    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [April 28, 2007]
    [Pages 496-497]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    April 28, 2007

        Good morning. This weekend I am traveling to Florida to address the
    graduating class of Miami Dade College. This college serves one of our
    Nation's most vibrant and diverse communities. Miami is home to people
    whose families have been in our country for generations and to people
    who have only just arrived. This diversity is one of the great strengths
    of that city, and it is one of the great strengths of our country.
        The opportunities America offers make our land a beacon of hope for
    people from every corner of the world. America's ability to assimilate
    new immigrants has set us apart from other nations. In this country, our
    origins matter less than our dreams. What makes us Americans is our
    shared belief in democracy and liberty. Our Nation now faces a critical
    challenge: to build an immigration system that upholds these ideals and
    meets America's needs in the 21st century.
        In Washington, we are in the midst of an important discussion about
    immigration. Our current immigration system is in need of reform. We
    need a system where our laws are respected. We need a system that meets
    the legitimate needs of our economy. And we need a system that treats
    people with dignity and helps newcomers assimilate into our society.
        We must address all elements of this problem together or none of
    them will be solved at all. And we must do it in a way that learns from
    the mistakes that caused

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    previous reforms to fail. So I support comprehensive immigration reform
    that will allow us to secure our borders and enforce our laws, keep us
    competitive in the global economy, and resolve the status of those
    already here, without amnesty and without animosity.
        I know convictions run deep on the matter of immigration. Yet I am
    confident we can have a serious, civil, and conclusive debate. My
    administration is working closely with Members of Congress from both
    sides of the aisle. We are addressing our differences in good faith, and
    we are working to build consensus. And I am pleased that some of those
    who had doubts about comprehensive reform last year are now open to
    supporting it.
        There is a desire on the part of Republicans and Democrats alike to
    get this problem solved. And by working together, we can enact
    comprehensive immigration reform this year.
        Our Nation deserves an immigration system that secures our borders
    and honors our proud history as a nation of immigrants. By working
    together, we will enforce our laws and ensure that America forever
    remains a land of opportunity and a great hope on the horizon.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 5:40 p.m. on April 26 in the Map Room
    at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on April 28. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    April 27, but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office
    of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of
    this address.