During the 2005 State of the Union speech, President Bush called on Congress to reform our immigration laws. Recently, the Senate considered a bipartisan comprehensive immigration bill. Though imperfect, that bill represented a positive comprehensive approach to immigration reform. It took into account our need for improved border security while taking a balanced and reasonable approach to the undocumented workers who perform the jobs Americans and legal U.S. residents are often unwilling to fill. Unfortunately, the bill failed to receive the necessary votes to be considered by the Senate.

Every country has a right and a duty to protect its borders. During the last decade, Congress has tripled the budget and manpower of the U.S. Border Patrol. This rapid increase in agents allowed the USBP to place more agents directly on the border. To continue the work we have done over the last decade to enhance border security, I support new robust enforcement measures that will further help secure the border, including an employer verification system.

I also support comprehensive reform that includes a guest worker program that allows for the registration and identification of undocumented workers in the U.S. This registration would give the Department of Homeland Security the opportunity to determine whether the immigrant poses a threat to the national security or is simply in the U.S. to work hard. As part of the registration program, certain undocumented workers would be given the chance to become legal residents if they pay a fine, stay employed, pay their taxes and obey U.S. laws.

Early in 2007 I asked the Bush Administration to grant temporary protective status (TPS) to Haitians and extend TPS for Salvadorans, Hondurans and Nicaraguans. The purpose of TPS is to create a safe haven for undocumented aliens who face deportation to a country which presents a dangerous situation. Both the political upheaval following the fall of the corrupt Aristide government and the effects of Hurricane Jeanne posed a risk to Haitians deported back to their homeland which led me to request TPS for Haitian nationals. The Central American counties I have mentioned are still recovering from severe devastation caused by earthquakes, volcanic activity and hurricanes. These natural disasters destroyed innumerable lives and caused significant damage to the infrastructure and economy of these countries. The Bush Administration recently announced that it would extend TPS for Salvadorans, Hondurans and Nicaraguans through 2009.

I have also asked that the administration provide Venezuelan nationals in the U.S. with “Deferred Enforced Departure” (DED) which, according to law, may be granted to delay the deportation of groups of individuals to countries where they would be placed in danger due to political reasons. Chavez is systematically eliminating the Venezuelan people’s freedoms. He has sought to silence peaceful opposition by placing heavy restrictions and penalties on media outlets that still permit criticism of the government. The United States has long followed the principle that we will not return a foreign national to a country where his or her life or freedom would be threatened. As Chavez deepens his dictatorship in Venezuela, we must not turn our backs on Venezuelans in the U.S. who fear persecution from Chavez for speaking out against his regime.

On March 1, 2007, Rep. Howard Berman and I introduced, H.R. 1275, the American Dream Act. The bill seeks to restore the States’ rights to determine residency requirements for higher education benefits – giving states the option to provide in-state tuition. The American Dream Act seeks to facilitate access to postsecondary educational opportunities for immigrant students in the United States who currently face barriers in pursuing a college education. It also provides a path to U.S. legal residency for students, and military personnel. Young students and brave soldiers should not be punished for a decision which was made by their parents, in which they played no role.

Many who arrive on our shores have fled war torn, impoverished countries, often leaving all of their worldly possessions behind. The Welfare Law of 1996 unnecessarily barred legal immigrants from receiving food stamps and social security income (SSI). Working with the House Leadership, I worked to ensure that as many needy immigrants as possible continued receiving the vital benefits which were barred by the passage of this law. On May 15, 1997, I offered an amendment to legislation considered by the House to restore SSI and Medicaid coverage for legal immigrants. This amendment was adopted by an overwhelming vote of 345-74. The 1997 Balanced Budget Act reinforced these efforts, permanently restoring SSI for legal immigrants receiving assistance in August 1996, when the ban became law.

One of my proudest days in Congress was November 19, 1997, when the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA), was signed into law. I was the primary author of this legislation which created a process for the obtaining of legal residency for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable individuals who sought safety in the United States for themselves and their families. NACARA has been the model for other legislation which I have co-sponsored to protect vulnerable populations.

I am proud to have been an original cosponsor of H.R 1954, the Armed Forces Naturalization Act of 2003, which overwhelmingly passed the United States House of Representatives with my support on June 4, 2003. This important legislation became law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-136). We must recognize the sacrifice made by our men and women in uniform and honor their commitment and loyalty to the United States. The Armed Forces Naturalization Act reduced the three year residency requirement for naturalization to one year and also removed barriers to extending derivative immigration benefits to their immediate family members, and removed other significant restrictions. The United States, and particularly Florida, has always been a destination for immigrants. From St. Augustine, our nation's oldest city settled by Europeans, to Miami, our state has been and continues to be a fascinating and favorite place for immigrants. The United States of America was founded by immigrants--people fleeing oppression, or simply hoping to find a better life here. I am proud of both our nation's and our state's immigrant heritage and, during this critical time, I will continue to work to increase the security of the United States and for justice in the treatment of immigrants.

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