Sherman Denison Herald Democrat - Civic leaders, public say don't limit focus to border security

Sherman Denison Herald Democrat: Civic leaders, public say don't limit focus to border security

Lawmakers and members of the public said Wednesday that it is important that the focus of immigration laws not be limited to border security. "The balanced nature of the three issues, which are border security, a guest-worker ... program and thirdly, a path to legalization, these must all three be in a final legislation in order for it to be comprehensive and true reform," said Henry Cisneros, a former four-term San Antonio mayor and Housing and Urban Development secretary.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, and Charlie Gonzalez, D-San Antonio, attended the event, also sponsored by the Free Trade Alliance of San Antonio and Mexicans & Americans Thinking Together. Other lawmakers sent representatives. "My fear again is for the folks that want to push just the border security, because it's the most important thing to them, are not really interested in part two and part three," Cuellar said. "The moment they do that, that we go with that approach, then we lose the incentive" for the other two pieces.

The Senate and House have failed to resolve differences in conference committee between bills each has passed. The Senate approved a guest worker program and a possible path to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants while the House-approved bill focuses on enforcement and has no provision for illegal immigrants or future guest workers. A series of hearings in Washington and around the country have been held on the topic.

http://www.henrycuellar2006.com/public/press/story.php?storyid=23