    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [June 6, 2006]
    [Pages 1084-1089]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at the Laredo Border Patrol Sector Headquarters and an Exchange
    With Reporters in Laredo, Texas
    June 6, 2006

        The President. Well, it's good to be in my home State with my home
    Governor. Governor Perry understands, like I
    understand, the need to enforce this border. He

    [[Page 1085]]

    also understands what I understand--that in order to do so, we've got to
    have a comprehensive plan.
        I started my day earlier in New Mexico, where I saw the training
    facility that is going to put out enough Border Patrol to be able to
    tell the American people, we will have doubled the Border Patrol since
    2001. And that's a really important part of our strategy, is to train
    more Border Patrol agents to help those that are working hard already to
    do their job. But we need to make the border technologically advanced as
    well.
        We just saw some of the remote cameras that are in place that will
    help the Border Patrol be able to do its job better. But more than that,
    we've got to have a comprehensive approach. And that includes a
    temporary-worker plan that says, ``You can come and do a job Americans
    aren't doing if you pass a criminal background check, for a period of
    time. And then once you finish that time, you go home.''
        We also have got to make sure that we deal with the problem of
    people who have been here for a long period of time. Some people say,
    ``Throw them out of the country.'' That doesn't make any sense. You just
    can't throw them out of the country. Others say, ``Give them amnesty.''
    And that doesn't make any sense. And the reason why giving them
    automatic citizenship doesn't make any sense, it will encourage others
    to come. So what we ought to do is say to somebody who's been here for a
    while, if you pass a background check, criminal background check, you've
    shown that you've worked here for a while, you paid a penalty--that you
    can apply for citizenship, but you get at the back of the line, the
    citizenship line, not at the front.
        A comprehensive plan is necessary to help these good folks do their
    job. And I'm going to keep calling on Congress to think about a
    comprehensive plan. We agree on a lot of stuff. A lot of the elements of
    this plan have got common agreement. And now it's time for folks to set
    aside politics and get the job done on behalf of the American people.
        Nedra [Nedra Pickler, Associated Press], you got a question?

    Iran

        Q. Yes, sir. Can you respond to Iran's initial reaction to the
    incentives package today?
        The President. Why don't you tell me what it was?
        Q. Well, the top negotiator said----
        The President. As you know, I've been in Artesia.
        Q. Right. I was. But the top negotiator said that the package
    contained positive steps, but there were some ambiguities, but the talks
    were constructive.
        The President. I think that's positive. I want to solve this issue
    with Iran diplomatically. And I think that--I appreciate Javier
    Solana carrying a message to the Iranians that
    America, Russia, China, Britain, France, and Germany--the main group of
    negotiators--wants this problem to be solved. And so we will see if the
    Iranians take our offer seriously.
        The choice is theirs to make. I have said, the United States will
    come and sit down at the table with them so long as they're willing to
    suspend their enrichment in a verifiable way. Sounds like a positive
    response to me.
        Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters].

    Somalia

        Q. Sir. In Somalia, sir, it appears to have fallen to Islamic
    militants. Is there a need for international peacekeepers there, or what
    do you think has happened there?
        The President. Well, I talked to Secretary of State Rice about this subject yesterday. And obviously, when
    there's instability anywhere in the world, we're concerned. There is
    instability in Somalia. The first concern, of course, would be to make
    sure that Somalia does not become an Al Qaida safe haven; that it
    doesn't become a place from which terrorists can plot and plan. And so

    [[Page 1086]]

    we're watching very carefully the developments there, and we will
    strategize more when I get back to Washington as how to best respond to
    the latest incident there in Somalia.
        Yes.

