[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 48 (Monday, December 5, 2005)]
[Pages 1774-1778]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Border Security and Immigration Reform in Tucson, Arizona

November 28, 2005

    Thank you all. Please be seated. Thank you for the warm welcome. It 
is such a pleasure to be back in Arizona, and it's great to be here in 
Tucson. Last time I was here, I think there was probably about a 50-
degree temperature differential. [Laughter] It's an honor to stand here 
with the men and women of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. As well, to be 
here with the men and women of the Customs and Border Protection Agency, 
and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency as well.
    Securing our border is essential to securing the homeland. And I 
want to thank all of those who are working around the clock to defend 
our border, to enforce our laws, and to uphold the values of the United 
States of America. America is grateful to those who are on the 
frontlines of enforcing the border.
    I appreciate so very much the Governor joining us today. Governor, 
thank you for being here. I'm honored you are here. I appreciate Senator 
John McCain joining us today, Senator. As well as Senator Jon Kyl. I 
appreciate three members of the congressional delegation from Arizona--
Congressman Shadegg, Flake, and Franks--for joining us as well. Two 
members of my Cabinet are here with us, the Attorney General of the 
United States, Al Gonzales, and the Secretary of the Department of 
Homeland Security, Mike Chertoff.
    I want to thank the United States Attorney from the District of 
Arizona, Paul Charlton, for joining us today. I appreciate David 
Aguilar, who is the Chief of the Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection of the Department of Homeland Security; Mike Nicely, who is 
the Chief Patrol Agent, Tucson Sector; Ron Colburn, Chief Patrol Agent, 
Yuma Sector; Martin Vaughan, Director of Air Operations. But most of 
all, I want to thank those who wear the uniform for doing such a fine 
job. Thank you all. Finally, I want to thank General Schmidt for 
welcoming me today. He's the Commander of the 12th Air Force, U.S. 
Southern Command, based right here at this base.
    I have a solemn duty, and so do the Members of the United States 
Congress, to protect our Nation, our Constitution, and our laws. Our 
border and immigration security officers devote themselves to those same 
missions every single day.
    America has always been a compassionate nation that values the 
newcomer and takes great pride in our immigrant heritage. Yet we're also 
a nation built on the rule of law, and those who enter the country 
illegally violate the law. The American people should not have to choose 
between a welcoming society and a lawful society. We can have both at 
the same time. And to keep the promise of America, we will enforce the 
laws of our country.
    As a former Governor, I know that enforcing the law and the border 
is especially important to the communities along the border. Illegal 
immigration puts pressure on our schools and hospitals. I understand 
that. I understand it strains the resources needed for law enforcement 
and emergency services. And the vicious human strugglers--smugglers and 
gangs that bring illegal immigrants across the border also bring crime 
to our neighborhoods and danger to the highways. Illegal immigration is 
a serious challenge. And our responsibility is clear: We are going to 
protect the border.
    Since I've taken office, we've increased funding for border security 
by 60 percent. Our border agents have used that funding to apprehend and 
send home more than 4.5 million people coming into our country 
illegally, including more than 350,000 with criminal records. Our 
customs and border protection agents can be proud of the work that 
you're doing. You're taking control of this border. And we have more 
work to do, and that's what I want to talk to you about today. We're 
going to build on the progress we have made.
    We have a comprehensive strategy to reform our immigration system. 
We're going to secure the border by catching those who enter illegally 
and hardening the border to prevent illegal crossings. We're going to

[[Page 1775]]

