Congressman Lamar Smith, Twenty First Congressional
District of Texas
WASHINGTON – Responding to a report in today’s New York Times that President Obama intends to pursue an immigration bill this fall, including a path to legalization for illegal immigrants, Ranking Member Lamar Smith (TX-21) issued the following statement:
“President Obama's approach appears to be nearly identical to the amnesty proposals that the American people roundly rejected just two years ago. The American people will need to stand up again to voice opposition to any proposal that grants amnesty to 12 million illegal immigrants, including seven million who hold jobs rightfully belonging to out-of-work citizens and legal immigrants.
“What kind of message is President Obama trying to send to jobless auto workers in Detroit, to construction workers in the West or to college students across America looking for their first jobs?
“The hard truth is that any proposal to legalize seven million illegal workers and another five million illegal immigrants legitimizes their illegal actions.
“No nation should force its citizens and legal workers to compete with illegal immigrants who will be allowed to stay and work. American families, including citizens and legal immigrants, must come first.
“Americans should call their elected representatives to voice their opposition to this or any form of amnesty.”
