Immigration Quotes - Page 28

• I'd like something that faces reality. We have 12 million people in this country that are undocumented - that's a reality. It's not going to be like they're all going to leave. One of the reasons I'm holding this hearing in the morning is to hear from somebody who actually understands what's involved here - Janet Napolitano - and I hope that from what she says and what we hear from her, we can start building some consensus.

  Patrick Leahy

  Country, Morning, Reality

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• I intend to have protections for the L.G.B.T. community in there. I'm not going to make choices between that community and the non-L.G.B.T. community.

  Patrick Leahy

  Choices, Community, Protection

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• In my view it is time to pass a good bill, a fair bill, a comprehensive bill ... Too many have been waiting too long for fairness.

  Patrick Leahy

  Views, Long, Waiting

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• We were pleased to hear the President state his firm commitment that he will do whatever is necessary to accomplish this important goal.

  John McCain

  Commitment, Goal, Important

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• Just because they broke the law doesn't mean they're condemned forever to a twilight status. So, I think that most Americans, if these people who have come illegally, as long as they pay back taxes, pay a fine, learn English and get behind everybody else, that's a key element of it. And most Americans now realize we can't have 11 million people sit in the twilight - the shadows of America, forever.

  John McCain

  Believe, Twilight, Mean

  "John McCain, Patrick Leahy & Ray LaHood on "State of the Union"". "State of the Union" with Candy Crowley, www.realclearpolitics.com. February 24, 2013.

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• Well, I don't think it is amnesty to start with. Second of all, what do you want to do with them? That is the question in response. And third of all, it is a tough path to citizenship. You have to pay back taxes. You've got to learn English. You've got to have a clear record. You've got to get to the back of the line behind other people who have come here legally or waiting legally. So, i just reject that.

  John McCain

  Thinking, People, Waiting

  "Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. John McCain on avoiding automatic spending cuts". "Fox News Sunday" with Chris Wallace, www.foxnews.com. February 10, 2013.

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• It's the only way that I see that it can be done," McCain said. "Obviously, it has failed in the past, but I also notice there is a somewhat changed attitude on the part of the American people about this issue.

  John McCain

  Attitude, Past, Issues

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• We can't go on forever with 11 million people living in this country in the shadows in an illegal status. We cannot forever have children who were born here - who were brought here by their parents when they were small children to live in the shadows, as well... What's changed, honestly, is that there is a new appreciation on both sides of the aisle, maybe more importantly on the Republican side, that we need to enact a comprehensive immigration reform bill.

  John McCain

  Country, Appreciation, Children

  "'This Week' Transcript: Sen. John McCain and Sen. Robert Menendez". "This week" with Martha Raddatz, abcnews.go.com. January 27, 2013.

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• If you have a large bloc of Americans who believe you're trying to keep their ... fellow Hispanics down and deprive them of an opportunity, obviously that's going to have an effect...The Republican Party has failed to understand to a significant degree the importance of this issue to our Hispanic voters. I think the trend will continue of lack of support from Hispanic voters and also as you look at the demographics of states like mine, that means we will go from Republican to Democrat over time.

  John McCain

  Party, Believe, Mean

  "Republicans Worry Whether Arizona Will Continue To Be Party Stronghold", www.foxnews.com. April 4, 2013.

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• Immigration and border security remain critical issues that I am committed to addressing this year. The good news is that illegal immigration is at an all-time low, making now the time to dedicate the needed technology and resources to finally secure the border for good. As border security improves, I look forward to working in a bipartisan manner to fix our broken immigration system and address the millions of people living in the United States outside of legal status.

  John McCain

  Technology, Years, Issues

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• We have a ways to go here, but elections have consequences ... I think that our Republican colleagues, the Republican National Party, understands this is our new demographic in America as a result of the election. I think they understand if they want to be a national party, they're going to have to deal with this issue. For Latinos and other immigrants, this is the civil rights issue of our time.

  Bob Menendez

  Party, Thinking, Rights

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• Let's start that conversation by acknowledging we aren't going to deport 12 million illegal immigrants. If you wish to work, if you wish to live and work in America, then we will find a place for you.

  Rand Paul

  America, Wish, Illegal

  "Rand Paul signals willingness to engage in immigration reform debate" by Tom McCarthy, www.theguardian.com. March 19, 2013.

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• After ensuring border security, I then would normalize the status of 11 million undocumented citizens so they can join the work force and pay taxes...I would normalize them at a rate of about two million per year.

  Rand Paul

  Years, Two, Borders

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• I think on this issue more than any other we're going to see sort of a bipartisan longing to get something done, and hopefully you're not going to find the fisticuffs that you would find on lots of other issues. I think you'll be able to glean a sense of progress without us revealing the specifics.

  Charles Schumer

  Thinking, Issues, Progress

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• I'm not sure we will have every single Democrat ... but we want a large number of Republicans to be able to vote for this bill because we think that will encourage the House not only to move forward but to pass a bill.

  Charles Schumer

  Moving, Thinking, Numbers

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• It may have hastened the move of the former Minority Leader Trent Lott, to the private sector because there was such an outpouring of bitter criticism...The result, if this is successful, will not be much different from what Sen. Lott and others were trying to enact back then...It may be that we are all just older and wiser.

  Roger Wicker

  Moving, Successful, Criticism

  "Senate GOP raises eyebrows at Gang of Eight plan". www.politico.com.

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• I do not believe the border is secure and I still believe we have a long, long way to go.

  John Cornyn

  Believe, Long, Borders

  "Senate opens immigration hearings with Republicans grilling Napolitano on border security". www.foxnews.com. February 13, 2013.

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• I don't support an amnesty.(Cornyn) demands an ongoing focus on security and workplace enforcement before considering steps to grant legal status, let alone citizenship.

  John Cornyn

  Focus, Support, Enforcement

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• He had 'deep concerns' with the pathway to citizenship for the nation's 11 million illegal immigrants under consideration by the group, calling it 'profoundly unfair' to legal immigrants.

  Ted Cruz

  Pathways, Groups, Calling

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• These guidelines contemplate a policy that will grant special benefits to illegal immigrants based on their unlawful presence in the country.

  Mike Lee

  Country, Special, Benefits

  "On Senate Immigraton Proposal, Bipartisan Sponsors Claim Momentum For Uphill Battle" by Elise Foley, www.huffingtonpost.com. January 28, 2013.

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• Reforms to our complex and dysfunctional immigration system should not in any way favor those who came here illegally over the millions of applicants who seek to come here lawfully. Additionally, the framework carves out a special exception for agricultural workers that has little justification.

  Mike Lee

  America, Safety, Goal

  "On Senate Immigraton Proposal, Bipartisan Sponsors Claim Momentum For Uphill Battle" by Elise Foley, www.huffingtonpost.com. January 28, 2013.

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• Because a person chooses to leave their home country and come to the United States does not necessarily mean they have the right to demand that their father or their other extended family members be allowed to come if they don't otherwise meet the standard.

  Jeff Sessions

  Country, Father, Home

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• We know that a ready amnesty tends to be an invitation to more illegal entries.

  Jeff Sessions

  Amnesty, Illegal, Ready

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• There's a lot of overconfidence about this bill. We're going to expose it. It will not pass.

  Jeff Sessions

  Bills, Overconfidence, Immigration Reform

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• You're not supposed to be admitted to America if you're likely to be a charge on the public - if you're going to need government aid to take care of yourself ... It [2006 immigration bill] failed because it did not do what it said it would do... End the illegality first. Then we can wrestle with how to treat compassionately people who have been in America for a long time.

  Jeff Sessions

  Government, America, Long

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