SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina, told an audience of Texas business leaders that America needs to have a “welcoming” immigration system to remain competitive in the future, but that politically, comprehensive immigration reform must be done in pieces.
“As a nation, if we don’t have a rational immigration system, we’re cutting our economic throat,” said Sen. Graham at a luncheon hosted by the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “If we shut this country off from the rest of the world, we’re going to slowly die as a nation.”
Sen. Graham spoke candidly and passionately in an hour-long interview with Texas Tribune Editor Evan Smith in front of a capacity audience of more than 300. Smith set the stage by reciting recent U.S. Census numbers, which confirm that a Hispanic majority is coming to Texas. Hispanics now comprise 64% of the San Antonio population, and it is an example of what Texas and other U.S. cities will look like in the future, said Smith.
“The discussion on jobs, health care and immigration reform is extremely timely in San Antonio especially during these unique times we are living in,’ said San Antonio Hispanic Chamber President and CEO Ramiro A. Cavazos. “We know Senator Graham is a highly-regarded national leader and his visit to San Antonio is an opportunity to create further dialogue on economic issues.”
The South Carolina senator acknowledged that the Republican Party has a problem with Hispanic voters over the immigration issue. However, he added that, “I’m not going to create a bill to help my party with Hispanics; I’m going to create a bill to help America.”
Sen. Graham said the number one problem facing America in the future is a declining population and flat birth rate. However, he said that “citizenship has become the new amnesty” — that there is a growing view among Republicans that immigration reform cannot include a path to citizenship.
Sen. Graham favors comprehensive reform that encourages illegal immigrants to “come out of the shadows, quit being exploited, raise your hand, pay a fine for the law you violated, pay taxes, learn the language and get in the back of the line if you want to become a citizen. I like citizenship if it’s done the right way,” said Graham.
“Right now, we’ve got an irrational immigration system that can’t tell the difference between a guy who wants to fix roofs and a guy who wants to sell drugs,” said Graham.
The luncheon was one of a series hosted by the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce on national issues impacting San Antonio and Texas.
To see the event visit: www.localcolortv.com/clients/SAHCC
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Randy Escamilla, APR, 210-208-8208
Director of Communications
Cell: 210-913-3999
randye@sahcc.org
Source: Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
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