[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 45 (Monday, March 16, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H3404]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             WE SHOULD PRAISE, NOT INSULT, LAW ENFORCEMENT

  (Mr. SMITH of Texas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the Wall Street Journal recently 
reported that Speaker Pelosi called work site arrests and deportation 
of illegal workers ``un-American.''
  That's quite a powerful word: ``un-American.'' And it's quite a 
spectacle to have the Speaker of the United States House of 
Representatives call the actions of our law enforcement men and women 
``un-American.''
  We should praise them, not insult them, for enforcing our immigration 
laws.
  Twelve million Americans are out of work. Seven million illegal 
workers hold jobs that should go to citizens and legal immigrant 
workers.
  Let's let the American people decide what is ``un-American.'' We 
should not criticize law enforcement personnel. Instead, we should be 
grateful for the job they do.

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