    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [June 1, 2006]
    [Pages 1056-1063]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to the United States Chamber of Commerce
    June 1, 2006

        Thank you all. I told Michael to keep
    it short--[laughter]--and he did. Thanks for having me. Speaking about
    short, it's a short commute from where I work and live to this place.
    Thanks for having me, Tom.
        I'm honored to be back here at the chamber. I'm proud to be with
    some of America's finest entrepreneurs, job creators, risk takers. And
    I'm also proud to be with leaders from the national Citizen Corps. I
    thank you all for joining us today. I thank you for representing the
    true strength of America, which are those who are willing to volunteer
    in our communities to make the country a better place. We got people
    from the Citizen Corps from all different backgrounds--from business
    associations to government agencies to community groups to schools to
    non-profits to advocates for the disabled and emergency responders.
        Citizen Corps is making a significant difference in our country.
    When the hurricanes hit our gulf coast last year, members of the Citizen
    Corps played a critical role in the relief efforts. I want to thank you
    for answering the call to service. Congress needs to provide the Citizen
    Corps with the funding you need to keep our communities safe and
    prepared for emergencies.
        Today I want to talk about immigration, talk about the need for this
    country to have a comprehensive immigration reform. I'm going to spend a
    little time on making sure that workforce enforcement is effective and
    an integral part of making sure we have a comprehensive immigration
    reform.
        Before I do, I want to thank the chamber very much for your strong
    advocacy of comprehensive immigration reform. I want to thank you and I
    want to thank your members for being an articulate, rational voice in
    the immigration debate.
        I want to thank Chertoff for his
    service to our country--excuse me--Secretary Chertoff. Sometimes if
    you're from west Texas, you get a little familiar. [Laughter] Still
    adjusting to the protocols here in Washington. [Laughter] Of course, he
    knew what I was talking about.
        I want to thank Ralph Basham, the
    Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Thank you for
    being here, Ralph. Thanks for your service. Ralph ran the Secret Service
    so ably, did such a fine job, I asked him to serve in this capacity. And
    he'll do a fine job there.
        I want to thank David Aguilar. He's the
    Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol. David, it's good to see you. David and
    I recently went down to the border, and we took a good look at this long
    border. It gave me a chance to see firsthand what's taking place down
    there. It also gave me a chance to thank the Border Patrol agents, men
    and women who are working every day to do our job. And I want to thank
    you for your leadership.
        I thank Julie Myers, Assistant Secretary
    for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. I want to thank Tracy
    Henke, Assistant Secretary, Office of Grants
    and Training for DHS. She is the chair of the National Citizen Corps
    Council. And again, thank you all for letting me come by.
        One of the jobs of the Government is to encourage entrepreneurship.
    We've done so in this administration, and as a result, America's risk
    takers are--and businessowners, both small and large, are hiring people.
    If you want a job in America, you can find a job in America. This
    economy of ours is growing, at 3.5 percent last year, 5.3 percent in the
    first quarter of this year. The national unemployment rate is 4.7
    percent; 5.2 million new jobs have been created since August of 2003.
    Small businesses are flourishing; productivity is

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    high; after-tax income is up; homeownership is at an alltime level. This
    economy of the United States is strong, and we intend to keep it that
    way.
        And the U.S. Chamber has been a strong supporter in making sure that
    Congress has sensible policies to keep this economy strong. And one of
    the most sensible things the United States Congress can do is to make
    the tax cuts we passed permanent. You'll hear talk in Washington that
    says, ``Well, you've got to raise taxes on people in order to balance
    the budget.'' That's not how Washington works. They're going to raise
    your taxes, and they're going to figure out new ways to spend your
    money. The best way to balance this budget is to keep progrowth economic
    policies in place and be fiscally wise about how we spend your money.
