[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 57 (Thursday, May 11, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H2506]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       AMNESTY IS NOT THE ANSWER

  (Mr. KELLER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, the most controversial issue in this illegal 
immigration debate is amnesty. Opponents say it rewards illegal 
behavior. Supporters say it is not amnesty because they pay a $2,000 
fine. Who is right?
  Well, consider this analogy. Somebody robs a bank and gets away with 
$1 million. Our government tells him he can keep the money, but we 
expect him to pay a $2,000 fine.
  Now apply that to illegal immigration. A person breaks our laws by 
sneaking across the border. They then commit a felony by using a fake 
Social Security card to get a job. Our government tells them they won't 
be prosecuted; rather, they can remain in this country and apply for 
citizenship as long as they pay a $2,000 fine.
  In both cases, the bank robber and the illegal alien get to retain 
the benefit of their illegal behavior merely by paying a small fine. 
Common sense and history tell you that rewarding illegal behavior will 
only encourage more of it. After granting amnesty to illegals 20 years 
ago, we have gone from 3 million illegals to 11 million illegals. Our 
government has been fooled once by this amnesty argument, let us not be 
fooled again.

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