    Immigration Reform

        Q. President Bush----
        The President. Where are you from, here?
        Q. Laredo Morning Times.
        The President. It's nice to be back here. Thank you.
        Q. Very nice to meet you too.
        The President. Rick and I were talking about
    the first time I came here after I had won Governor--he had already been
    in office for a while--was the Washington day parade, and I remember it
    fondly. It's good to be back in Laredo.
        Q. It's good to have you here, sir. Are you all--are you hoping to--
    a lot of people say that the answer for immigration is to--well, one
    group is saying that the quotas need to be raised for the amount of
    legal documented workers that can come in. Is that part of your
    proposal?
        The President. Well, I think the framework I've outlined recognizes
    that Congress has got the right to regulate what they call green cards.
    And if Congress thinks that the line for citizens from Mexico is too
    long, they can increase the number of green cards. If they think it's--
    or they can shorten--increase the number of green cards. If they think
    it's too short, they can eliminate the number of green cards. In other
    words, they can control the flow of people from a particular part of the
    country.
        What I want is people who have been here for a while to be able to
    have the choice--if they pay a fine, if they learn the English language,
    if they've proven they worked--to be able to get in the citizenship--in
    the potential citizenship line--but at the back of it. See, they don't
    get to be in the front. The people who have been here legally are in the
    front of the line. They get to wait in line. And if Congress wants to
    shorten the line, they increase the number of green cards.
        Q. And I guess for those that haven't been here that long, do you
    favor deportation of those?
        The President. Well, I believe that--as I've said in my remarks--
    that there ought to be a difference between those folks who have been
    here for a period of time and--like for those who own a home or have got
    a family established or have had a job for a long period of time and--
    and those who have arrived recently. Those people ought to be given a
    temporary-worker card for a limited period of time. And when the time is
    up, they need to go home. That's what a temporary worker is--it's not a
    permanent-worker card; it's a temporary-worker card.
        And Congress needs to determine the length--the proper length of
    time. Right now, one consideration is 3 years with a 3 year renewal. And
    what that will do is that will help people who are looking for somebody
    to do a job Americans aren't doing find workers. It'll also mean that
    somebody doesn't have to sneak across the border. See, we've got Border
    Patrol agents chasing down people who are trying to sneak across and do
    work Americans aren't doing. So it seems like it makes sense to me
    that--``Here, you can come to our country on a temporary basis to do a
    job, and when the time is up, you get to go home.'' That's how you
    enforce the border. You enforce the border with more Border Patrol
    agents, better technology, and a rational way to treat people who are
    coming here to do work Americans aren't doing.
        That's one of the reasons I've come down here to Laredo, as well as
    Artesia, is I want to talk to these Border Patrol agents. And I want to
    assure them that we're listening to what they need to get their job
    done. Our job in government is to say to people who are risking their
    lives and working hard is, ``What do you need to get

    [[Page 1087]]

    the job done?'' And that's why I've been coming down here, and we'll
    keep coming down here. And Congress needs to get a bill done.
        Yes, sir.

    Congressional Action on Immigration Legislation

        Q. Mr. President, you spoke about progress earlier today in Artesia.
    You said that you feel it's progress that both the Senate and the House
    have both taken up the issue of immigration. What concrete progress can
    you point to, in terms of winning over the conservatives in your party
    who still stand pretty firmly against the idea of any path to
    citizenship for immigrants?
        The President. Well, one thing is, it's conceivable you could have
    been asking me, ``How come you can't get any Chamber in Congress to pass
    a bill?'' And so progress--what I'm telling the American people is, is
    that from last fall to now, we've got two bills out there. That's
    progress.
        What else is progress is a common understanding. One, we've got to
    enforce the border; two, that people need to be treated with respect;
    three, that there needs to be assimilation; four, that we need to hold
    employers who break the law to account; five, there needs to be some way
    to deal with people who are here to work on a temporary basis; and six,
    ultimately, we're going to have to do something about people who've been
    here for a long period of time. In other words, people understand those
    are the principles that we've got to work on.
        There's no question this is a difficult issue for some in
    Washington, DC. But my job is to continue calling people to account and
    say, ``We've got to work together to get a bill done.'' And one way to
    do it is to come right down here on the frontlines of border enforcement
    and say to the United States Congress, ``There are people working hard
    on behalf of this country, and we owe them a comprehensive piece of
    legislation so they can do their job.'' And I'm going to keep doing it.
        Yes, ma'am. Where are you from?
        Q. ABC News.
        The President. ABC News? I'd suggest getting a little sunblock----
        Q. Sunblock. Yes. [Laughter]
        The President. Yes. Always looking out for my fellow citizens.
    [Laughter]
        Q. Thank you. Last summer, you set a deadline for Congress before
    their August recess to pass things like the energy bill. Are you going
    to put such a deadline on an immigration bill----
        The President. My attitude is, is that in order for these people to
    be doing their job, they need a bill as soon as possible. I'm looking
    forward to getting that conference, seeing the conference get together.
    You know, people--there are people making statements, and that's
    important for people to set out there, say things, and kind of set their
    markers. The conferences have a way of working things out. And I'm going
    to be continuing to urge people to work things out in conference.
        They haven't yet sat down as a conference yet, but they will pretty
    soon. And that will give us a pretty good feel for whether or not
    attitudes are hardened to the point nothing can get done. I don't think
    so. I think the people want something done in America. If you look at
    the--you know what people are saying. They're saying, ``Let's get
    something done in a comprehensive way.'' And I believe we can get
    something done. No question, it's hard work, but that's all the more
    reason to work hard to get it done. I recognize some people in
    Washington would rather duck the hard issue, but that's not the way I
    am, and that's not the way most people in Congress are. They want to get
    the job done, so we should keep working on it.
        Okay, thank you all, unless you want to stand out here a little
    longer. [Laughter] You're back again.