        Progrowth economic policies generate additional revenues for our
    Treasury. Last year, revenues exceeded expectations by about $100
    billion. This July, we're going to find out whether it happened again. I
    hope it does. I think it might, because we're growing this economy. When
    the economy grows, people pay taxes. And so the fundamental question is
    not whether or not we're going to have more revenues; the fundamental
    question is if we're going to have rational spending in order to balance
    this budget.
        I told the United States Congress to get a $92.2 billion
    supplemental to my desk. It's money needed to fund our troops. It's
    money needed to help the people down there in--that we're affected by
    the hurricanes. It's money to do important other measures. But if they
    bust the 92.2, I'm going to veto it. It's important for Washington to
    have fiscal sanity in order to balance this budget.
        The fundamental question facing this country is, do we fear the
    future or do we intend to shape it? I intend to shape the future so
    America remains the economic leader in the world, which means we've got
    to have a good legal policy. I want to thank the chamber for being on
    the leading edge opposing--and enabling me to sign meaningful tort
    reform. We don't need junk lawsuits running good people out of business.
    We don't need junk lawsuits running good doctors out of practice. What
    this country needs is a rational legal system that is fair and balanced.
    So I'm going to continue to work for tort reform in the Halls of
    Congress.
        We need a health care system that takes care of the elderly and the
    poor, but also recognizes that the best health care system is one in
    which the decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by bureaucrats
    right here in Washington, DC.
        We need energy policy that's wise. We got a problem in America:
    We're too dependent on oil from parts of the world where people may not
    necessarily like us. So I proposed an Advanced Energy Initiative, and I
    want to thank the chamber for supporting me on helping this country
    diversify away from hydrocarbons.
        Today I want to talk about immigration, because the chamber of
    commerce understands that in order for this country to be an economic
    leader, in order for this country to be a country that upholds our
    values, we've got to have an immigration system that is secure and
    orderly and fair.
        For decades, this country has not been in control of its borders.
    Yet we have an obligation to the American people to secure our borders.
    That's a solemn obligation of the Federal Government. And as a result of
    not securing our borders, many who want to work in this economy have
    been able to sneak across.
        This is an issue I'm familiar with, since I was the Governor of
    Texas. You got to understand, there are people in our neighborhood who
    are desperate to put food on the table for their families. And if they,
    say, make $7 in America versus 50 cents where they live, and they want
    to support their families, guess what? They're going to try to sneak
    across the border. And many have been able to do so. And that illegal

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    immigration has put pressure on our schools and hospitals; it's strained
    State and local budgets; and in some instances, bring crime to our
    neighborhood.
        Yet we have got to remember that the vast majority of illegal
    immigrants are decent people. They're hard-working people. They're
    people who love their families, people of faith, and people who lead
    responsible lives. They're part of American life, and they are vital to
    our economy, and yet they're beyond the reach and protection of American
    law.
        This Nation is a nation of laws. And we're going to enforce our
    laws. That's what the American people expect. But we're also a nation of
    immigrants. And we must uphold that tradition, which has strengthened
    this Nation in so many ways. These aren't contradictory goals. America
    can be a lawful society and America can be a welcoming society at the
    same time.
        Congress is moving forward on immigration reform. The House started
    this debate by passing a bill that focuses on border security and
    interior enforcement. Then the Senate had its debate, and it passed a
    comprehensive bill that also includes a temporary-worker program and a
    plan to resolve the status of illegal immigrants who are already in this
    country. And now the two versions must be worked out in a conference
    committee.
        The House and Senate bills will require effort and compromise on
    both sides. It's a difficult task, yet the difficulty of this task is no
    excuse for avoiding it. The American people expect us to meet our
    responsibility and deliver immigration reform that fixes the problems in
    the current system, that upholds our ideals and provides a fair and
    practical way forward.
        The United States Congress needs to pass a comprehensive bill, one
    that will accomplish five objectives. First, a comprehensive reform bill
    must help us secure our borders. The border should be open to trade and
    lawful immigration and shut to illegal immigrants as well as criminals,
    drug dealers, and terrorists.
