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A bipartisan group of eight leading senators — including Marco Rubio of Florida and New Jersey’s Robert Menendez — have reached a tentative deal...
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Media joined now my colleagues in saying I appreciate the incredible spirit.
That has been displayed in these negotiations leading to the statement of principles.
And for -- likely clearly.
Cents after someone has worked on this for years both in the house when I was there and in the senate.
I -- the most optimistic I have been in quite some time and I'm not pollyannish about that at all.
I recognized are difficult challenges but I just get -- sense.
A spirit and commitment.
That is far beyond what I've seen in some time.
And the American people support this in poll after polls when you take the elements of our principles.
They have said this is what we want to see in reform a broken system.
And there's a reason for.
If I want to secure the nation.
I cannot secure the nation unless I know who is here to pursue the American dream -- -- who might be -- to do harm.
And that I have millions of peoples in the shadows without coming forth and registering with the government I don't know what their ultimate purposes here.
So when we talk about the nation's security.
Reform is necessary for security as it is for the elements of our principles as -- relates to enhancing what we've already done.
In for the border secured.
When I talk about the nation's economy.
Reform is critical to the nation's economy.
The reality is is that even in a very tight economy.
There are all types of industries and our country.
Which had -- -- of the work of immigrants every day.
To achieve the economic goals of those industry.
If you got up this morning and had fruits for breakfast it was probably picked by the band back of an immigrant work.
If you in fact ahead vegetables.
For and -- -- -- lines you probably had a deep -- by the hands cutout hands of an immigrant worker.
If you slept in the hotel -- motel of the nation you probably had your room done by an immigrant workers.
If you are looking at some of the cutting edge technologies in our country.
You probably saw the ability of making America a more prosperous competitive place in the world but by the intellect of an immigrant workers.
So in so many dimensions.
This is about the economy.
Of our nation as well.
And finally two elements of this that I think are incredibly important within all the principles which I support.
Is the fact that we have seen in other countries in the world where there is no pathway to citizenship.
That there is instability.
The reality is is that.
This will be an -- -- but it will be a -- It will be one in -- you know those who have come to this country to achieve the American dream will come forth.
We'll must register with a government -- they'll lose their opportunities.
Will have to go through a criminal background -- Will have to pay any previous taxes they did not pay although many do pay to.
Taxpayer ID numbers or a Social Security number but nonetheless they will have to pay anything they didn't pay before.
The day you'll have to for the first time in US history.
Learn English to be able to even becoming permanent resident we require that the US citizenship we're never require that for permanent resident is a higher standard.
So those are some of the elements of a more arduous path but a real opportunity.
At the end of the and lastly as someone who is a big advocate of making sure that our economy is strong as -- results.
-- immigration reform but also that we preserve.
Eight core value of our society and our history and immigration law which -- family reunification.
And how that we do that in a way that is Smart and that promotes legal immigration.
Verses that has families divided for so long and then pressures -- to make choices about how do they become unified.
I believe we can take care of all of those issues.