    [[Page 1088]]

    Trade With Mexico

        Q. Mr. President, I'm sorry, one last question.
        The President. That's fine. I'm glad to be working with the local
    press.
        Q. Thank you so much. Some people say that Mexico needs to do a
    whole lot more to just create more jobs that pay a more decent wage for
    its people, and that America should help Mexico by investing more or
    providing more development funds. Is that--what do you think about that,
    and do you have any kind of proposals for that?
        The President. I think the people that say that the long-term
    solution to immigration is for people to be able to find work in Mexico,
    they're right. And that's why I've been a strong supporter of NAFTA.
        One of the interesting things about the border here that I don't
    think a lot of Americans are aware, but I know those of us who grew up
    in Texas are aware of, is that this part of the world used to be really
    poor. Up and down the Rio Grande Valley, there was a lot of impoverished
    people. Laredo is a booming town--I mean, it's thriving. It has really
    changed a lot, and one of the main reasons why is because of trade with
    Mexico. On the other side of the border, the border States are
    prosperous States.
        And so to answer your question, the first thing is to promote free
    and fair trade between Mexico and the United States. Trade enhances
    wealth; it provides opportunities for people. The problem is in Mexico
    is that the opportunities you can find here on the border don't extend
    to the south of the country. And so therefore, a lot of the Mexicans
    that we're finding at the border are people coming up from the south
    trying to find work so they can put food on the table. And I've talked
    to President Fox about this very issue, and I
    know Rick has talked to President Fox about this
    issue. And that is, what more can we do with Mexico to encourage
    economic development south of the northern tier States?
        President Fox, the last time I saw him, said
    that there are 100,000 vacant jobs in northern Mexican States. I think
    that's really interesting. And I said, ``What are we going to do about
    it?'' And the issue is education. The issue is to make sure that people
    in the interior and the south of the country have got enough education,
    enough skills so they can fill those 100,000 jobs.
        And so to answer your question, economic development works through
    free and fair trade, as well as helping put an education system in place
    that makes sense. And that's Mexico's responsibility; that's their job.
    But we can help, and we work with Mexico all the time. I know Texas has
    got all kinds of collaborative programs with Mexico to help their
    education system.
        Yes, Steve. You enjoying the heat? [Laughter]

    Immigration Reform

        Q. It's not so bad.
        The President. It's because you've got a fine looking hat on there.
    [Laughter]
        Q. Thanks, sir. The word ``amnesty''--the critics seem to be able to
    just label this an amnesty and get away with it. I mean, are you having
    trouble fighting back that impression? Is it sinking in to people that
    this isn't amnesty and it's going----
        The President. Look, if you're one of these types of people that
    basically say, we got to, you know, throw them out, then you just use
    the word ``amnesty,'' just toss it around. You know, amnesty is
    something nobody is for in America. I'm not for it. But in order to
    frighten people, you just say the word ``amnesty.''
        On the other hand, you can't kick people out of this country. You
    can stop people from coming in, but there have been people here in this
    part of the world, for example, been here for a decade--honest, hard-
    working citizens doing jobs Americans aren't doing, providing for their
    families.

    [[Page 1089]]

    They own their home. And the fundamental question is, how do you treat
    them with respect and, at the same time, have a system that's fair and
    orderly and respects our laws?
        And so my attitude is on that, if a person wants to apply for a
    citizenship, they've got to pay a fine first. They have broken the laws
    of the United States, and they need to pay a fine. Then they've got to
    prove they've got a clean criminal record, paid their taxes, and worked.
    And then they can apply for citizenship, but they're at the back of the
    line. See, there's a line of people waiting to become a citizen, and
    they need to get at the back of the line, not at the front of the line.
    And that's how I think we can have an orderly system. That's not
    amnesty.
        Amnesty is, ``Okay, everybody who is here, you're a citizen.''
    That's amnesty, and I'm not for that. I think it would be a mistake. And
    the reason I'm not for--and I recognize some people are for that. The
    reason I think it's a mistake is that, one, there are people who played
    by the rules here in America, law abiding citizens who've applied for
    citizenship, who are in line to become a citizen. They've adhered to all
    our laws. They're here legally, and they're in line, and they ought to
    be at the head of the line. And if you say to somebody who has been here
    illegally, ``You're an automatic citizen,'' then that means they're not
    the head of the line--it means somebody jumped in front of them who had
    broken our laws.
        Secondly, if people are granted amnesty--in other words, the
    Government would say, ``You're automatically a citizen''--there's going
    to be another 8 million people trying to get in this country, because a
    lot of people want to be citizens of the United States. It's a great
    honor to be a citizen of this country. It's a great tribute to our
    country, by the way, that people are willing to come here to work and to
    live. We're the land of the free; we're the land of the opportunity. And
    yet we've got to control our border. And so therefore, to say to some
    group of people, ``You're an automatic citizen,'' would increase the
    likelihood of a lot of other people trying to come back in here so they
    can become a citizen automatically. And therefore, I'm against amnesty.
        And I understand words in politics and words trying to frighten
    people. But the comprehensive approach I've outlined, when people think
    about it, makes a lot of sense, and you can't--all five need to go
    together in order to be able to do the job of enforcing the border.
        I've enjoyed this, and I hope you have. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:23 p.m. In his remarks, he referred to
    Gov. Rick Perry of Texas; Secretary General Javier Solana of the Council
    of the European Union; and President Vicente Fox Quesada of Mexico.