Posted on 10/26/2006 10:33:21 AM PDT by IntelliQuark
President Bush Signs Secure Fence Act The Roosevelt Room
9:34 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Thanks. Please be seated. I'm pleased that you all are here to witness the signature of the Secure Fence Act of 2006. This bill will help protect the American people. This bill will make our borders more secure. It is an important step toward immigration reform.
I want to thank the members of Congress for their work on this important piece of legislation. I welcome you here to the White House. I'm looking forward to signing this bill.
I appreciate the Vice President joining us today. I thank the Deputy Secretary, Michael Jackson, of the Department of Homeland Security. Rob Portman -- he happens to be the Director of OMB. I want to thank Ralph Basham, who is the Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. David Aguilar is the Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol.
I appreciate the fact that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has joined us, as well as House Majority Leader John Boehner. I appreciate them coming in from their respective states as I sign this piece of legislation. I want to thank Congressman Peter King, who's the Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee in the House of Representatives. I appreciate you being here, Peter.
Ours is a nation of immigrants. We're also a nation of law. Unfortunately, the United States has not been in complete control of its borders for decades and, therefore, illegal immigration has been on the rise. We have a responsibility to address these challenges. We have a responsibility to enforce our laws. We have a responsibility to secure our borders. We take this responsibility seriously.
Earlier this year, I addressed the nation from the Oval Office. I laid out our strategy for immigration reform. Part of that strategy begins with securing the border. Since I took office we have more than doubled funding for border security -- from $4.6 billion in 2001 to $10.4 billion this year. We've increased the number of Border Patrol agents from about 9,000 to more than 12,000, and by the end of 2008, we will have doubled the number of Border Patrol agents during my presidency.
We've deployed thousands of National Guard members to assist the Border Patrol. We've upgraded technology at our borders. We've added infrastructure, including new fencing and vehicle barriers. We're adding thousands of new beds in our detention facilities so we can continue working to end catch and release at our southern border. During the course of my administration we have apprehended and sent home more 6 million people entering our country illegally. And I thank the Border Patrol for their hard work.
The Secure Fence Act builds on this progress. The bill authorizes the construction of hundreds of miles of additional fencing along our southern border. The bill authorizes more vehicle barriers, checkpoints and lighting to help prevent people from entering our country illegally. The bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to increase the use of advanced technology, like cameras and satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles to reinforce our infrastructure at the border. We're modernizing the southern border of the United States so we can assure the American people we're doing our job of securing the border. By making wise of use of physical barriers and deploying 21st century technology we're helping our Border Patrol agents do their job.
The Secure Fence Act is part of our efforts to reform our immigration system. We have more to do. Meaningful immigration reforms means that we must enforce our immigration laws in the United States. It is against the law to hire someone who is here illegally. We fully understand that most businesses want to obey that law, but they cannot verify the legal status of their employees because of widespread document fraud. So we're creating a better system for verifying documents and work eligibility, and in the meantime, holding people to account for breaking the law.
We must reduce pressure on our border by creating a temporary worker plan. Willing workers ought to be matched with willing employers to do jobs Americans are not doing for a temporary -- on a temporary basis.
We must face the reality that millions of illegal immigrants are already here. They should not be given an automatic path to citizenship; that is amnesty. I oppose amnesty. There is a rational middle ground between granting an automatic pass to citizenship for every illegal immigrant and a program of mass deportation. And I look forward to working with Congress to find that middle ground.
The bill I'm about to sign is an important step in our nation's efforts to secure our border and reform our immigration system. I thank the members of Congress for joining me as I sign the Secure Fence Act of 2006.
(The bill is signed.)
END 9:40 A.M. EDT
Congratulations to Duncan Hunter, the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and to all of the others who worked so hard to make this a reality.
Now it's our job to make sure it is fully funded, and that the next bill builds the other 1300 miles of fence.
Even if one agrees about the fence, you damage the cause of conservatism with your foul emotionalism.
"We must reduce pressure on our border by creating a temporary worker plan. Willing workers ought to be matched with willing employers to do jobs Americans are not doing for a temporary -- on a temporary basis.
We must face the reality that millions of illegal immigrants are already here. They should not be given an automatic path to citizenship; that is amnesty. I oppose amnesty. There is a rational middle ground between granting an automatic pass to citizenship for every illegal immigrant and a program of mass deportation. And I look forward to working with Congress to find that middle ground."
Interesting change of tune here.
Could it be he is finally listening to the majority of people who voted him into office?
We can only hope.
Upsets you, doesn't it, janet?
This 'worst President in history' has taken another step to secure our borders.
Must stink to hate him like you do.
Amen, EV. Amen!
Sorry. Bush deserves zero credit for signing this bill. Conservatives have been holding his feet to the fire on immigration reform and most other domestic issues for the last 5-1/2 years. What's happened? On most domestic policy, Bush and the GOP have turned their backs on conservatism and advanced the WashDc-Beltway status quo, aka. LIBERALISM. No matter who sits in power, America is not being properly served by its elected officials. The status quo has to go.
Then we must maintain the House of Representatives cause that is where every nickle and dime gets appropriated.
These liberals do not intend to see that fence gets built that is why they used Foley when they did, offend the "morals" voters into staying home.
I don't see a time frame on the White House website. Being a typical Federal Job, the fence should be completed around 2020?
By that time it will be too late.
Hard to say. See Post 28:
"Its [the fence's] cost is not known, although a homeland security spending measure the president signed earlier this month makes a $1.2 billion down payment on the project. The money also can be used for access roads, vehicle barriers, lighting, high-tech equipment and other tools to secure the border."
Not that long ago he wouldn't have signed it. The reality of the election is the ONLY reason he did sign it. Most incumbents got their heads handed to them over immigration when they went home for summer break.
Prove that.
Facts, quotes and links please....
So what do you think we should do about it? Let Pelosi become Speaker? That'll help...
/sarc
Why did Carter, Reagan, Bush Sr. or Clinton not close the border? The illegal problem did not begin under GW. When Reagan saw all those sleeping marines blown up in their sleep in Beirut, why did he not understand the threat of terrorism and close our borders? Everyone is to blame for the failure of illegal immigration. We have not been attacked for five years on our soil, so someone must be doing something right. Throwing it all at the feet of GW is wrong.
I feel sorry for every miserable last one of them. What a way to waste your life.....
Bingo here too.
That is your opinion. In my opinion, you know where you can stuff that crap.
For the umpteenth time. You believe Bush walks on water. I do not. I didn't believe Reagan walked on water either. But this has nothing to do with Reagan. You are infatuated with Bush, and anyone who dares to offer any criticism of this President receives your wrath. So be it.
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