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Friday, May 19, 2006

Okay! Let's Try This Again. It's About SECURE OUR BORDERS Not Immigation Reform

May 19, 2006

William H. Frist, M.D. - United States Senator, Tennessee - United States Senate Majority Leader
Senator William H. Frist, M.D. - U.S. Senator, Tennessee - U.S. Senate Majority Leader

Dear David,

Before Easter, the Senate began debate on a comprehensive immigration reform bill, and Republicans were prepared to strengthen the legislation with amendments making the American people safer and more secure.

Shortly before recess, however, Democrats refused to allow any amendments. For an issue this complex, important and controversial, that was simply unacceptable.

My Republican colleagues and I refused to allow tactics of partisan obstruction to stand in the way of achieving meaningful immigration reform. And when the Senate resumed consideration this week, we began offering amendments that have vastly improved the bill.

I invite you to take the opportunity to read through a few of the Republican amendments that passed with my support this week -- and consider how comprehensive immigration reform legislation might have looked without them.

Bill Frist


The Senate adopted an amendment by Senator Sessions that would direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to construct at least 370 miles of triple-layered fence and 500 miles of vehicle barrier at strategic locations along the southwest border.

The Senate approved an amendment by Senators Kyl, Graham, Cornyn and Allen to close a loophole in the bill that would allow criminal aliens to obtain legal status. The amendment clarifies that any illegal alien who is ineligible for a visa, or who has been convicted of a felony or three misdemeanors, is ineligible for a green card.

The Senate voted in favor of an amendment by Senator Inhofe to require that English be declared the national language of the United States. It also provides that the English language is the default language for government communication and that no person has a right to have the government communicate in any language other than English unless otherwise authorized or provided by law. The amendment also establishes goals for the redesign of the ongoing naturalization exam requiring that those taking the test demonstrate an understanding of English and of American history. Lastly, the amendment would change provisions in the bill that allow an unauthorized alien to meet the current English language exam by enrolling in an English language class.

The Senate adopted an amendment by Senator Cornyn to strike the ability of future temporary workers to obtain a green card by self-petitioning for one. Green cards could only be obtained if an employer sponsored the application.

Thursday, May 18, 2006

A Third Rate Mexican President's Whores - George W. Bush and the U.S. Senate

WWW.TnRIP.ORG
Reposted From The Above Patriotic Web Sight

Please take a few minutes to read the article below by Frosty Wooldridge and share it with your own friends and family. If the U.S. Senate DOES pass any sort of amnesty bill and it isn't killed in the U. S. House, this Nation will be unrecognizable within 10 years. If the House DOES kill it, we will soon begin seeing REAL riots in our streets by the Reconquistas.

There must be ENFORCEMENT with NO amnesty and we need to continue making certain that our elected officials hear it OVER and OVER and OVER as our own Senators, Frist and Alexander, have sold out the American people in favor of big business and their campaign contributions!!

Theresa Harmon
Tennesseans for Responsible Immigration Policies
www.TnRIP.org

PS- we are the Tennessee contact for Mr. Wooldridge's "Paul Revere Ride" (listed at the end of his article). It will be coming through Tennessee in June and we will keep everyone posted on exact scheduling as we know more.

BUSH NERVOUS AS A WHORE IN CHURCH

By Frosty Wooldridge

“While giving that ridiculous amnesty speech on how he’s going to guard our borders against illegal aliens last Monday,” Los Angeles radio talk show host Terry Anderson said, “Bush looked as nervous as a whore in church.”

After five years of neglecting border protection, Bush offered amnesty to 20 million illegal aliens who have resided illegally in the United States for an extended amount of time. That’s like being the president of a bank—then allowing bank robbers to walk in, rob the bank—stand around for a few days until their robbery blows over—then expect to deposit ‘their’ money like honest citizens—and take up residence in the bank as if it were their home.

In his speech, he offered sad testimony about one illegal alien who was injured while serving in the U.S. military. That’s like giving solace to a bank robber whose been shot for robbing a bank. Bush would have been better off giving solace to Bonnie Eggle, mother of National Park Ranger Kris Eggle who was shot by a Mexican drug smuggler. Bush needs to give solace to the families of Dale Englerth, Justin Goodman, Officer Don Young, John Hessler and thousands of Americans sacrificed in death, disease and drugs by illegals.

