Congressman Tom Tancredo

Immigration reform is perhaps the most important challenge facing America. How America resolves this challenge will not only determine what kind of country America will be, but whether or not America will remain a country at all.

We see more and more Americans who are willing to speak up at every opportunity and express their outrage at the fact that our borders are porous and we have lost control of our immigration process. As a result, many of my colleagues have “seen the light” because they felt the heat. We are, for the first time since I have been in office, on the offensive and our opponents are trying to figure out a way to stop us.

Unfortunately, there are folks on the fringe of both sides of these debates who, because of their first amendment right of free speech, cannot be stopped from spewing their venom in an attempt to use the success of our efforts to help create credibility and support for theirs.

The immigration issue has nothing to do with race, ethnicity, religion, or country of origin insofar as I am concerned. Rather, it is a simple question of numbers, costs and perhaps most importantly, social and cultural cohesion.

I want to appeal to all those who have labored so hard in this vineyard and done so out of a concern for our country’s future, to join me in denouncing those who have only hate in their hearts and a perverted view of race in their minds.

America has been able to assimilate millions who spoke no English, worshiped at unfamiliar altars and were of all skin colors -- and we can continue to do so provided that we do two things. First we, as nation must move away from the self destructive philosophy of radical multiculturalism that exacerbates the problem of the balkanization of America. Second we need to confer citizenship only on those who are desirous of severing their political ties to their country of origin and who exhibit a genuine commitment to becoming American in every sense of the word. Among other things this means to accept our system of governance and the fact that we are an English speaking nation. Coming to the United States is not a right, and staying here carries with it a duty to embrace and support the fundamental values that bind our country.

There are many things that pull us apart in this country; we need something that binds us together in order to defend a way of life that faces serious threats to its existence.

To do this successfully, we must never embrace the language or philosophy of the racists and bigots who pose as patriots.

Tom Tancredo

Chairman of Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus

Note: This independent statement is not an endorsement of this Web site or the PUA by the Congressman.