strengthen enforcement of our immigration laws within our country. And 
together with Congress, we're going to create a temporary-worker program 
that will take pressure off the border, bring workers from out of the 
shadows, and reject amnesty.
    Our strategy for comprehensive immigration reforms begins by 
securing the border. Now, let me talk to you about a three-part plan. 
The first part of the plan is to promptly return every illegal entrant 
we catch at the border, with no exceptions. More than 85 percent of the 
illegal immigrants we catch are from Mexico, and most of them are 
escorted back across the border within 24 hours.
    To prevent them from trying to cross again, we've launched an 
interesting program, an innovative approach called interior 
repatriation. Under this program, many Mexicans caught at the border 
illegally are flown back to Mexico and then bused to their hometowns in 
the interior part of the country. By returning these illegal immigrants 
to their hometowns far from the border, we make it more difficult for 
them to attempt to cross again. Interior repatriation is showing promise 
in breaking the cycle of illegal immigration.
    In a pilot program focused on the west Arizona desert, nearly 35,000 
illegal immigrants were returned to Mexico through interior 
repatriation. Last year, only about 8 percent of them were caught trying 
to cross the border again, a much lower rate than we find among illegal 
immigrants who are escorted directly across the border. We're going to 
expand interior repatriation. We want to make it clear that when people 
violate immigration laws, they're going to be sent home, and they need 
to stay at home.
    We face a different set of challenges with non-Mexicans that we--who 
we catch crossing the border illegally. When non-Mexican illegal 
immigrants are apprehended, they are initially detained. The problem is 
that our detention facilities don't have enough beds. And so, about four 
of every five non-Mexican illegal immigrants we catch are released in 
society and asked to return for a court date. When the date arrives, 
about 75 percent of those released don't show up to the court. As a 
result, last year only 30,000 of the 160,000 non-Mexicans caught coming 
across our Southwest border were sent home.
    This practice of catch-and-release has been the Government's policy 
for decades. It is an unwise policy, and we're going to end it. To help 
end catch-and-release, we need to increase the capacity in our detention 
facilities. Last month at the White House, I signed legislation 
supported by the members of the Arizona delegation that will increase 
the number of beds in our detention facilities. We're also working to 
process illegal immigrants through the system more quickly, so we can 
return them home faster and free up bed space for others.
    One of the most effective tools we have in this effort is a process 
called expedited removal. Under expedited removal, non-Mexicans are 
detained and placed into streamlined proceedings. It allows us to deport 
them at an average of 32 days, almost three times faster than usual. In 
other words, we're cutting through the bureaucracy. Last year, we used 
expedited removal to deport more than 20,000 non-Mexicans caught 
entering this country illegally between Tucson and Laredo. This program 
is so successful that the Secretary has expanded it all up and down the 
border. This is a straightforward idea. It says, when an illegal 
immigrant knows they'll be caught and sent home, they're less likely to 
come to the country. That's the message we're trying to send with 
expedited removal.
    We're also pursuing other commonsense steps to accelerate the 
deportation process. We're pressing foreign governments to take their 
citizens back promptly. We're streamlining the paperwork, and we're 
increasing the number of flights carrying illegal immigrants home. We 
recently tested the effectiveness of these steps with Brazilian illegal 
immigrants caught along the Rio Grande Valley of the Texas border. The 
effort was called Operation Texas Hold 'Em. [Laughter] It delivered 
impressive results. Thanks to our actions, Brazilian illegal immigration 
dropped by 90 percent in the Rio Grande Valley and by 60--50 percent 
across the border as a whole. With all these steps, we're delivering 
justice more effectively, and we're changing the policy from catch-and-
release to the policy of catch-and-return.

[[Page 1776]]