After illegals knowingly invaded our borders, Bush proposes amnesty to 20 million criminals with a path to citizenship. How can one man degrade U.S. citizenship to that of a criminal? Let’s look at the reality of what we face.

The fall of the Roman Empire occurred after Emperor Valens opened Rome’s borders in 376 A.D. By 476 A.D., Rome vanished after it allowed the Goth nation to cross the Danube River. If the United States won’t protect its borders, its language or its culture, and will not enforce itslaws--it will repeat Rome’s fall. Mexico’s invasion of the United States exceeds the scale of the Goth migration into Rome or any other migration in history.

As a nation we must protect our borders if we expect long term survival of the American Republic. Legal immigrants must demonstrate they intend to become Americans by learning our common language, English, and assimilating into the American culture that honors individual liberty, hard work and self-reliance. We cannot and must not reward criminals whose first act in our country was to break our laws.

The one aspect of Bush’s speech that hasn’t made an impact on Americans yet, is the addition of at least 100 million and up to 193 million people in the next 20 to 30 years. If that Senate amnesty bill moves ahead, we shall be invaded worse than Rome with consequences exactly like Rome. We will become a dead country.

Charles Hurt of Washington Times, May 16, 2006, wrote, “The Senate immigration reform bill would allow for up to 193 million new legal immigrants -- a number greater than 60 percent of the current U.S. population -- in the next 20 years.”

Senator Jeff Sessions, Alabama Republican said, “Congress is blissfully ignorant of the scope and impact of the bill, which has bipartisan support in the Senate and has been praised by President Bush.”

This illustrates the ‘gross stupidity’ of our senators and this president who refuse to ‘see’ what a statesman like Sessions sees. Senator Sessions is to be commended for his intellect and common sense.

On the other side of reality, Republican Senators Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Mel Martinez of Florida ‘tossed’ the bill together like a couple of mad chefs giving illegal aliens who have been in the U.S. two years or longer a right to citizenship. They did it in the face of 85 percent of the American public that demands no amnesty and a securing of our borders with troops.

The bill allows the annual flow of legal immigrants to double to more than two million annually. The guest-worker program adds 325,000 new workers annually who could later apply for citizenship.

Just consider 20 million illegal aliens, if not more, being allowed to bring their wives and kids into the USA! If only half the illegals are married, the average Mexican wife has three to six kids, that’s a minimum of 30 million Spanish speaking kids crammed into our classrooms.

Senator Byron L. Dorgan, North Dakota Democrat, said that he would introduce an amendment to strip out the guest-worker program, warning that the legislation would "pull apart the middle class in this country."

America slides into the low wage capitol of the world and suffers the loss of the Middle Class. We’d all become the low class mirroring a Third World country. On top of that, we’d be importing the entrenched poor of other countries with no intellectual tools or skills to maintain or sustain our country.

If enacted, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act (CIRA, S.2611) would be the most dramatic change in immigration law in 80 years, allowing an estimated 103 million to as high as 193 million persons to legally immigrate to the U.S. over the next 20 years— fully one-third of the current population of the United States.

Even Newt Gingrich said, “The GOP is drifting toward disaster. I am very worried that the Republican leadership in the Senate and potentially the White House are just going to end up very alienated from the vast majority of Americans on this issue. The Senate bill is an absolute disaster."

Gingrich cited Gallup polling data that underscores the importance of an enforcement-first approach taken by the House:

* 84% say the U.S. should go after employers who hire illegal immigrants
* 86% say the U.S. should cut off federal funding for cities and states that refuse to enforce the law
* 90% say English should be a requirement to become a citizen
* 85% say citizens should have a voter-identity card to make sure only Americans are voting

As you can imagine how nervous a whore would be sitting in church, we have a president who can no longer lie, duck or deceive his ‘congregation’ which is an increasingly astute American citizenry. He can’t pretend any more. He can’t fool us and Bush cannot ignore us. Illegals work all our jobs! We are the ones being killed, raped, robbed, introduced to TB, leprosy, hepatitis, and our schools and hospitals overrun. We’re tired of this president with no clothes as he parades in his regal falsities against our Constitution.