        Since I became President, we've increased funding for border
    security by 66 percent. We've expanded the Border Patrol from about
    9,000 to 12,000 agents. As I told the folks down there, David, in Yuma, I am proud of the Border Patrol, and so
    should the American people. Do you realize that over the past 5 years,
    the men and women of the Border Patrol, working under incredibly
    difficult circumstances, have apprehended and sent home about 6 million
    people entering this county illegally? There's some people working hard
    down there on our behalf.
        Despite the progress, despite the fact that they've turned back 6
    million people in 5 years, we don't have full control of this border.
    And I'm determined to change that. I called on Congress to provide
    funding for dramatic improvements in manpower and technology on the
    border. And so by the end of 2008, we'll increase the number of Border
    Patrol agents by an additional 6,000. In other words, we will have
    doubled the size of the Border Patrol during my Presidency.
        That's not going to be enough to do our job of securing the border.
    That's what you've got to understand. And so these Border Patrol agents
    need help. And the best way to help the Border Patrol is to construct
    high-tech fences in urban areas, urban corridors, to build patrol roads
    and barriers in rural areas. We're going to create a virtual fence that
    employs motion detectors and infrared cameras and unmanned aerial
    vehicles to detect and prevent illegal crossings. What I'm telling you
    is that we're going to have a border that is smart and secure.
        And the best way to do that is to have Border Patrol agents, and
    then give them the most advanced technology so they can do their job.
    Training thousands of new Border Patrol agents and deploying the most
    advanced technology is going to take

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    time. Yet the need to secure this border is urgent. And so I'm acting.
        This month, National Guard units will deploy to the border to set up
    headquarters that will help coordinate Guard operations that will
    support the Border Patrol. In other words, we'll be training 6,000
    additional agents, but in the meantime, I'm going to send 6,000 National
    Guard down there. These forces are the first of 6,000 members that are
    going to assist the Border Patrol. They're going to operate surveillance
    systems and analyze intelligence, and install fences and vehicle
    barriers, and build patrol roads, and provide training. In other words,
    they're going to be a complement to the Border Patrol.
        The Guard units will not be involved in direct law enforcement
    activities. That's the job of the Border Patrol. The United States is
    not going to militarize our border. What we're going to do is support
    those who we hire to do the job of enforcing the border.
        As new Border Patrol agents and technologies come on line, the Guard
    forces are going to be reduced. The Federal Government is working to
    conclude formal agreements with California and Arizona and New Mexico
    and Texas that will define the roles and responsibilities of National
    Guard units deploying to the southern border. We're going to work
    closely with the Governors of those States to secure this border. Also in touch with the chief of
    the National Guard Bureau, General Blum, to
    make sure that we get those 6,000 Guard down there to help the Border
    Patrol do their job.
        I also recognize the role of local and State enforcement authorities
    to help David and his people do the job.
    And so we'll increase Federal funding for State and local authorities
    assisting our Border Patrol on targeted enforcement missions. As well,
    we're going to give specialized training to certain State and local
    folks so they can complement the Border Patrol.
        One of the problems we have down there is we got people working hard
    to find people, and in some instances, they apprehend somebody; then
    they head right into our society. That's frustrating for the Border
    Patrol agents. We got people working long, long hours down there, and
    they catch somebody sneaking into our country, and they say, ``Hey, go
    over here to this legal proceeding, and since the courts are full, just
    check back with us in 45 days.'' The problem is, a lot of people who
    want to put food on the table or want to do other things don't check
    back. That's a program that needs to end.
        See, most of the people we catch at the border trying to enter
    illegally are Mexicans, and 85 percent of them are sent right back home
    within 24 hours. But the real problem we've had is when we catch illegal
    immigrants from other countries trying to come in. It's easy to send
    people back into Mexico; it's hard to send somebody to a country south
    of Mexico, for example.