    The second part of our plan is to strengthen border--to strengthen 
border enforcement is to correct weak and unnecessary provisions in our 
immigration laws. Under current law, the Federal Government is required 
to release people caught crossing our border illegally if their home 
countries do not take them back in a set period of time. That law 
doesn't work when it comes time to enforcing the border, and it needs to 
be changed. Those we were forced to release have included murderers, 
rapists, child molesters, and other violent criminals. This undermines 
our border security. It undermines the work these good folks are doing. 
And the United States Congress needs to pass legislation to end these 
senseless rules.
    We need to address the cycle of endless litigation that clogs our 
immigration courts and delays justice for immigrants. Some Federal 
courts are now burdened with more than six times as many immigration 
appeals as they had just a few years ago. A panel of the 9th Circuit 
Court of Appeals in San Francisco declared that illegal immigrants have 
a right to relitigate before an immigration court as many times as they 
want. This decision obviously would encourage illegal immigrants who 
have been deported to sneak back into the country to re-argue their 
case. Congress needs to put an end to this cycle of needless litigation 
and deliver reforms necessary to help us secure this border.
    The third part of our plan to strengthen border enforcement is to 
stop people from crossing the border illegally in the first place. And 
we're increasing manpower; we're increasing technology and 
infrastructure across this border. We're integrating these resources in 
ways we have never done before.
    Since 2001, we've hired 1,900 new Border Patrol agents. I just 
signed a bill last month that will enable us to add another 1,000 Border 
Patrol agents. When we complete these hires, we will have enlarged the 
Border Patrol by about 3,000 agents, from 9,500 the year I took office 
to 12,500 next year. This is an increase of more than 30 percent, and 
most of the new agents will be assigned right here in the State of 
Arizona.
    And to help the agents, we're deploying technologies. Listen, 
technology can help an individual agent have broader reach and more 
effectiveness. When agents can take advantage of cutting-edge equipment 
like overhead surveillance drones and infrared cameras, they can do a 
better job for all of us.
    In Tucson, agents on the ground are directing unmanned aerial 
technology in the sky, and they're acting rapidly on illegal immigration 
or illegal activities they may see from the drones. In the months since 
these unmanned flights began, agents have intercepted a lot of drugs on 
the border that otherwise--and people--that otherwise might have made it 
through.
    The legislation I signed last month provides $139 million to further 
upgrade the technology and bring a more unified, systematic approach to 
border enforcement. Again, I want to thank the Members of the Congress.
    In some places, the most effective way to secure the border is to 
construct physical barriers to entry. The legislation I signed last 
month includes $70 million to install and improve protective 
infrastructure across this border. In rural areas, we're funding the 
construction of new patrol roads to give our agents better access to the 
border and new vehicle barriers to keep illegal immigrants from driving 
across the border.
    In urban areas, we're expanding fencing to shut down access to human 
smuggling corridors. Secretary Chertoff recently used authority granted 
by the Congress to order the completion of a 14-mile barrier near San 
Diego that had been held up because of lawsuits. By overcoming endless 
litigation to finish this vital project, we're helping our border agents 
do their job and making people who live close to the border more secure.
    Our actions to integrate manpower, technology, and infrastructure 
are getting results. And one of the best examples of success is the 
Arizona Border Control Initiative, which the Government launched in 
2004. In the first year of this initiative--now, listen to this, listen 
how hard these people are working here--agents in Arizona apprehended 
nearly 500,000 illegal immigrants, a 42-percent increase over the 
previous year. We've captured a half-million pounds of marijuana, 
prosecuted more than 400 people suspected of human smuggling, and seized 
more than

[[Page 1777]]

$7 million in cash. You've got some good folks here working hard to do 
their job, and I appreciate it very much.
    As we work to secure the border, comprehensive immigration reform 
also requires us to improve enforcement of our laws in the interior of 
the country. Catching and deporting illegal immigrants along the border 
is only part of the responsibility. America's immigration laws apply 
across all of America, and we will enforce those laws throughout our 
land. Better interior enforcement begins with better worksite 
enforcement. American businesses have an obligation to abide by the law, 
and our Government has the responsibility to help them do so.
    Enforcing our immigration laws in the interior of the country 
requires a sustained commitment of resources. Since I took office, we've 
increased funding for immigration enforcement by 44 percent. We've 
increased the number of immigration and customs investigators by 14 
percent since 2001. And those good folks are working hard too. Last 
year, the--this year, Federal agents completed what they called 
Operation Rollback. It's the largest worksite enforcement case in 
American history. This operation resulted in the arrest of hundreds of 
illegal immigrants, criminal convictions against a dozen employers, and 
a multimillion dollar payment from one of America's largest 
corporations.
    Our skilled immigration security officers are also going against 
some of the most dangerous people in our society--smugglers, terrorists, 
gang members, and human traffickers. In Arizona, we have prosecuted more 
than 2,300 smugglers bringing drugs, guns, and illegal immigrants across 
the border. As a part of Operation Community Shield, Federal agents have 
arrested nearly 1,400 gang members who were here illegally, including 
hundreds of members of the violent Latin American gangs like MS-13.
    Since the Department of Homeland Security was created, agents have 
apprehended nearly 27,000 illegal immigrant fugitives. Thanks to our 
determined personnel, society is safer. But we've got more work to do. 
The legislation I signed last month more than doubled the resources 
dedicated to interior enforcement. We understand that border security 
and interior enforcement go hand in hand. We will increase the number of 
immigration enforcement agents and criminal investigators.
    We're confronting the problem of document fraud as well. When 
illegal workers try to pass off sophisticated forgeries as employment 
documents, even the most diligent businesses find it difficult to tell 
what's real and what's fake. Businessowners shouldn't have to act like 
detectives to verify the legal status of their workers. So my 
administration has expanded a program called Basic Pilot. This program 
gives businesses access to an automated system that rapidly screens the 
employment eligibility of new hire against Federal records. Basic Pilot 
was available in only six States 5 years ago; now this program is 
available nationwide. We'll continue to work to stop document fraud to 
make it easier for America's businesses to comply with our immigration 
laws.
    As we enforce our immigration laws, comprehensive immigration reform 
also requires us to improve those laws by creating a new temporary-
worker program. This program would create a legal way to match willing 
foreign workers with willing American employers to fill jobs that 
Americans will not do. Workers would be able to register for legal 
status for a fixed period of time and then be required to go home. This 
program would help meet the demands of a growing economy, and it would 
allow honest workers to provide for their families while respecting the 
law.
    This plan would also help us relieve pressure on the border. By 
creating a legal channel for those who enter America to do an honest 
day's labor, we would reduce the number of workers trying to sneak 
across the border. This would free up law enforcement officials to focus 
on criminals, drug dealers, terrorists, and others that mean to harm us. 
Our plan would create a tamper-proof identification card for the 
temporary legal worker, which, of course, would improve worksite 
enforcement.
    Listen, there's a lot of opinions on this proposal. I understand 
that. But people in this debate must recognize that we will not be able 
to effectively enforce our immigration laws until we create a temporary-
worker program. The program that I proposed would

