John Cornyn

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) on immigration policy

08:18 AM CDT on Thursday, July 21, 2005

moderator:  Taking aim at a dysfunctional immigration system, Texas Senator John Cornyn and an Arizona colleague introduced legislation Tuesday that would give employers access to legal foreign workers by enticing illegal immigrants to come out of the shadows with the promise of temporary work visas and health insurance.

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Republican Sens. John Cornyn (right) of Texas and Jon Kyl of Arizona would allow foreigners to work two years in the U.S. before having to return to their homelands for a year.

The bill would allow foreigners to work two years in the U.S. before having to return to their homelands for a year. They could renew their visas twice, with the same one-year break in between. The measure also would significantly beef up border and interior enforcement, adding thousands of Border Patrol agents, immigration inspectors and billions of dollars for border surveillance technologies.

Senator Cornyn joins us this afternoon to talk about his proposal.

William McKenzie, Editorial columnist: Senator, Bill McKenzie here. Thanks for joining us. I know you have a lot going on with both immigration and the Roberts nomination.

DMN Editorial Board:  Your bill would allow immigrants to get a visa to stay here two years, but then they'd have to go back home for a year. Would the go-home portion deter immigrants from signing up for a visa? If so, wouldn't that give them an incentive to come here illegally?

Sen. John Cornyn:  According to a Pew Hispanic Center study, by a 4-to-1 margin, or 71% vs. 18%, survey respondents said they would participate in a program that would allow them to work in the US and cross the border legally on the condition that they eventually return to Mexico.

DMN Editorial Board:  Your bill requires illegal aliens to go home and then seek to return. Why would anyone do that willingly? It seems like some illegal aliens may decide to keep living in the shadows here.

Sen. John Cornyn:  Because a legal status provides the protection of the law. Plus, we provide them a way to return home in an orderly, humane fashion, and over the course of up to 5 years. In the meantime they can work legally in the US and travel to and from their home. Once they return home after the end of 5 years, or earlier should they choose, qualifying workers can promptly return to the US to participate in the temporary worker program or choose to apply for a green card. This bill provides them a way out of a black market system that cannot protect them, that may in fact exploit them, and which traps them in this country so they fear returning home lest they be detained and deported.

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Sen. John Cornyn chats with DallasNews.com readers about his immigration policy proposal.

William McKenzie, Editorial columnist: I am having a hard time seeing the incentive for someone to participate if they can't get citizenship. When some European nations tried the guest-worker program without offering citizenship, they ended up with a huge underclass living in the shadows.

Sen. John Cornyn:  That is what we have now, Bill -- a huge underclass living in the shadows. The status quo is not working and doing nothing is not an option. We are showing immigrants a way into the open and offering them the protection of our laws. This bill provides a series of incentives and sanctions designed to promote compliance with the law. For example, we are requiring employers to verify eligibility of workers, which will make it more difficult for people to work in a black market economy. We are also providing a way for qualified workers to work here legally for a time which has obvious benefits. There will also be additional federal agents enforcing our immigration laws. This is a matter of national security, since we know that potential terrorists can exploit this vulnerability in our current, broken system.

DMN Editorial Board:  Does your bill provide a pathway to citizenship?

Sen. John Cornyn:  This bill does not create a new or different path to green cards or citizenship, which might be seen as a reward for illegal conduct. It requires all immigrants to go through the normal legal process once they return to their country of origin.

Bob Wilson:  As a part of any negotiations with Mexico regarding immigration, why can't we insist that the Mexican government reimburse us for education and health care costs for its citizens?

Sen. John Cornyn:  Ideally we would. But Mexico has its own economic struggles that drive many immigrants to leave the country in order to provide for their families. The bill does require health insurance for workers to protect local taxpayers in the US from having to pay the cost of indigent health care.

F. Aleong:  The "war on terrorism" has no end date. The Dallas Morning News, on July 5, 2005, posed the following questions: a. What are (you) our politicians willing to ask of the rest of us? b. What are we willing to ask of ourselves? c. Isn't it time we as a nation faced up to our responsibilities to our men and women in uniform? Senator, how about a mandatory service program that makes military service for immigrants one of several options?

Sen. John Cornyn:  We welcome legal immigrants into our armed services and many serve with distinction. Some have died in service to their adopted country. I have sponsored legislation that would provide those legal immigrants who do serve with an expedited path to citizenship.

Dennis McC:  You mentioned in your statement on the floor last week that about 400 detainees during the previous year were found to have come from countries of significant interest, meaning having terrorist ties. How are such detainees treated, and is their detention in secure facilities? Surely we're not including those with potential terrorist ties in the catch and release programs?

Sen. John Cornyn:  We screen immigrants who are arrested before they are released to return on their own recognizance to make sure they do not appear on terrorist watch lists or criminal databases. My bill seeks to end the catch and release program by increasing use of expedited removal proceedings and adding 10,000 new detention beds over the next 5 years.

marallen:  What can the children of illegal immigrants expect from this bill? How about those who were brought here as toddlers, raised and educated here?

Sen. John Cornyn:  Tough issue. We have a means for families who are not legally here to return to their country of origin over a period of 5 years, and for qualifying persons and their families to return as legal permanent residents via the normal legal channels. Future temporary workers will be allowed to travel back and forth to their country during the term of their visa. Families will be able to visit on a temporary basis. The goal is to prevent immigrants from severing all ties with their home country thus making it more likely they will return when their work permit expires.

DMN Editorial Board:  Your bill calls for 10,000 new border agents, 10,000 new detention beds for homeland security department and 10,000 new agents to make sure businesses don't hire illegal aliens. That's a big expansion. What's the price tag? And how do we pay for it?

Sen. John Cornyn:  For too long the federal government has failed to live up to its responsibilities to provide operational security of our border. That is inexcusable in a post 9/11 world where terrorists can exploit this vulnerability. We provide a long overdue remedy to a serious problem. This comprehensive reform proposal focuses on security and enforcement, but also provides a meaningful temporary worker program needed to keep America's economy moving. That is all the time we have now. I've enjoyed being with you and answering your questions. Don't hesitate to contact me or my office if we may be of assistance. For more information about this and other important work in the Senate go to www.cornyn.senate.gov Thanks. JC

DMN Editorial Board:  Where do you and Sen. McCain agree about immigration reform?

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Republican Sen. John Cornyn chats from his office in Washington, D.C.

Sen. John Cornyn:  We agree about a lot. There is growing momentum for a solution to this problem and we both look forward to a good debate. But, my bill is more comprehensive, focuses on security, enforcement, employer responsibility, and a temporary "work and return" program. Unlike the McCain bill, my bill does not create a new legal path to residency or citizenship for those who have come to the US in violation of our immigration laws. Rather, it requires all immigrants to go through the same legal process.

buzzkill:  Does Senator Cornyn know Judge Roberts and what does he think of him?

Sen. John Cornyn:  He is an outstanding choice. The Senate confirmed him unanimously just two years ago to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. I hope he will be confirmed without partisan rancor to the US Supreme Court. Thanks for an easy question.