Beyond his being ‘nervous’ facing U.S. citizens, he can’t keep telling us that we ‘can’t’ deport 20 million illegal aliens. We don’t have to. We simply enforce our laws against employers of illegal aliens. We shut down the rides at Disneyland and the folks go home. No more come to Disneyland It’s call “Attrition through Enforcement” and it works.

If he allows this massive amnesty bill, our country will pile up in the history books along with Rome.

If Mr. President, you think mass immigration can continue, first tell Americans where our waters are too pure, where the air is too fresh, where there is too little roadway congestion, insufficient urban sprawl, too much biodiversity, not enough energy consumption, under-utilized landfills, too much cheap electrical power, where jobs for underprivileged minorities are too abundant, and where our national parks are not loved to death. Tell us how there is too little gridlock in our cities. Tell us there aren’t two million homeless people in America. Tell us we need more immigrants instead of taking care of millions of our own poor.

How on God’s green earth can an added 100 million to 200 million more people make America better? Is it better in China? How about India? Anyone traveled to Bangladesh lately? Please answer that Mr. Bush, because the fact is, you cannot. With your lack of integrity and ineptitude, I agree with Terry Anderson: you should be as nervous as a whore in church.

The detailed route map and each state capital visit schedule is available at www.21stCenturyPaulRevereRide.us We can always work-in another rally, but planning time is running short. Inquire at Frosty's email address for full details on how you can support the PRR Team: Howard Wooldridge at wooldridge@leap.cc Start date is May 29, 2006 in Denver, CO -- with completion in Washington, DC set for 12 Aug 2006.

Why Is The African-American Community Quiet About What Is Happening To Them?

From: anonymous-comment@blogger.com
To: dab1231@mail.com
CC:
Subject: [WORKER BEES] 5/18/2006 07:38:09 AM
Date: Thu, 18 May 2006 05:38:10 -0700 (PDT)

The same thing is happening in Memphis. My daughter and
I walk in the morning and last week we passed 3 mexicans
digging holes for street lights on our way back on the
opposite side of the street these 3 men were watching us
all the way. The next day on my street 3 black men were
doing the same thing and I went out to talk to them. I
asked if Mexicans were taking over their jobs and they
all said yes they are and they don't even speak english.
The ratio here of 3 Mexicans for every 3 black men scares the hell out me.
Why don't the people of Tennessee speak up against what is happening here? And why are Bill Frist and Lamar Alexander allowed to get away with not representing us?

--
Posted by to WORKER BEES at 5/18/2006 07:38:09 AM

If He Holds The Line - Vote Him Back Into Office!

From: bart.gordon@mail.house.gov
To:
CC:
Subject: Re: Rep. Bart Gordon's Web site Contact Form
Date: Thu, 18 May 2006 15:01:37 -0400

May 18, 2006


Mr. David Bess
Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37128

Dear David,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me
in response to my mailing on border security
and immigration. Keeping in touch with you
is one of my top priorities, so I am glad to
hear that you received my message.

Illegal immigration is one of the most serious
problems currently facing our nation and your
input on this matter is invaluable to me.
Please know that I am working hard to curb the
rising number of people that enter our country
illegally each year at a high cost to American
citizens and to ensure that any legislation
passed by Congress is right for our country and
right for Middle Tennessee.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact
me. Please do not hesitate to call on me if I
can ever be of assistance to you or your family.

Stay in touch,
/s
BART GORDON
Member of Congress

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

SPANISH AMERICAN WAR 2006
The Battle of Murfreesboro


I watched President George W. Bush's address to America. The CBS anchor told us it was an important address because it was coming from the Oval Office. After the president spoke I searched for my mountain climbing gear to help me climb back on the big turnip truck he thinks we all fell from.

My current daily anger over our unsecured borders came from earlier in the day. I came home during the late morning to check on my ailing bestfriend. The most wonderful pooch that has ever walked the Earth. To my surprise a two man crew was tearing hail damaged vinyl siding from my house. The company I had contracted with, J & R Roofing of Murfreesboro, TN., had promised that the roof would be replaced first so the new siding would not be damaged. They also promised to call a day ahead to schedule the work. Even with their failure of these two promises I quickly decided it was good to have the work beginning, until I walked around back.

