Bush On The Air: ‘This Is Not Amnesty’
June 23, 2007, 4:03pm
Critics of the Senate’s pending immigration bill contend that it is weak on enforcement, so as President Bush lobbies for passage of the measure, he is challenging that criticism.
“Under this bill, those caught crossing illegally will be permanently barred from returning to the United States on a work or tourist visa,” Bush said in his weekly radio address. “Under this bill, anyone known to have taken part in illegal gang activity can be denied admission to our country. And under this bill, we will be able to detain aliens who are dangerous criminals until another country accepts their return.”
But he also argued that to combat illegal immigration, it is necessary to “take pressure off the border” by improving the visa program and then eventually giving the 12 million current illegal immigrants “an opportunity to get right with the law.” He emphasized, “This is not amnesty.”
Rep. Chet Edward, D-Texas, used the Democratic address to call attention to the House’s vote last week for “the largest increase in veterans’ health care funding in our nation’s history — $6 billion more in 2008, which is $3.8 billion above the president’s budget proposal.”
“For weeks, the White House budget office threatened to veto this bill because it was above their request,” Edwards said. “Fortunately, the president finally backed down on his threat to this historic veterans’ bill, but only after it was clear that Congress would override a veto.”
Categories: Producer's Picks, White House, Health, Weekly Radio Address, Immigration, Budget, Veterans Affairs, Chet Edwards
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