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Mexico City, May 25, 2006 – “A few minutes ago, the U.S. Senate voted on its proposal for immigration reform.
“President Bush has consistently sought a forward-looking and just solution to America’s immigration challenges. Under the President’s leadership, I am hopeful that we will arrive at a fair legislative proposal that will combine needed elements of security with a temporary worker program.
“Today’s Senate vote is a critical step toward the President’s vision—one which will benefit the people of both countries. While the Senate vote is critical, the process of reforming our immigration laws is far from complete. The Senate now will enter into discussion and coordination on this bill with the House of Representatives.
“Much has been said about the President’s decision to request the National Guard’s assistance to the Border Patrol. I want to reiterate that we are not ‘militarizing’ our border. The President’s responsibilities, first and foremost, are ensuring the safety of the American people, making our border safer, and ensuring the free and legal flow of people and commerce north and south. Having the National Guard perform many of the logistical duties – as they did following Hurricane Katrina, and has they have been doing for several years already with the Border Patrol – will allow our border officials to concentrate on their own specific duties.
“I strongly urge all Mexicans seeking jobs in the United States to apply for them legally, and not risk any more lives to dangerous desert crossings or to unscrupulous criminal polleros who promise dreams they cannot deliver. The death toll of those who have tried and failed to cross the hot, unforgiving desert is already far too high.”
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