Hatch’s Bill Picks Up Administration’s Slack on Immigration Enforcement

Kenneth Spence / February 12, 2011

Senator Orrin Hatch came to The Heritage Foundation on Friday to present his forthcoming immigration bill—“The Strengthening our Commitment to Legal Immigration and America’s Security Act.”  His remarks, and the content of his bill, are a step in the right direction on immigration and border security—given that President Obama used his State of the Union address to make another case for amnesty.

The bill was written in collaboration with members of Congress from states along the southwestern border. As Hatch said, it’s important to work with those who, “of all people, know what resources we need to deploy to accomplish the job.” It is founded upon the conviction that federal immigration law needs to be enforced, not ignored.  Senator Hatch emphasized the connection between liberty and the rule of law:  “Most Americans believe that our laws ought to be enforced….  That’s one of the things that’s kept us so free.”

The bill addresses key areas in which law enforcement (more…)