Hall says may write own immigration bill

By BRAD KELLAR
Herald-Banner Staff

June 20, 2007 12:41 am

— U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall (R-Rockwall) said he prefers a tougher immigration reform package than is scheduled to be considered by the Senate this week.
Hall, speaking during the annual Audie Murphy Days celebration this past weekend, said he may write his own bill, should the measure reach the House of Representatives.
“I am going to try and write an immigration bill that a great deal of people want me to write,” Hall said.
The Associated Press reported last week that a compromise package would grant millions of illegal immigrants lawful status while tightening border security and creating new measures for weeding out illegal workers at job sites. Championed by President Bush, it has sparked an outcry among conservatives who regard it as amnesty for lawbreakers.
Hall, who represents the Fourth District in Texas, which includes Hunt and Rockwall counties, said while he supports Bush in general, he is one of those who believe the bill grants amnesty for the immigrants.
“It never changes the fact that they broke the law to get here in the first place and they should not be awarded for that,” Hall said. “We first need to seal the border.”
Hall noted how several years ago, officials with E-Systems in Greenville (now L-3 Communications Integrated Systems) revealed a plan to electronically close the border between the United States and Mexico.
“It was much too expensive to do that then, but it may not be too expensive now,” Hall told a capacity crowd gathered inside the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum. “We have to stop the bleeding.”
Hall said he would be in favor of a guest worker program, but not for anyone currently living illegally in the United States.
“Earn your way in, because we need you, but you have to go home first,” Hall said.
Anyone applying for guest worker status would be required to get in line behind anyone who has already applied for a visa for entry into the United States. Hall said the influx of new, legalized workers might help boost funding for Social Security.
“Make taxpayers out of them,” Hall said.