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Skriven 2007-05-19 23:30:48 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (070519) for Sat, 2007 May 19
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President's Radio Address
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary May 19, 2007

President's Radio Address

˙˙President's Radio Address
˙˙Audio ˙˙En Espa¤ol

˙˙˙˙˙ In Focus: Immigration

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This week, my Administration reached an
agreement with Republicans and Democrats in the Senate on immigration
reform. I thank the leaders in both parties who worked hard to produce
legislation that will secure the border, restore respect for the law, and
meet the legitimate needs of our economy.

This legislation includes all the elements required for comprehensive
immigration reform. It will improve security at our borders. It will give
employers new tools to verify the employment status of workers and hold
businesses to account for those they hire. It will create a temporary
worker program. It will help us resolve the status of millions of illegal
immigrants who are here already, without animosity and without amnesty. And
it will honor the great American tradition of the melting pot by
strengthening our efforts to help new arrivals assimilate into our society.

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˙ Here's how the bill works: First, it will require that strong border
security and enforcement benchmarks are met before other elements of the
legislation are implemented. These benchmarks include completing our plan
to double the number of Border Patrol agents, improving border
infrastructure, and maintaining enough beds in our detention facilities so
that all those apprehended at the border can be held and returned to their
home countries. We will also improve work site enforcement by implementing
an effective system to verify worker eligibility using tamper-resistant
identification cards, and by imposing stiffer penalties on companies that
knowingly violate the law. Once these benchmarks are met, they will trigger
other provisions of comprehensive reform.

The legislation will create a new temporary worker program. Such a program
will help our economy and take pressure off the border by providing foreign
workers with a legal and orderly way to enter our country to fill jobs that
Americans are not doing. To ensure that this program is truly temporary,
workers will be limited to three two-year terms, with at least a year spent
outside the United States between each term. Temporary workers will be
allowed to bring immediate family members only if they demonstrate that
they can support them financially, and that their family members are
covered by health insurance.

This legislation will also help resolve the status of illegal immigrants
who are already in our country without amnesty. Those who come out of the
shadows will be given probationary status. If they pass a strict background
check, pay a fine, hold a job, maintain a clean criminal record, and
eventually learn English, they will qualify for and maintain a Z visa. If
they want to become citizens, they have to do all these things, plus pay an
additional fine, go to the back of the line, pass a citizenship test, and
return to their country to apply for their green card.

This legislation will also strengthen our efforts to help new immigrants
assimilate. The key to unlocking the full promise of America is the ability
to speak English. This bill affirms that English is the language of the
United States. And it provides new opportunities for immigrants to learn
English and embrace the shared ideals that bind us as a nation.

In addition, this legislation will clear the backlog of family members
who've applied to come to our country lawfully, and have been waiting
patiently in line. This legislation will end chain migration by limiting
the relatives who can automatically receive green cards to spouses and
minor children. And this legislation will transform our immigration system
so that future immigration decisions are focused on admitting immigrants
who have the skills, education, and English proficiency that will help
America compete in a global economy.

I realize that many hold strong convictions on this issue, and reaching an
agreement was not easy. I appreciate the effort of Senators who came
together to craft this important legislation. This bill brings us closer to
an immigration system that enforces our laws and upholds the great American
tradition of welcoming those who share our values and our love of freedom.

Thank you for listening.

END
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