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Skriven 2006-05-20 23:35:18 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (060520) for Sat, 2006 May 20
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President's Radio Address
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 20, 2006

President's Radio Address


ÿÿÿÿÿ Audio ÿÿÿÿÿ In Focus: Immigration ÿÿÿÿÿ

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Earlier this week, I spoke to you from the
Oval Office to lay out my vision for reforming our Nation's immigration
system. And on Thursday, I went to Arizona to visit with the men and women
of the Border Patrol. I wanted to get an update on their efforts because a
secure America depends on a secure border.

I believe America can be a lawful society and a welcoming society at the
same time. We must enforce our laws while honoring our proud immigrant
heritage. So I support comprehensive immigration reform that will
accomplish five clear objectives.

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First, America must secure its borders. Since I became President, we've
increased funding for border security by 66 percent, hired thousands more
Border Patrol agents, and caught and sent home about 6 million illegal
immigrants. Yet, we have much more work to do.

So this week I asked Congress to provide funding for dramatic improvements
in manpower and technology at the border. We'll hire thousands more Border
Patrol agents. And to help these agents do their jobs, we will deploy
advanced technologies such as high-tech fences in urban areas, infrared
cameras, and unmanned aerial vehicles. We'll also draw on the expertise of
state and local law enforcement in our border communities and give them new
resources and training so they can help secure our border.

Putting these new resources in place will take time. To help during this
transition, up to 6,000 National Guard members will be deployed to our
southern border. They will assist the Border Patrol by operating
surveillance and communication systems, installing fences and vehicle
barriers, building patrol roads, and analyzing intelligence. The support of
Guard personnel will allow Border Patrol agents to use their skills to
focus on securing the border.

Second, to secure our border we must create a temporary worker program that
provides foreign workers a legal and orderly way to enter our country for a
limited period of time. This program would reduce pressure on the border,
meet the needs of our economy, and allow honest immigrants to provide for
their families while respecting the law. And it will help us make certain
we know who is in our country and why they are here.

Third, we need to hold employers to account for the workers they hire by
creating a better system for verifying documents and work eligibility. The
system should include a new tamper-proof identification card for every
legal foreign worker. This card would help us enforce the law and leave
employers with no excuse for breaking it. And by making it harder for
illegal immigrants to find work in our country, we would discourage people
from crossing the border illegally in the first place.

Fourth, we must resolve the status of millions of illegal immigrants who
are already here. They should not be given an automatic path to
citizenship. This is amnesty, and I oppose it. Amnesty would be unfair to
those who are here lawfully, and it would invite further waves of illegal
immigration.

Some people think any proposal short of mass deportation is amnesty. I
disagree. There's a rational middle ground between automatic citizenship
for every illegal immigrant and a program of mass deportation. Illegal
immigrants who have roots in our country and want to stay should have to
pay a meaningful penalty, pay their taxes, learn English, and work in a job
for a number of years. People who meet these conditions should be able to
apply for citizenship -- but approval will not be automatic, and they will
have to wait in line behind those who played by the rules and followed the
law.

Fifth, we must honor the great American tradition of the melting pot by
helping newcomers assimilate into our society. Americans are bound together
by our shared ideals, an appreciation of our history, respect for our flag,
and the ability to speak and write in English.

We will work to ensure that every new citizen fully embraces our common
culture. When immigrants assimilate, they will advance in our society,
realize their dreams, renew our spirit, and add to the unity of America.

Congress is now considering legislation on immigration reform. That
legislation must be comprehensive. All elements of this problem must be
addressed together or none of them will be solved at all. The House started
the debate by passing an immigration bill, now the Senate should act by the
end of this month, so we can work out the differences between the two
bills, and Congress can pass a bill for me to sign into law.

We should approach this debate with confidence. America has shown before
that we can enforce our laws and uphold our values, and we will do it
again. Our Nation honors the heritage of all who've come here because we
trust in our country's genius for making us all Americans, one Nation under
God.

Thank you for listening.

END

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