Fighting for Florida

On April 17, my colleagues and I introduced immigration legislation. It marked a first step toward achieving the strongest border security and enforcement measures in U.S. history, modernizing our legal immigration system to unleash strong economic growth and job creation, and dealing with our undocumented immigrant population in a tough, but fair way that is directly linked to achieving several security triggers.

While I believe this legislation will accomplish these things, I am also confident that an open and transparent process – one that engages every senator and the American people – will make it even better. I believe this kind of open debate is critical in helping the American people understand what’s in the bill, what it means for you and what it means for our future.

During my time in the Senate, many of you have written to me about your concerns with our immigration system. Today, I want to share this video with you in which I outline what this legislation sets out to do. And most importantly, I want to invite you to share your thoughts and submit your ideas below, on ways we can improve it.

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Comments 401-405 of 5293

Rusty Garrett

05/05/2013 07:28 PM

Simply put....NO AMNESTY! I am tired of MY hard earned money in the form of taxes paying for ANYTHING that goes towards illegals. Fix the border problems, kick out illegals and their "anchors", and then let the immigrants that want to become American, legally, in. Is it really that hard to comprehend that the minute you start talking about amnesty, hundreds of thousands are jumping the border. Do you like/love this country? Then do your job and promote what Americans want, and that is NO AMNESTY! Thanks.
Chris Toms

05/05/2013 07:17 PM

A previous poster Jaydee said this the best so I feel it needs to be repeated "If a child is born in the US to a non-US citizen mother, they maintain the mothers citizenship until age 18. They are not US citizens until they are old enough to bear the responsibllity of that decision. At that point they may invoke their citizenship if they meet the appropriate criteria. (Complete High School, No criminal record, pass English Competency & have had no draw on the system). If they parent is in the US legally, they have the right to stay, otherwise they need to leave until they reach their majority and have met the appropriate criteria. This removes the "family separation" issue."
How high is the unemployment rate in America? This president we are stuck with runs across the border and tells them we are the reason they have drug cartels and gun problems (Thanks Holder) but I don't see him blaming them for our unemployment rate. How many illegal immigrants are a drain on our system where jobs and unemployment rates are concerned. And now you absurdly want to take someone who came here illegally and give companies a monetary incentive to be hired over me, a American-born citizen. I'm sorry, but is there something I did to offend you other than being born in America?

Anyone here illegally should not be given any government handouts. Period.
If a United States citizen does something illegal they have to pay the consequences. In many cases, they go to jail and guess what, they lose all government handouts. So why is it that if you are here illegally, you know against the laws of this country, that our government says "here, let me give you money and food and don't worry that you broke our laws!" I know I don't get a pass to break laws, so I follow the rules. That is what they are there for, remember? Perhaps all you politicians have forgotten that there are laws that the common people must follow.
No scholarships or grants should be given to ANYBODY here illegally. I know of plenty of people who would love to get a better education but cannot afford it. If there are any American citizens that need help they should receive it. They follow the rules and are penalized, yet you take someone from another country here illegally and give them more handouts. When will the citizens of this country matter to this government?

The reason we are stuck in this Obamacare nightmare is because of the drain to our healthcare system caused by the hoardes of illegal immigrants being given free healthcare.

What is it exactly that homeland security is doing to protect our "homeland"
I'm just an American citizen working hard to earn what I have and paying my taxes while following the laws of my country in search of the American Dream. Perhaps the problem is that the dream has changed. The American Dream is now to break as many laws as you can while expecting to receive everything for free.
Perhaps we should take a vote from all the American citizens and if you vote "yes" to your amnesty plan then you can tax that individual excessively to pay for illegals to break our laws. Then any of us that say "No" would not be expected to pay for handouts to anyone who has broken our laws.
John Lindner

05/05/2013 07:15 PM

Close the Boarder do not let any new illegals across.
Make all the Illegals go through the process legals had to take to get here.
Make them all learn English.
Make them all pay back taxes or fines and prove how long they have been here.
If they forge any part of the process deport them and deny them the chance to reapply for 10 years.
Nancy L. Moore

05/05/2013 07:11 PM

There is one big flaw in the bill. Parts of it depends on Eric Holder and Obama to enforce it. They will not.
Who is going to say the border is sealed. Janet Napolitano who says it is safe now. It should be done FIRST then enact the rest after a year. And Congress should be the one to vote and say the border is secure.
Donald Sanchez

05/05/2013 07:10 PM

No amnesty, only deportation. How can we get law abiding citizens when they broke the law to get here? We have far too many American poor and homeless that we need to help rather than allow illegal aliens to further tax our system.