigration reform legislation:

"Tomorrow, I expect to introduce legislation to address some of the problems of our immigration system. Quite clearly, this system is broken and must be fixed. This proposal will focus on preventing illegal immigration by bolstering our border security efforts and beginning a serious interior immigration enforcement effort. This legislation will demand that people follow the law and be held accountable for their actions - whether it's an employer hiring illegal workers, a smuggler trafficking in human beings in a 21st century version of slavery, or a person who ignores the law and enters this country illegally. All will be held accountable.

"While I support establishing a guest worker program, my legislation will not include a guest worker program. I believe it is wise to move cautiously on any guest worker proposal. Currently, we do not have a clear consensus on what a guest worker program should look like. In addition, while significant progress is being made, providing legal immigrants with the timely, efficient, and professional treatment that they deserve remains unfinished business. Serious issues need to be answered, such as how a new guest worker program will impact Citizenship and Immigration Services. Lawmakers must avoid trying to address more than can be handled so that the entire legislative effort does not fall under its own weight.

"I look forward to a spirited and passionate debate in the coming weeks and months on how best to prevent illegal immigration in a way that holds people accountable and embodies this nation's proud tradition of welcoming legal immigrants."

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