Reform isn’t a race but a methodical quest to get it right

Sen. Warner and I agree we need to fix our broken immigration system; however, our approach to solving this issue differs. While he supports the Senate “Gang of Eight” immigration bill, I have many concerns about this massive bill. It doesn’t provide adequate border security and interior enforcement measures, thereby repeating similar mistakes made in past immigration reform bills that have contributed to the problems we face today.

If we want a lasting, workable immigration system for future generations, we need to methodically review each of the individual issues within the larger debate. We need to secure our borders and provide a robust interior enforcement strategy to maintain the integrity of our immigration laws. We must review our legal immigration system to make sure it’s working in the best interest of the United States. And we must also find a solution to bring those unlawfully in the U.S. out of the shadows.

The way forward on immigration reform is much like buying a new home. You wouldn’t buy a new home for your family by just surveying it from the outside. You would go room by room, conducting a thorough inspection and examine the foundation to ensure that it will keep your home on solid footing. You would look for any flaws and determine if they could be corrected before you finalize the purchase. That’s the common-sense approach. And the same should be said for any immigration reform legislation that’s produced by Congress.

Taking this step-by-step through the traditional legislative process will help ensure that the end result is a real solution that will fix our broken immigration system for good. We must not rush to legislate — we need to thoroughly examine each component so that we avoid past mistakes. Immigration reform isn’t a race; rather, it’s about getting it right.

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