Thank you for your email.
I appreciate your thoughts regarding U.S. immigration policies and the review that the Bush Administration is conducting.
I am pleased that the Bush Administration has embarked on an aggressive review of previously established policies. He has shown a willingness to challenge the status quo in many areas, from our national energy policy to national security programs and immigration.
On the particular subject of immigration, many viewpoints are being aired on this often-contentious issue; however, no changes have been formally proposed. I believe that conducting an open debate on the many issues involved is helpful, and I welcome your input.
Recently, data from the 2000 Census was released, giving many Americans a new appreciation of the breadth of the demographic changes that took place in the last part of the 20th century. As many as 12.5% of the population is of Hispanic origin, while 12.1% of the population regards itself as Black or African American. We can compare this trend with the last half of the 19th century, when 13.8% of the population was foreign born and 11.6% of the population was African American.
I share your concern about the problem of illegal immigration. There are, without question, limits to the number of immigrants the United States can absorb each year, and the troubles that confront our border states demonstrate the potentially overwhelming effects of insufficiently controlled immigration.
Traditionally, America has welcomed immigrants. This tradition is based on the premise that immigration creates a valuable diversity. Virtually all Americans, with the exception of Native Americans, are descended from people who originally hailed from foreign lands or who have immigrated themselves. Many recent immigrants have made great contributions to our nation and communities.
Again, I appreciate knowing your views on this complex issue. With our mutual interests in mind, I will continue to seek a balance in our immigration policies among our heritage as a nation of immigrants, a practical need to control the rate of immigration, and a program of international economic development that addresses migrant issues at their source.
I am grateful for your interest in this vital issue, and for taking the time to communicate your thoughts to me.
Sincerely,
Richard G. Lugar