| State of Union 2007: A Renewed Call for Immigration Reform
Spalding, Matthew; Carafono, James Jay
Heritage Foundation, WebMemo#1327, January 2007, online edition, 2p
"In his State of the Union address, President Bush called for "an immigration system worthy of America—with laws that are fair and borders that are secure." He restated his dedication to reducing illegal immigration and creating legal opportunities that will keep the U.S. economy growing. And he spoke of the need to promote assimilation, making the legal path to citizenship a true lifelong commitment to American principles and the rule of law.The President was right when he said that only a comprehensive solution to the challenges of border security and immigration reform will do; unless all the issues are addressed—illegal border crossings, unlawful presence in the U.S., security and criminal threats, the fiscal burdens on state and local governments, and the undermining of civil society—the consequences of today's immigration policy will continue to escalate. But while the Administration's proposal for comprehensive reform contains several positive elements—upon which the President must insist for his approval—it still contains a fundamental flaw. Matthew Spalding, Ph.D, is Director of the B. Kenneth Simon Center for American Studies, and James Jay Carafano, Ph.D,is Assistant Director of the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies and Senior Research Fellow for National Security and Homeland Security in the Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, at The Heritage Foundation.
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