I understand this type of work creates quite a mess. What I didn't understand was what I saw on the back of my house. The two workers had begun nailing up the new siding. They were so fast that they did not even let the garage door opening get in their way. They had installed the new siding in an unbroken row across the back of the house and on across the garage door opening. The new siding bumped out approximately two inches from the house before sinking back against the wall on each side of the garage opening. I called over to the man that appeared to be the lead worker. I explained that hanging siding over the garage opening was not the best way to do a job and expect to get paid. To my "surprise" he did not speak English or chose not to communicate with me. His partner also did not speak English. As my anger boiled up inside of me I realized I was never going to communicate with these two.

The female voice that answered the telephone at the roofing company was pleasant and religious. This company always made a point of ending a conversation with, "Bless you".
I attempted to explain the problem with the two workers. She failed to understand, but did understand my anger, so I thought. She promised to have the estimator and crew chief come right out. Four hours later they were at my house, along with three obvious American workers and a Hispanic crew chief that spoke better English then his crew.

I was promised by the Hispanic estimator that the crew working on my house was very good and had come up with him from New Orleans. Then he danced around the question about them being legal immigrants. He also assured me that he was an employee of the roofing company and was a citizen. In turn I assured him that if I was unhappy with the repair work that the Bank of America inspector was going to be even more unhappy. He understood that the bank held the money for repairs and would not release any funds if I or the bank were dissatisfied.

For the rest of the evening a six man mixed crew worked hard to finish the vinyl part of the job. My assumption is they were in a hurry to get away from "el Loco Gringo".

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Why Would An Approval Rating Fall? Hmmm.......

To: comments@whitehouse.gov.
CC:
Subject: Secure Our Borders
Date: Tue, 16 May 2006 17:14:04 -0500



Mr. Bush,
Why is your approval ratings at 33 percent? Hmmmmm......
let me think......

Could it be if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck,
then it must be the AMNESTY DUCK for illegal "criminal"
aliens.The Mexican government is not our friends. I have
friends, but I still lock my doors.

I've defended you for so long, but no longer can I do so. I
do not know what interest you are serving, but it is not the
sovereignty of the nation that voted you into office.

Let legal Americans build the roads, change the vehicle oil,
build barriers, and push pencils. Let our National Guard go
shoulder to shoulder with the Border Patrol and
SECURE OUR BORDERS.

My sense is that your legacy is set and it is dismal.
However, step-up and be the man we thought we were electing
and do the right thing. This one last thing can not change
your legacy, but it can change you into a president for the
sovereign nation of America.

SECURE OUR BORDERS and do not push to legalize the
illegal "criminal" aliens.

David A. Bess
1506 River Rock Blvd.
Murfreesboro, TN. 37128

www.legalamerica.blogspot.com
www.tennesseeworkers.blogspot.com

Isn't That Senator's Frist's Head, In The Sand?

To The Honorable Bart Gordon,
If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck then it must be the AMNESTY DUCK for illegal "criminal" aliens.

Please do not endorse the smoke screen that Mr. Bush attempted to force down the American public's throat. SECURE OUR BORDERS and do not legalize illegal "criminal" aliens. Prosecute employers that knowingly employ illegal "criminal" aliens. Arrest these invaders and deport all to their home country.

I posted your recent mailing on illegal immigration on my blogs and forwarded it to www.tnrip.org to further inform Tennesseans of your stance on this most important issue.

Let legal Americans change oil in vehicles, build roads, push pencils on our southern borders, build barriers, but let our National Guard enforce our borders along with the Border Patrol. I will endorse any candidate that runs against Bill Frist due to his blatant compromise of our sovereignty for whatever secret promises he beholds to others. Please do not believe any narrow polls that the majority of Tennesseans approve of Mr. Frist's backstabbing of American Tennessee Citizens.

Mr. Gordon, fight to SECURE OUR BORDERS at all cost. The Mexican government is not our friend as Mr. Bush claims. I have friends, but I still lock my doors. SECURE OUR BORDERS at all cost!