        One of the problems we've had is we didn't have enough detention
    space. So we've got the Border Patrol agents working hard; they catch
    somebody from a country other than Mexico coming into our country, and
    there's no place to put them. And so part of our strategy is to end
    catch-and-release by expanding the number of beds in detention
    facilities along the border. We've added some, and we're going to add
    more. We're going to add enough to be able to end catch-and-release.
        We've also expedited the legal process to cut the average
    deportation time. I've been in touch, as has my administration, with
    foreign governments, where we tell them, ``You got to take your citizens
    back. When we catch one of your citizens coming in, you have an
    obligation to take that person back into your society.'' We've ended
    catch-and-release for illegal immigrants from the key Central American
    countries; now Congress needs to provide additional funding and legal
    authority so we can end

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    catch-and-release at the southern border once and for all.
        The strategy is this: We're going to enforce our border. When we
    catch you, we're going to send you home--so that the message is very
    clear, and that is, you're going to be sent home if we catch you,
    illegally, which means don't try to come in in the first place,
    illegally.
        Second, in order to have a comprehensive reform bill, we have to
    have a temporary-worker program. Part of securing this border is a
    temporary-worker program. You see, there are people who will do anything
    to come into this country to work. That's what you got to understand.
    People are motivated by a desire, in many cases--in most cases, to
    support the family. I used to tell people in Texas, family values do not
    stop at the Rio Grande. And so therefore, it shouldn't surprise you when
    people hike across the hot desert to--and risking their lives to come
    and work or are willing to get stuffed in the back of an 18-wheeler to
    come and do a job others won't do here in America.
        The fact that people are willing to take those risks puts enormous
    pressure on our border, so much pressure that walls and patrols aren't
    going to stop it. In other words, you got people saying, ``I'll do
    anything to come and work; just give me a chance.'' And we can put up--
    we can have a lot of patrols and a lot of walls, and it's not going to
    stop that flow. It will put a dent in it. But if the job is to secure
    this border, it seems like to me, we got to stop the number of people
    who are trying to sneak across in the first place. And the best way to
    do that is to make a temporary-worker program a part of immigration
    reform. Program would create a legal path for foreign workers to enter
    this country in an orderly way for a limited period of time. It would
    match willing foreign workers with willing American employers for jobs
    Americans are not doing.
        Every worker who applies for the program would be required to pass a
    criminal background check. Temporary workers must return to their homes
    at the conclusion of their stay. A temporary-worker program would meet
    the legitimate needs of American employers, and it would give an honest
    immigrant a chance to contribute to our economy and, at the same time,
    provide for their families. A temporary-worker program would reduce the
    appeal of human smugglers and make it less likely people would have to
    risk their lives to cross this border. A temporary-worker program would
    ease the financial burden on State and local Governments by replacing
    illegal workers with lawful taxpayers. And above all, the temporary-
    worker program would add to the security of this country by making
    certain we know who is coming into this country and why they're here.
        Third, a comprehensive reform bill must hold employers to account
    for the workers they hire. It is against the law to hire someone who is
    in this country illegally. Those are the laws of the United States of
    America, and they must be upheld.
        To ensure our laws are enforced, we've increased funding for
    immigration enforcement inside this country by 42 percent since I took
    office. Last year, I signed a bill that doubled Federal resources for
    worksite enforcement. We've launched law enforcement task forces in 11
    major cities to dismantle criminal rings that are producing fake
    documents. Not only do we have a whole industry that's evolved to
    smuggle people in--you ever hear of the word coyote; these are these
    folks that are willing to use human life as a commodity, to make money
    off of somebody. We've also got document forgers too. See, there's a
    whole industry that's sprung up as a result of enforcement--an
    immigration system that isn't working. And so we're out to bust those
    document forgers.
