[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 4387-4388]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           THE VOICE OF TEXAS

  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time of 
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Paul).
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, we call this body the people's House. In the 
last 24 hours, I have received numerous correspondence from people in 
Texas about illegal entry into America. Tonight, we will listen to some 
of those people.
  Aaron in Houston writes: ``I hope you intend to make certain that 
being illegal continues to mean breaking the law. I cannot understand 
why any elected official would want to reward any criminal with all the 
perks that go along with living in the greatest country in history. It 
makes no sense whatsoever.''
  Mac in Kingwood, Texas, writes: ``Illegal immigration must be stopped 
and controlled immediately. We must control who and how many people 
come into this country. This is not a race issue, it is a national 
sovereignty issue. Illegal immigration reform must not include amnesty. 
This is rewarding those who willfully break our laws. Immigration must 
be reserved for those who come here legally and respect our laws. 
Giving illegals amnesty just encourages more illegal immigration. Why 
bother to immigrate here legally when you can be rewarded for doing it 
illegally? Drug smuggler, human trafficking, murder, identity theft, 
the forging of documents, driving without insurance and licenses, and 
potential terrorism are all the result of weak border control and 
terrible immigration policies. Law-abiding Americans are not going to 
stand by any longer while illegal immigrants thumb their noses at our 
laws and while the U.S. Government refuses to enforce the law.''
  Donald in Humble, Texas, says: ``I find it oxymoronic to have a 
Department of Homeland Security and have not closed and controlled our 
borders. Without the security of our borders, there is no homeland 
security.''
  Donald in Kingwood writes: ``I am writing you today to express my 
outrage over what I have been seeing on the news since this last 
weekend. I once raised my right hand and swore an oath to protect our 
country and constitution from foreign invaders. What I have witnessed 
recently has been citizens of a foreign country marching in the streets 
of our country waving foreign flags, carrying signs in a foreign 
language. The arrogance and total disregard for the sovereignty of 
America is infuriating. These illegal actions are being perpetrated by 
those who want no part of becoming an American. They simply want to 
come here and make money, take advantage of our social systems, and 
send most of that money they earn back to their `home' country. I don't 
buy for a minute the administration's argument that they take jobs that 
Americans are unwilling to do. What has happened is they have taken all 
the jobs that were primarily taken by young people right out of high 
school. This is just one of the numerous negative effects this 
unchecked invasion is having an our society. All one has to do is turn 
on the 10 o'clock news in Houston to see the effects it has on crime in 
our area.''
  Erik in Kingwood writes: ``Please continue to press for immigration 
reform. As a physician, I see and treat many Mexicans without 
citizenship. It is rare to receive any reimbursement of any kind. 
Please continue to consider the rights of Americans first.''
  Charles in Humble writes: ``After yesterday's Senate Judiciary 
Committee action, I fear that some compromised watered-down immigration 
legislation will eventually be passed in order to placate interest 
groups, businesses and illegal immigrants.''

[[Page 4388]]

  Mary in Baytown e-mails: ``Don't allow lawbreaking. Illegal means 
illegal. There are no distinctions in this word. You don't gain 
citizenship when you enter illegally. The Congress should be ashamed of 
even considering this idea. Okay? And no benefits. We don't even give 
all our hard-working people their entitled benefits, why should we give 
them to illegals? This is just a crime.''
  Louis from Houston says, ``The key intellectual point is there are no 
jobs that Americans will not do if the free market is allowed to bid up 
on the wages. More illegals equal lower wages. That is the whole point 
for those who support illegal immigration.''
  John also puts it well: ``In other words, the Senate thinks as 
follows: In order to halt illegal immigration, we must legalize it. And 
in order to enforce the law, we must reward those who have broken it.''
  Janet in Houston says: ``America's legal system is clear: Abide by 
the laws or suffer the consequences. Why is it necessary to create new 
legislation to outlaw an already illegal act? In my opinion, 
enforcement of existing laws is the best use of our legislators' time 
and money.''
  And, finally, David in Kingwood, Texas, writes: ``Please help our 
State and country. Uphold the law. You have done that all your 
professional life. Please don't make changes to allow the illegals to 
stay. They need to go through the process just like my grandfather and 
his parents did. Please stop this madness.''
  Mr. Speaker, this Congress must stop the unlawful invasion into our 
country. The American people have spoken and will continue to speak out 
on this issue. And Mr. Speaker, that's just the way it is.

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