Thank you.
David A. Bess
Murfreesboro, TN.
www.tennesseeworkers.blogspot.com
www.legalamerica.blogspot.com

*****************************************************************************

Mr. Frist,
This is a copy of my letter to Mr. Bart Gordon and many others. I realize it is fruitless to write to you. However, I am because I would like to believe that you can still step-up and be an American that could protect our sovereignty. You have failed miserably thus far and I know you will continue to compromise our sovereignty and our country for your own personal gain. Still I possess a small hope for you.

The Honorable Bart Gordon,
If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck then it must be AMNESTY DUCK for illegal "criminal" aliens.

Please do not endorse the smoke screen that Mr. Bush attempted to force down the American public's throat. SECURE OUR BORDERS and do not legalize illegal "criminal" aliens. Prosecute employers that knowingly employ illegal "criminal" aliens. Arrest these invaders and deport all to their home country.
I posted your recent mailing on illegal immigration on my blogs and forwarded it to www.tnrip.org to further inform Tennesseans your stance on this most important issue.

Let legal Americans change oil in vehicles, build roads, push pencils on our southern borders, but let our National Guard enforce our borders along with the Border Patrol. I will endorse any candidate that runs against Bill Frist due to his blatant compromise of our sovereignty for whatever secret promises he beholds to others. Please do not believe any narrow polls that the majority of Tennesseans approve of his backstabbing of American Tennessee Citizens.

Fight to SECURE OUR BORDERS at all cost. The Mexican government is not our friend as Mr. Bush claims. I have friends, but I still lock my doors. SECURE OUR BORDERS at all cost!

Sunday, May 14, 2006

Tennessee Businesses "Allegedly" Hiring Illegals (Thanks To www.tnrip.org)






DUCK! IT'S THE AMNESTY DUCK!


IF IT WALKS LIKE A DUCK, AND QUACKS LIKE A....
You Get The Point!

Associated Press
Text of President Bush's speech on immigration Monday night:

Good evening. I have asked for a few minutes of your time to discuss a matter of national importance: the reform of America's immigration system.

The issue of immigration stirs intense emotions and in recent weeks, Americans have seen those emotions on display. On the streets of major cities, crowds have rallied in support of those in our country illegally. At our southern border, others have organized to stop illegal immigrants from coming in. Across the country, Americans are trying to reconcile these contrasting images.

And in Washington, the debate over immigration reform has reached a time of decision. Tonight, I will make it clear where I stand, and where I want to lead our country on this vital issue.

We must begin by recognizing the problems with our immigration system. For decades, the United States has not been in complete control of its borders. As a result, many who want to work in our economy have been able to sneak across our border and millions have stayed.

Once here, illegal immigrants live in the shadows of our society. Many use forged documents to get jobs, and that makes it difficult for employers to verify that the workers they hire are legal. Illegal immigration puts pressure on public schools and hospitals, strains state and local budgets, and brings crime to our communities. These are real problems, yet we must remember that the vast majority of illegal immigrants are decent people who work hard, support their families, practice their faith, and lead responsible lives. They are a part of American life but they are beyond the reach and protection of American law.

We are a nation of laws, and we must enforce our laws. We are also a nation of immigrants, and we must uphold that tradition, which has strengthened our country in so many ways. These are not contradictory goals. America can be a lawful society and a welcoming society at the same time. We will fix the problems created by illegal immigration, and we will deliver a system that is secure, orderly and fair. So I support comprehensive immigration reform that will accomplish five clear objectives.

First, the United States must secure its borders. This is a basic responsibility of a sovereign nation. It is also an urgent requirement of our national security. Our objective is straightforward: The border should be open to trade and lawful immigration and shut to illegal immigrants, as well as criminals, drug dealers and terrorists.

I was the governor of a state that has a 1,200-mile border with Mexico. So I know how difficult it is to enforce the border, and how important it is. Since I became president, we have increased funding for border security by 66 percent, and expanded the Border Patrol from about 9,000 to 12,000 agents. The men and women of our Border Patrol are doing a fine job in difficult circumstances, and over the past five years, we have apprehended and sent home about 6 million people entering America illegally.

