REP ANDREWS REACTS TO PRESIDENT’S PLAN TO SEND NATIONAL GUARD TO MEXICAN BORDER

People across New Jersey and our nation are concerned with how easy it is for people to illegally cross the borders into our country.  I share these concerns and will support any effective effort to protect our borders, including the intelligent use of the National Guard, as outlined by President Bush last week.  This plan, however, is a small fix to a much larger issue.  Six thousand guardsmen will not solve the problem of illegal immigration.

I am in favor of a comprehensive approach to immigration reform.  This means that we should step up enforcement of our immigration laws, and expand legal avenues for immigrants to work in our country.  I support the McCain-Kennedy bill that seeks to create a guest worker visa program and expand the opportunities for immigrants to earn citizenship.  These steps should be combined with a crackdown on businesses that flagrantly violate immigration laws, improvements of identification technology for tracking persons here unlawfully, and better cooperation from bordering governments.

I am hopeful that this Congress can come together to pass meaningful and intelligent immigration reform this year.  It is imperative to the well-being of our nation to address this problem quickly and appropriately. 

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