Immigration

Our nation’s immigration policy has daily consequences for our businesses, schools, communities, and our national security. It is an issue I hear about often from Kentuckians, and one I am glad people are paying attention to.

Since the immigration reform bill failed in 2007, people have asked me what the federal government is doing to enforce the immigration laws that are already on the books. In 2007, I, along with eight of my colleagues in the Senate, sent a letter to President Bush urging him to enforce our existing border security laws. You can be sure that I will continue to press the Obama Administration in the same way.

Throughout my time in the United States Senate, I have strongly supported legislation which would strengthen our ability to control and decrease illegal immigration. For instance, I have consistently supported funding to improve border security. I have also supported legislation that would prohibit states from issuing any driver’s licenses or photo identification cards to any individual unless they have evidence of lawful immigration status. Additionally, I have cosponsored bills which would declare English the official language of the United States. I am proud to support such legislation, and I will continue to support efforts to preserve our national language.

I am against extending taxpayer benefits, especially important legal benefits, to people who have willfully broken our nation’s immigration laws. I opposed the infamous immigration bill from 2007, and I have always opposed amnesty in any shape, size or form.

The bottom line is that granting amnesty, or encouraging people to break our laws by providing other benefits will not work. We need the right immigration reform that starts by securing our borders and enforcing the laws already on the books.