Idaho Republican Congressman Raul Labrador appeared on an immigration panel Thursday, the opening of the three-day Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland.
A 5-minute clip of Labrador is available on the congressman’s YouTube page.
Spokesman Michael Tate also release quotes from the talk, which follow:
“One area we as conservatives need a grander vision on is the way forward to reforming and modernizing our immigration system.”
“We’re a country where there are no barriers to success and no boundaries to achieving our full potential. It doesn’t matter who you were born as, or who you were born to. Your dreams have a chance. That’s attracted people here from around the world to live and build a better life.”
“It’s time our immigration system pushed us into the future, not held us back.”
“Our conservative principles are eternal… limited government, personal responsibility, and a strong commitment to free enterprise and liberty.”
“We have ideas that work. We have ideas that can win. We just have to work to make that happen.”
Rep. Labrador said securing the border and effective enforcement has to happen first before any ‘reform’; however, he supports the immediate and irrevocable legalization of 11-20 million illegals currently in this country. Does he not realize that legalization is an immense immigration ‘reform’ that will happen before the border is secure? Legalization gives illegals exactly what they broke the law to get. Legalization does not ‘honor the rule of law’, and, in fact, undermines respect of law that is the foundation of a free society. Legalization will encourage more illegal immigration, will result in increased competition for jobs with low-skill Americans, will cost millions in welfare, and will threaten our prosperity. Oh, and by the way, regarding Labrador’s comments on high-skill foreign students being forced to leave after graduation…..Not True! 65% of all foreign doctorate recipients and 90% of Chinese and 80% of Indian doctorate recipients stay in this country. We have a high tech/scientist surplus in this country; we do not need to bring in more high-skill foreign students that will flood the market, unfairly increase competition for American scientists, and discourage American students from entering STEM fields. The only reason many businesses want either low-skill or high-skill guest-worker programs is they are not willing to pay decent wages when they can import someone to do the job for less.
It’s only a quorum of idiocy protocalls, not like it’s a bunch of people who will be anywhere in ten years.
Let them talk to themselves.