        Most American businesses want to abide by the law. Many are unable
    to determine whether their workers are legal, however, because of this
    document fraud. Today, there's an industry that's making these IDs

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    and fraudulent Social Security numbers. See, American employers who
    check these documents often discover that the names of their workers
    don't match their Social Security numbers. So then we've got people
    trying to verify, doing what they're expected to do under the law. But
    when this happens, the employer receives a ``no match'' letter from the
    Social Security Administration, yet under current law, the immigration
    enforcement agents at the Department of Homeland Security are not
    informed of these mismatches. The system isn't working.
        See, we need to address problems and ensure that agents can enforce
    the law. Businessowners should not have to act as detectives to verify
    the legal status of their workers. And so the Federal Government has the
    responsibility to ensure that businesses have a clear and reliable way
    to check work documents. We have that responsibility. If we expect
    people to adhere to the law that you're not supposed to hire somebody
    illegally, we have a responsibility here in Washington, DC, to help you
    verify documents.
        One thing we've done is we've launched what's called Basic Pilot.
    Basic Pilot is a voluntary online verification system that allows
    employers to confirm the eligibility of new hires by checking the
    information they provide against Federal databases. If there's a
    mismatch, the applicant then has 8 working days to contest the finding.
    By giving employers a quick and practical way to verify Social Security
    numbers, Basic Pilot gives employers confidence that their workers are
    legal, improves the accuracy of wage and tax reporting, and helps ensure
    that those who obey our laws are not undercut by illegal workers.
        Basic Pilot, just a while ago, was only available in six States; now
    it's nationwide. As I told you, the program is optional. And the truth
    of the matter is, most employers do not participate. Now, the House and
    the Senate immigration bills would require employers to use Basic Pilot.
    I think this is sensible. I think if we want to enforce our laws, people
    ought to be required to check to see whether or not names and numbers
    match. Homeland Security, by the way, in order for it to work, needs
    more money to make sure that the program is up and running.
        Now, the other thing we need to do besides good verification
    procedures is to develop a new identification card for every legal
    foreign worker. The card should be tamper-proof. It ought to use
    biometric technology such as digital fingerprints. We got the technology
    to do this. It makes sense to have somebody who's going to be here
    legally, working on a temporary basis, to have a card that will allow
    American employers to know that the foreign job applicant is who he or
    she says she is, or he is. A tamper-proof card is going to be a vital
    tool to enforce the law, and it's got to be a part of a comprehensive
    immigration reform package.
        Improving enforcement for immigration laws also requires stiffening
    the penalties for those violating the laws. Today, the fine for a
    business that fails to check an employee's ID can be as low as $100. You
    might as well pay a speeding ticket. A penalty for knowingly hiring an
    illegal immigrant can be as low as $250 and can't exceed $2,000. These
    low penalties, frankly, provide little incentive for dishonest
    businesses to obey the law. And so we're going to increase the
    penalties. If we want to be smart about worksite enforcement, we got to
    say to somebody who's breaking the law, ``There's going to be a cost,
    and it's more than $250.'' And so the fines need to be larger.
        The whole point and purpose of what I've just described to you is to
    assure the American people that we've got a plan in place that says to
    the employers, this is going to help you determine whether or not who
    you're hiring should be here in the first place. Secondly, it's going to
    help get rid of document fraud. I repeat: We

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    don't want our employers becoming document experts. That's not their--
    they're trying to get a job done.
        And thirdly, we want to make sure that when we catch you, there's a
    consequence. You know, most American businesses are law-abiding. They
    really do want to uphold the law. They understand there's a
    responsibility to be an American, and that is to uphold the laws of the
    land. And yet we've got to recognize there are some unscrupulous folks
    who want to take advantage of low-cost labor. Illegal workers can be
    paid less than the market rate, see. And guess what? When you're illegal
    and you're worried about being detected, you can be exploited. And
    that's not the American way. We don't like people living in the shadows
    of our society. We're a nation of the rule of law, and we want people to
    be treated with respect. And so people who--businesses that knowingly
    employ illegal workers undermine this law and undermine the spirit of
    America. And we're not going to tolerate it in this country.