Despite this progress, we do not yet have full control of the border, and I am determined to change that. Tonight I am calling on Congress to provide funding for dramatic improvements in manpower and technology at the border. By the end of 2008, we will increase the number of Border Patrol officers by an additional 6,000. When these new agents are deployed, we will have more than doubled the size of the Border Patrol during my presidency.

At the same time, we are launching the most technologically advanced border security initiative in American history. We will construct high-tech fences in urban corridors, and build new patrol roads and barriers in rural areas. We will employ motion sensors infrared cameras and unmanned aerial vehicles to prevent illegal crossings. America has the best technology in the world and we will ensure that the Border Patrol has the technology they need to do their job and secure our border.

Training thousands of new Border Patrol agents and bringing the most advanced technology to the border will take time. Yet the need to secure our border is urgent. So I am announcing several immediate steps to strengthen border enforcement during this period of transition:

One way to help during this transition is to use the National Guard. So in coordination with governors, up to 6,000 Guard members will be deployed to our southern border. The Border Patrol will remain in the lead. The Guard will assist the Border Patrol by operating surveillance systems analyzing intelligence installing fences and vehicle barriers building patrol roads and providing training. Guard units will not be involved in direct law enforcement activities that duty will be done by the Border Patrol. This initial commitment of Guard members would last for a period of one year. After that, the number of Guard forces will be reduced as new Border Patrol agents and new technologies come online. It is important for Americans to know that we have enough Guard forces to win the war on terror, respond to natural disasters, and help secure our border.

The United States is not going to militarize the southern border. Mexico is our neighbor, and our friend. We will continue to work cooperatively to improve security on both sides of the border, to confront common problems like drug trafficking and crime, and to reduce illegal immigration.

Another way to help during this period of transition is through state and local law enforcement in our border communities. So we will increase federal funding for state and local authorities assisting the Border Patrol on targeted enforcement missions. And we will give state and local authorities the specialized training they need to help federal officers apprehend and detain illegal immigrants. State and local law enforcement officials are an important resource and they are part of our strategy to secure our border communities.

The steps I have outlined will improve our ability to catch people entering our country illegally. At the same time, we must ensure that every illegal immigrant we catch crossing our southern border is returned home. More than 85 percent of the illegal immigrants we catch crossing the southern border are Mexicans, and most are sent back home within 24 hours. But when we catch illegal immigrants from other countries, it is not as easy to send them home. For many years, the government did not have enough space in our detention facilities to hold them while the legal process unfolded. So most were released back into our society and asked to return for a court date. When the date arrived, the vast majority did not show up. This practice, called "catch and release," is unacceptable and we will end it.

We are taking several important steps to meet this goal. We have expanded the number of beds in our detention facilities, and we will continue to add more. We have expedited the legal process to cut the average deportation time. And we are making it clear to foreign governments that they must accept back their citizens who violate our immigration laws. As a result of these actions, we have ended "catch and release" for illegal immigrants from some countries. And I will ask Congress for additional funding and legal authority, so we can end "catch and release" at the southern border once and for all. When people know that they will be caught and sent home if they enter our country illegally, they will be less likely to try to sneak in.

Second, to secure our border, we must create a temporary worker program. The reality is that there are many people on the other side of our border who will do anything to come to America to work and build a better life. They walk across miles of desert in the summer heat, or hide in the back of 18-wheelers to reach our country. This creates enormous pressure on our border that walls and patrols alone will not stop. To secure the border effectively, we must reduce the numbers of people trying to sneak across.

Therefore, I support a temporary worker program that would create a legal path for foreign workers to enter our country in an orderly way, for a limited period of time. This program would match willing foreign workers with willing American employers for jobs Americans are not doing. Every worker who applies for the program would be required to pass criminal background checks. And temporary workers must return to their home country at the conclusion of their stay.

A temporary worker program would meet the needs of our economy, and it would give honest immigrants a way to provide for their families while respecting the law. A temporary worker program would reduce the appeal of human smugglers and make it less likely that people would risk their lives to cross the border. It would ease the financial burden on state and local governments, by replacing illegal workers with lawful taxpayers. And above all, a temporary worker program would add to our security by making certain we know who is in our country and why they are here.

