[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5633]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              IMMIGRATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, with the unfortunate Arizona State 
immigration law under review by the Supreme Court, it's an appropriate 
time to take a step back and look at the big picture. Mexico is 
exhibiting some of the demographic changes taking place around the 
world that are seen in the most extreme forms in places like Japan and 
Italy, where birth rates are falling, their populations are aging, and 
dramatic stress is placed upon their economies.
  It's not yet to that point in Mexico, but the game has definitely 
changed. In contrast, the United States has had a growing and vibrant 
population, in no small measure because we've been energized from 
people around the world. It's time to consider our immigration policies 
and practices for the future.
  Even though there's been no more contentious issue in American 
politics than that of immigration, the situation surrounding Mexican 
immigration has changed profoundly. As I mentioned, the birth rate is 
falling, and for the first time as many people are leaving the United 
States for Mexico as are arriving from Mexico in the United States.
  Illegal entry is clearly declining. The number of arrests at the 
border demonstrates that. People are being deported in greater numbers 
than ever before. It's not that there isn't still a problem. There are 
still some bad actors coming across the border, no mistake about it.
  There are important opportunities to concentrate on what's important, 
such as people who are dealing with drugs, pose security threats, and 
who are criminals. Wasting resources on a scattershot effort on people 
who are here just to work or to be with their families is not 
particularly a wise use of resources, and it doesn't make us any safer.
  It's past time to deal with the millions of people who are already 
here and part of the fabric of our communities. Often, they are with 
families that include children who are citizens and other family 
members who are citizens as part of an extended family. It's not just 
the members of those extended families that rely on one another; 
America relies on these millions of people, as the Alabama legislature 
found out with draconian efforts to try and deal with illegal 
immigrants--and legal immigrants, by the way--that ended up almost 
ruining a number of their farmers, and their legislature had to 
backtrack.
  Immigrants have always been a source of America's strength. Our 
current policies inflict damage to the realities of those family ties, 
especially to children who are already citizens.
  We also do other dumb things. We deny VISAs to smart people who are 
educated at great expense at some of the finest institutions in America 
with important skills that will be valuable to business. We make it 
hard for them to work here. Unfortunately, if their skills are going to 
be utilized, too often they end up being hired by foreign overseas 
competitors, or American companies have to create jobs for them 
overseas.
  There are a half-dozen pieces of legislation in a piecemeal fashion 
that will make it better. One of the most important is the DREAM Act, 
which would allow children who were brought here at an early age to be 
able to earn the right to citizenship if they have done well with their 
education or serve in the military.
  I'm pleased to see all of these different pieces of legislation that 
would bring a measure of rationality and fairness gaining support. The 
most important thing we can do is return to that spirit of bipartisan 
cooperation that was exhibited by the late Ted Kennedy and, by the way, 
how John McCain used to be, before he ran for reelection in today's 
Arizona, because they were sponsoring comprehensive immigration reform. 
They didn't rely on half a dozen pieces of legislation, but really 
looked at the problem holistically for the people involved, for the 
community, and for the country. They would have a thoughtful path to 
citizenship that people could earn, not being granted amnesty but by 
paying taxes, learning the language, demonstrating a clear commitment 
to what it takes to be a constructive part of the community.
  Comprehensive immigration reform is what ultimately will help us 
unwind this problem, save money and heartache, and get about the 
business of building a stronger American future for all our families.

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