        Fourthly, a comprehensive reform bill has got to address the reality
    that millions of illegal immigrants are here already. Now, these folks
    should not be given an automatic path to citizenship. That is called
    amnesty. I oppose amnesty. I opposed amnesty because it would be unfair
    to those people who are here lawfully, and I oppose amnesty because it
    would invite further waves of illegal immigrants.
        One of the difficult tasks before the House and the Senate is
    deciding how American law will treat the illegal immigrants now in our
    country. Some Members of Congress argue that no one who came to this
    country illegally should be allowed to continue living and working in
    our country and that any plan that allows them to stay equals amnesty,
    no matter how many conditions we impose. Listen, I appreciate the
    Members are acting on deeply felt principles; I understand that. Yet I
    also believe that the approach they suggest is wrong and unrealistic.
    There's a rational middle ground between granting an automatic path to
    citizenship for every illegal immigrant and a program that requires
    every illegal immigrant to leave. The middle ground recognizes there are
    differences between an illegal immigrant who crossed the border
    recently, and someone who has worked here for many years who's got a
    home, a family, and a clean record.
        My position is clear: I believe that illegal immigrants who have
    roots in our country and who want to stay should have to pay a
    meaningful penalty for breaking the law, to pay their taxes, to learn
    English, and to work in a job for a number of years. People who meet
    these conditions should be eventually permitted to apply for citizenship
    like other foreign workers. But approval would not be automatic. They
    would have to wait in line behind those who played by the rules and
    followed the law. This isn't amnesty. It is a practical and reasonable
    way for those who have broken the law to pay their debt to society and
    demonstrate the character that makes a good citizen.
        Fifth, a comprehensive bill must honor the great American tradition
    of the melting pot, which has made us one Nation out of many peoples.
    This debate is an interesting debate. It gets quite emotional, and
    sometimes an emotion--in all the emotions, we forget we are a land of
    immigrants. Success of this country has depended and will depend upon
    helping newcomers assimilate into our society and help folks embrace our
    common identity as Americans.
        Americans are bound together by our shared ideals: an appreciation
    of our history; respect for the flag we fly; and an ability to speak and
    write the English language. As businessowners and community leaders, you
    know that English is the key to unlocking the opportunity of America.
    See, English allows a newcomer to go from picking crops to opening a
    grocery store. English allows a newcomer from sweeping an office floor
    to running that office. English allows someone to go from a low-

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    paying job to a diploma, a career, and homeownership. When immigrants
    assimilate and advance in our society, they realize their dreams. And as
    they do, they renew our spirit, and they add to the unity of our
    country.
        As the chamber, you appreciate the great contributions immigrants
    have made to America's freedom and prosperity, and you know their
    importance for the future of this Nation. And so you're helping this
    country reach consensus by conducting the debate on immigration in a
    reasoned and respectful tone. And I appreciate that a lot.
        I urge our fellow citizens to understand that harsh language,
    unnecessary politics, sends the wrong message about who we are as a
    nation. I appreciate the fact you're working for an immigration bill
    that is comprehensive. That makes a lot of sense, because you know that
    all the elements of this problem must be addressed together or none of
    them will be solved at all.
        Throughout our long history, America has prospered because we
    welcome people who abided by our laws and worked hard and raised their
    families and trusted in the Almighty. I believe we must be guided by
    that history as we reform our immigration system. I trust in our
    country's genius for making us all Americans, one Nation under God. And
    I'm confident that the United States Congress will do its duty and pass
    an immigration bill that secures our borders, strengthens our laws, and
    upholds the promise of the United States of America.
        May God bless you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 8:50 a.m. at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
    In his remarks, he referred to Secretary of Homeland Security Michael
    Chertoff, who introduced the President; Thomas J. Donohue, president and
    chief executive officer, U.S. Chamber of Commerce; and Lt. Gen. H.
    Steven Blum, chief, National Guard Bureau. The Office of the Press
    Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of these remarks.