[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 19 (Tuesday, February 2, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S219]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              Immigration

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I want to talk about two topics today. 
The first topic I want to address is the issue of immigration. My good 
friend Senator Durbin is very articulate--he is almost an expert on 
this issue--and I appreciate his comments. I want to just give you my 
perspective on immigration because it is so important. Yet this is not 
why I came down here today.
  I love legal immigration. I think most Americans do. Louisianans love 
legal immigration, and I say that with great confidence because, every 
year, the American people invite over a million of our world's 
neighbors to become American citizens in a legal manner. We are very 
welcoming in this country. We invite more people to become citizens in 
America than any other country in the world, and I am flattered that 
people want to come here. I mean, other than someone living in North 
Korea, when is the last time you heard of somebody trying to sneak into 
China? People want to come to America, and I am so proud of that fact.
  I don't believe in illegal immigration. Some of my colleagues--not 
the Chair and Senator Durbin--think that vetting people at the border 
is racist. I don't. I think it is prudent. Every country does it. We 
respect the rule of law in this country, and illegal immigration is 
illegal. Duh. I mean, if you don't like the immigration laws, one 
should change them. In the meantime, we have to follow the law. I am 
not real crazy about traffic cameras. I think, in many cases, they are 
designed to just raise money, but I obey them, and when I get fined, I 
pay the fine. It doesn't happen often now, but I do it.
  Look, this country needs an immigration system that looks like 
somebody designed it on purpose. It does. I think the American people 
deserve that. I would love to work with Senator Durbin. I am not real 
interested in nibbling around the edges. I am not real interested in 
piecemealing. I am not real interested in some sort of widespread 
amnesty. I think we ought to sit down. We all ought to take our meds 
and sit down as adults and Senators in good faith, as all Senators are, 
and try to tackle this problem in a global way.
  I just wanted to make it clear--this is speaking for me, personally, 
and I have learned a lot from listening to Senator Durbin as I always 
do--I am a steadfast believer in legal immigration, but I adamantly 
oppose illegal immigration. I think it is dangerous. I think it is 
unfair, especially to those people across the world who have waited in 
line patiently and followed the immigration laws of our country.