GA 11 – Your Washington Desk:

Barr Responds to House Leadership Immigration Plan: “No Path to Citizenship”

Former Georgia Congressman Bob Barr, a candidate for the Republican nomination for the 11th District in Georgia, today issued the following statement in response to the most recent House Leadership plan on immigration:

“This week, House Republican leadership accelerated a push to develop support for immigration legislation including what appears to be an eventual path to citizenship for many of those here illegally. I continue to oppose any legislation that directly or indirectly provides a path to citizenship for illegal aliens.

“The first priority in any consideration of immigration legislation must be to secure the border. This is a matter of national security, and is a responsibility of the federal government under our Constitution. Pursuant to such authority, we have laws on the books that set forth the procedures whereby immigrants may become citizens; this is the only appropriate pathway to citizenship.

“For those already in our country who entered without lawful process, and only after our borders have been verifiably secured, a system of background checks and regular registration could be put in place enabling such persons to work; but in no event should this include a path to citizenship, and I will continue to oppose such measures once elected to the House of Representatives.”