Third, we need to hold employers to account for the workers they hire. It is against the law to hire someone who is in this country illegally. Yet businesses often cannot verify the legal status of their employees, because of the widespread problem of document fraud. Therefore, comprehensive immigration reform must include a better system for verifying documents and work eligibility. A key part of that system should be a new identification card for every legal foreign worker. This card should use biometric technology, such as digital fingerprints, to make it tamper-proof. A tamper-proof card would help us enforce the law and leave employers with no excuse for violating it. And by making it harder for illegal immigrants to find work in our country, we would discourage people from crossing the border illegally in the first place.

Fourth, we must face the reality that millions of illegal immigrants are already here. They should not be given an automatic path to citizenship. This is amnesty, and I oppose it. Amnesty would be unfair to those who are here lawfully and it would invite further waves of illegal immigration.

Some in this country argue that the solution is to deport every illegal immigrant and that any proposal short of this amounts to amnesty. I disagree. It is neither wise nor realistic to round up millions of people, many with deep roots in the United States, and send them across the border. There is a rational middle ground between granting an automatic path to citizenship for every illegal immigrant, and a program of mass deportation. That middle ground recognizes that there are differences between an illegal immigrant who crossed the border recently and someone who has worked here for many years, and has a home, a family, and an otherwise clean record. I believe that illegal immigrants who have roots in our country and want to stay should have to pay a meaningful penalty for breaking the law to pay their taxes to learn English and to work in a job for a number of years. People who meet these conditions should be able to apply for citizenship but approval would not be automatic, and they will have to wait in line behind those who played by the rules and followed the law. What I have just described is not amnesty it is a way for those who have broken the law to pay their debt to society, and demonstrate the character that makes a good citizen.

Fifth, we must honor the great American tradition of the melting pot, which has made us one Nation out of many peoples. The success of our country depends upon helping newcomers assimilate into our society, and embrace our common identity as Americans. Americans are bound together by our shared ideals, an appreciation of our history, respect for the flag we fly, and an ability to speak and write the English language. English is also the key to unlocking the opportunity of America. English allows newcomers to go from picking crops to opening a grocery from cleaning offices to running offices from a life of low-paying jobs to a diploma, a career, and a home of their own. When immigrants assimilate and advance in our society, they realize their dreams, they renew our spirit and they add to the unity of America.

Tonight, I want to speak directly to members of the House and the Senate: An immigration reform bill needs to be comprehensive, because all elements of this problem must be addressed together or none of them will be solved at all. The House has passed an immigration bill. The Senate should act by the end of this month so we can work out the differences between the two bills, and Congress can pass a comprehensive bill for me to sign into law.

America needs to conduct this debate on immigration in a reasoned and respectful tone. Feelings run deep on this issue and as we work it out, all of us need to keep some things in mind. We cannot build a unified country by inciting people to anger, or playing on anyone's fears, or exploiting the issue of immigration for political gain. We must always remember that real lives will be affected by our debates and decisions, and that every human being has dignity and value no matter what their citizenship papers say.

I know many of you listening tonight have a parent or a grandparent who came here from another country with dreams of a better life. You know what freedom meant to them, and you know that America is a more hopeful country because of their hard work and sacrifice. As President, I have had the opportunity to meet people of many backgrounds, and hear what America means to them. On a visit to Bethesda Naval Hospital, Laura and I met a wounded Marine named Guadalupe Denogean. Master Gunnery Sergeant Denogean came to the United States from Mexico when he was a boy. He spent his summers picking crops with his family, and then he volunteered for the United States Marine Corps as soon as he was able. During the liberation of Iraq, Master Gunnery Sergeant Denogean was seriously injured. When asked if he had any requests, he made two a promotion for the corporal who helped rescue him and the chance to become an American citizen. And when this brave Marine raised his right hand, and swore an oath to become a citizen of the country he had defended for more than 26 years, I was honored to stand at his side.

We will always be proud to welcome people like Guadalupe Denogean as fellow Americans. Our new immigrants are just what they have always been people willing to risk everything for the dream of freedom. And America remains what she has always been the great hope on the horizon an open door to the future a blessed and promised land. We honor the heritage of all who come here, no matter where they are from, because we trust in our country's genius for making us all Americans, one nation under God. Thank you, and good night.

END

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