[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16173-16174]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                BOO WHO?

  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, when Ms. USA recently appeared in Mexico City, 
she was repeatedly booed every time she was onstage. Apparently, the 
host and hostess and the ``Politically Correct Police'' missed it or 
just ignored it.
  The pro-amnesty crowd is moving right along in its efforts to 
convince the American public that illegal immigration exists because 
people would do anything to be an American; interesting logic 
considering recent events. But I've never understood the logic in 
rewarding 12 to 20 million law breakers with amnesty for any reason.
  In America, we seem to do things a little bit different. We cheer for 
our country. We wave our flag. We invest in our country, and we respect 
our neighbors. And by respecting neighbors, I don't mean we invade 
somebody else's country, demand benefits and protest brazenly in the 
streets waving foreign flags. And where I come from, we never boo a 
lady.
  The booing incident of Americans doesn't come as a big shock to most 
of us. It has happened before in U.S.-Mexico sporting events. The 
Mexican team and the Mexican fans booed the U.S. players. It is the 
disappointment in the lack of reaction from some of our leaders to 
realize that they are not welcoming future Americans into our

[[Page 16174]]

country with their amnesty giveaway; they are just giving away the 
country.
  A pathway to citizenship, or earned citizenship, or any other 
giveaway program they want to call it only works if people really want 
to become Americans. If you want to be an American, then there are some 
responsibilities to that. You just don't get to take all you can and 
leave when you are done.
  I don't agree that this amnesty nonsense is what's best for America, 
and I know, without a doubt, that the uncontrolled border is a natural 
disaster. Sure, it's great for Mexico. Their struggling economy depends 
on our citizens; or rather, their citizens' loyalty to their country, 
not loyalty to our country.
  But the argument is that we have to allow those living in our country 
illegally the opportunity to come out of the shadows and be a part of 
our country and our culture. That simply is not going to happen, 
because their loyalty lies with their former nation. And an amnesty 
giveaway is going to legalize their loyalty to their home country, not 
make them Americans.
  Mexico and other countries promote illegal immigration to the United 
States with one understanding: You send your money back home to Mexico. 
And America is not home. Billions headed south last year to Mexico 
alone. Remittances from the United States were the second highest 
revenue for Mexico, right behind the sale of crude oil, beating out 
tourism.
  So when the United States gets booed, people that don't understand 
this are a bit taken aback. Is it irony or arrogance? Most people don't 
bite the hands that feed them, especially when you have them eating out 
of your hand.
  The administration recently said, ``Those determined to find fault 
with this bill will always be able to look at a narrow slice of it and 
find something they don't like. If you want to kill this bill, if you 
don't want to do what's right for America, you can pick out one little 
aspect of it.''
  Although I respect the President greatly, I respectfully suggest he 
is in error. We cannot accept the narrow slice or the whole amnesty 
pie. We are not that much of a glutton for this pie in the sky.
  Americans deserve better. They deserve real immigration reform that 
secures the borders with the utmost of urgency and an end to political 
preference policy for illegals, a policy that discriminates against 
American citizens and legal immigrants.
  We need to end employment opportunities and social benefits intended 
and entitled to Americans and have legislation that puts the needs and 
benefits of Americans first.
  Kowtowing to Mexico, the country that takes and takes from America 
but booed Ms. USA off the stage, is exactly what's wrong with this new 
Senate amnesty bill and this administration's position.
  And that's just the way it is.

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