[[Page 1778]]

not create an automatic path to citizenship, it wouldn't provide for 
amnesty. I oppose amnesty. Rewarding those who have broken the law would 
encourage others to break the law and keep pressure on our border.
    A temporary-worker program, by contrast, would decrease pressure on 
the border. I support the number of--increasing the number of annual 
green cards that can lead to citizenship. But for the sake of justice 
and for the sake of border security, I'm not going to sign an 
immigration bill that includes amnesty.
    I look forward to continue working with the United States Congress 
on comprehensive immigration reform. In the House of Representatives, 
your Arizona Congressmen are building strong support for border 
enforcement among their colleagues. Judiciary Committee Chairman 
Sensenbrenner and Homeland Security Chairman King are moving bills that 
include tough provisions to help secure this border. The House plans to 
vote on this legislation soon; I urge them to pass a good bill.
    The Senate is continuing to work on border legislation as well. This 
legislation improves border security and toughens interior enforcement 
and creates a temporary-worker program. Senators McCain and Kyl have 
taken the lead. It's two good men taking the lead, by the way. I'm 
confident something is going to get done that people of Arizona will 
like, with these two Senators in the lead.
    Majority Leader Frist and Judiciary Committee Chairman Specter said 
they're going to take action in early 2006. See, we have a chance to 
move beyond the old and tired choices of the immigration debate and come 
together on a strategy to enforce our laws, secure our country, and 
uphold our deepest values.
    We made good progress, but you know like I know, there's a lot more 
to be done. And we've got to continue to work together to get that done, 
and I'm optimistic that Congress will rise to the occasion. By passing 
comprehensive immigration reform, we will add to this country's 
security, to our prosperity, and to justice.
    Our Nation has been strengthened by generations of immigrants who 
became Americans through patience and hard work and assimilation. In 
this new century, we must continue to welcome immigrants and to set high 
standards for those who follow the laws to become a part of our country. 
Every new citizen of the United States has an obligation to learn our 
customs and values, including liberty and civic responsibility, equality 
under God and tolerance for others, and the English language. We will 
continue to pursue policies that encourage ownership, excellence in 
education, and give all our citizens a chance to realize the American 
Dream.
    I appreciate once again being here with the Border and Immigration 
Security officers who have volunteered for a difficult and urgent 
assignment. I appreciate their courage. By defending our border, you're 
defending our liberty and our citizens and our way of life. I'm proud to 
stand with you today, and the American people stand with you as well. 
May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless our country.

Note: The President spoke at 2:40 p.m. at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. 
In his remarks, he referred to Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona. The 
Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language 
transcript of these remarks.