Washington, D.C. —
Senator John Thune (R-SD) has introduced an amendment to the pending immigration bill that would require strict border security measures to be funded and implemented prior to the granting of any probationary legal status to aliens. This amendment would prioritize the securing of U.S. borders before any benefits are given to undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S.
"The immigration bill before the Senate is unacceptable as it stands. Of the many flawed provisions, the most glaring is the failure to make securing our borders the first priority," Thune said. "Despite what proponents of the bill say, the bill in its current form would give illegal aliens immediate legal status before any further border security measures are deployed.
"The safety of all Americans is paramount, and the first step to ensuring our safety is to secure the border. My amendment would make this priority crystal clear.
"Our nation's dysfunctional immigration system has already allowed millions of individuals to enter our country illegally, but we won't fix a flawed system with a flawed bill.
"We are a nation of immigrants, but we must first be a nation of laws. We need to make sure that those who have broken the law aren't treated better than the millions of people around the world who have legally stood in line and played by the rules."
Details of the Thune Amendment:
"The immigration bill before the Senate is unacceptable as it stands. Of the many flawed provisions, the most glaring is the failure to make securing our borders the first priority," Thune said. "Despite what proponents of the bill say, the bill in its current form would give illegal aliens immediate legal status before any further border security measures are deployed.
"The safety of all Americans is paramount, and the first step to ensuring our safety is to secure the border. My amendment would make this priority crystal clear.
"Our nation's dysfunctional immigration system has already allowed millions of individuals to enter our country illegally, but we won't fix a flawed system with a flawed bill.
"We are a nation of immigrants, but we must first be a nation of laws. We need to make sure that those who have broken the law aren't treated better than the millions of people around the world who have legally stood in line and played by the rules."
Details of the Thune Amendment:
- Would prohibit the granting of probationary legal status to illegal aliens before certain border security and other measures are implemented.
- Represents an effort to tighten the trigger requirements by eliminating the exception for "probationary benefits" and ensuring that no probationary benefit for illegal aliens can be issued until the trigger mechanisms in this bill are implemented.