[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 39 (Friday, March 31, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2677-S2678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 BORDER SECURITY AND IMMIGRATION REFORM

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, so far this week, we have had good debate, 
strong debate, robust debate, on strengthening our borders and crafting 
a comprehensive immigration plan. Everyone agrees we need to secure our 
borders, that our national security is at stake.
  We are also in agreement that we need to craft a comprehensive 
immigration plan that is compassionate, reasonable, and fair, that 
upholds our immigrant tradition without crossing over the line of 
granting amnesty. As I have said before, a nation that cannot secure 
its borders cannot secure its destiny.
  I am gratified by my colleagues' support for my amendment yesterday 
to have the Department of Homeland Security collect data on the 
terrible problem of border crossing fatalities, of deaths of people 
crossing the border. The amendment also suggests policies to reduce the 
number of these tragedies.
  As I mentioned on the floor, over the past decade over 3,000 men, 
women, and children--families--have died along our borders, in many 
cases because of the brutality and indifference of criminal human 
smugglers who, at the first sign of trouble, abandon their human cargo 
in the desert to suffer and die.
  We have an obligation to protect our borders, but we also have an 
obligation to protect and preserve the life of every person who sets 
foot on American soil. I am hopeful that by gathering this information 
on this tragic problem, we can devise the best methods to put an end to 
it.
  I am also certain that as we continue with the larger debate, we will 
be able to craft a comprehensive plan that deals fairly with the 11 to 
12 million illegal immigrants now residing within our borders without 
granting amnesty.

[[Page S2678]]

  I believe the Judiciary Committee bill--the bill that came out of the 
Judiciary Committee--goes too far in granting illegal immigrants with 
what can fairly be described as amnesty.
  We will hear a lot of debate on what is amnesty, and I hope there 
will be some consensus over time coming out of this debate as to what 
amnesty actually is. I believe the Judiciary bill does enter this realm 
of amnesty, and, thus, I am very hopeful that over the next several 
days amendments will be offered on the floor to pull back from this 
amnesty provision.
  I disagree with the amnesty approach. I do not think we should be 
rewarding illegal behavior, not just as a matter of principle but also 
because granting amnesty now will encourage people in the future to 
cross the border illegally, expecting amnesty to be granted every 5 
years or every 10 years or every 15 years. It undermines our securing 
our borders. It gives an incentive for people to cross our borders, not 
just legally but illegally, if we grant amnesty.
  In the coming week, I look forward to my colleagues coming to the 
floor to offer a variety of ideas and solutions to these problems, 
these challenges. I hope they will have ample opportunity to do that.
  I said 2 or 3 months ago, we would have 2 weeks--in essence, 2 
weeks--on the floor of the Senate to provide an opportunity to come and 
debate and amend whatever bill came to the floor. I am concerned a 
little bit that we are entering into a delay or a postpone mode. I say 
that because we did not have votes last night, after my amendment--or 
late yesterday afternoon--and we are not having votes today. It does 
take consent on both sides of the aisle to have these votes. I 
encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come forward so 
we can have that debate, we can have that amendment, we can have those 
votes, and define this bill in a way that will reflect the majority of 
people on this floor.

  An example: Last night, Senator Alexander offered his widely 
supported Strengthening American Citizenship Act--a beautiful and a 
very important amendment. It is reasonable. It is common sense. It is 
patriotic. It would help newly arrived immigrants to learn their 
responsibilities and assimilate the habits and privileges of American 
citizenship. Unfortunately, however, the other side objected to 
allowing a vote on the amendment.
  I mention that because we cannot run the bill that way throughout. We 
have to have the debate, we have to have the votes in order to define 
this bill. We need a debate that is robust, that is vigorous, that is 
open, that is participatory in the sense that people can come forward 
and get the votes they deserve.
  I have set up a process to be as fair as possible so all points of 
views are heard. Many of the Senators, understandably, do want to offer 
amendments. For my part, though we began with the Securing America's 
Borders Act, a bill I brought to the floor, the first amendment was 
Chairman Specter's amendment, and that is to offer the Judiciary 
Committee bill as a substitute. I, and I think the whole body, accept 
that out of deep respect for the committee process and the great work 
the committee has done thus far and the right for the committee's voice 
to be heard.
  I am optimistic about where we are going with this bill. It is 
interesting, in our caucus, and I know in the Democratic caucus as 
well, there is a lot of discussion going on. You can't help but to pick 
up the papers now and listen to the radio and watch television and not 
see this discussion of these very real problems being put first and 
foremost in the headlines and in the stories.
  I think that is healthy because we have problems which we have failed 
to address as a people, problems we absolutely must address, the 
problems of people crossing these borders illegally, at a rate that 
about 2.8 million people came across our Southwest border last year. 
That number is increasing every year by about 25 percent. These are 
illegal people coming across the borders. It is a problem that is 
there. It is a problem that is growing. It is a problem we have to 
address.
  The challenge which is probably the most difficult is how to address 
the 11 million people who have crossed those borders in the past, 
probably 7.5 million of whom are working, many of them families. Many 
of them--I guess all of them--came here with the intention of a better 
life. But they broke the law and they are here illegally. How can we 
treat them with compassion and understanding but not give them a leg up 
among other law-abiding people who also want citizenship?
  Those are challenges. I think everybody is struggling with that. I 
appreciate it. And it means we are going to have passionate debate, 
contentious debate. Not everybody is going to agree on even those two 
issues I mentioned. It is going to be a highly charged issue. There are 
deep feelings and deep and strong principles at stake.
  The process will work. I am confident in this body the process will 
work if we keep our debate civilized and dignified and fair to every 
Member of the body. And by ``fair,'' I mean allow people to come to the 
floor and offer those amendments and have them voted on.
  As I said when I introduced the border security bill, I do want our 
debate to reflect our commitment to the rule of law and to our proud 
immigrant heritage--to both. We are a nation of immigrants, and we have 
all benefited from America's uniquely inclusive character. I believe we 
can honor both our history and our laws, and by working together, we 
can forge a solution that does credit to this body and to the American 
people.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Isakson). The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that I be allowed to proceed 
as in morning business for up to 10 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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