Frist Introduces Secure America's Borders Act; Won't Rule Out Guest Workers

"This evening I am introducing the Secure America’s Borders Act (SABA) to improve our nation’s security along our borders. In a post 9/11 world, border security is a matter of NATIONAL security. We need secure borders, and the simple fact is, right now, we don’t have them. SABA focuses specifically on border security, interior enforcement and employer enforcement," says Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) on his VOLPAC blog site.[Thanks to SteinReport readers for the tip] "Securing our borders is not an insurmountable problem. Americans have shown throughout our history, that if we focus our creativity, energy, resources and resolve, we can achieve anything. We must always remember that we are a nation founded by immigrants. But we are also a nation founded on the rule of law. And when people don’t respect our laws, it’s our job to enforce them." Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) who has introduced a guest worker amnesty proposal, called Frist's bill a "colossal mistake." Also see: FAIR's exclusive write-up of yesterday's Senate Judiciary hearing about the Specter amnesty bill.

New York Times coverage states: "Senator Bill Frist, the Republican leader, introduced a stringent border security bill on Thursday, rejecting pleas from senators in his own party who appealed for more time to finish legislation that would create a guest worker program for foreigners and a legal remedy for millions of illegal immigrants already in the United States."

Update: According to Congress Daily, Sen. Frist told reporters he wouldn't rule out attaching a guest worker proposal to his bill. "Frist told reporters he was committed to clearing a bill with guestworker and other immigration changes through the Senate. 'Just addressing tightening the borders doesn't address the problem,' he said."

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