    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [May 12, 2007]
    [Pages 575-576]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    May 12, 2007

        Good morning. Next week, the Senate will take up an important
    priority for our Nation: comprehensive immigration reform.
        Over the past few weeks, leaders from both parties have met at the
    White House and on Capitol Hill to find areas of agreement and iron out
    our differences. These meetings have been productive. We've been
    addressing our differences in good faith, and we're building consensus.
    Both Republicans and Democrats understand

    [[Page 576]]

    that successful immigration reform must be bipartisan.
        Democrats and Republicans agree that our current immigration system
    is in need of reform. We agree that we need a system where our laws are
    respected. We agree that we need a system that meets the legitimate
    needs of workers and employers. And we agree that 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. We must not repeat the mistakes that caused
    previous efforts at immigration reform to fail. So I support a
    comprehensive immigration reform bill that accomplishes five clear
    objectives.
        First, America must continue our efforts to improve security at our
    borders. Second, we must hold employers to account for the workers they
    hire by providing better tools for them to verify documents and work
    eligibility. Third, we must create a temporary-worker program that takes
    pressure off the border by providing foreign workers a legal and orderly
    way to enter ours country to fill jobs that Americans are not doing.
    Fourth, we must resolve the status of millions of illegal immigrants who
    are here already, without amnesty and without animosity. Finally, we
    must honor the great American tradition of the melting pot.
        Americans are bound together by our shared ideals, an appreciation
    of our history, and an ability to speak and write the English language.
    And the success of our country depends upon helping newcomers assimilate
    into our society and embrace our common identity as Americans.
        Coming together on a good bill that includes all five elements, we
    will make America more secure, we will make our economy more
    competitive, and we will show the world that America can be a lawful
    society and a welcoming society at the same time.
        Reforming our immigration system is an important opportunity to show
    that elected officials in Washington can work together to find practical
    solutions to the problems that matter most. I thank the Senators who
    have been working hard on this issue. I am optimistic we can pass a
    comprehensive immigration bill and get this problem solved for the
    American people this year.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 7:50 a.m. on May 11 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on May 12. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    May 11, but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office of
    the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of this
    address.