This transcript is automatically generated
President George W.
Bush is now voicing his support for immigration reform this week and is the latest high profile supporter crossing party lines to -- yet.
On the current debate on Capitol Hill over controversial immigration bill -- urging lawmakers to find what he calls quote a positive resolution.
As Republicans remain divided on the issue after -- said -- that comprehensive immigration reform bill is now facing opposition in the GOP controlled House of Representatives.
Senator -- bitter is voted against the plan and he's joining us now -- sir great to have you here.
Thank you -- to be rescued.
Let me ask you first up what's your reaction to former President Bush's support for immigration reform at a time.
When many Republicans are odds over what kinds of reforms are needed.
I'm not surprised the chorus he supported a similar plan 2007 which I help defeat on the senate floor so it.
It's not surprising anyway you know the house is drafting up as you know its own bill which will contain a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants -- we're hearing.
And this aspect of the -- -- something that you were very concerned about in the senate version since you saw this as amnesty.
Do you predict an uphill battle in the house.
Well I think what the house is looking at it several bills and that's a big big difference a step by step approach.
So that we do enforcement first I just promise and again.
But do it verify it see it feel it.
Validated verified trust but verify so that is a very very different approach I'm still looking to see the details -- the house bills.
But certainly broad brush I liked that very different approach.
You know border enforcement never really amounted to much after the immigration reform efforts back in 1986.
What measure -- means should be in place that would satisfy Republican lawmakers like yourself -- are calling for tighter border security.
Well only hit the nail on the head you know we've been through this promise before amnesty now enforcement may be later.
That has never worked we shouldn't try it again so fundamentally we don't just need promises of enforcement again.
For the fifth or tenth or twentieth time.
We need to enact that enforcement and see it.
And validate -- and verify it before we move on to anything else and that's what we're trying to accomplish something that's the general position in the house.
Specifically though what does that you would like to see when it comes to border enforcement.
Well there are three big big areas first of all is.
The border you know.
Personnel -- saying on.
Other.
Things.
Surveillance.
On night vision all on the border but it's not just the border we usually talk about the -- workplace enforcement.
Is just as important so we need to expand and make mandatory the and then also something that's often lost in the discussion very very important.
Our system of checking entry and exits with regards to visas.
That I had an amendment on that on the senate floor -- member of the 9/11 terrorist entered the country with -- Visas they overstayed their visas we don't have a system to really catch that.
Flag that do anything about it so that's very important to -- and enforcement in general those of the three big big areas we'll stakes remain very high -- and I know you're keeping.
Close tabs on the developments in the house and we shell as well so thank you so much for joining us today.
Banks have a very much.
President George W.
Bush is now voicing his support for immigration reform this week and is the latest high profile supporter crossing party lines to -- yet.
On the current debate on Capitol Hill over controversial immigration bill -- urging lawmakers to find what he calls quote a positive resolution.
As Republicans remain divided on the issue after -- said -- that comprehensive immigration reform bill is now facing opposition in the GOP controlled House of Representatives.
Senator -- bitter is voted against the plan and he's joining us now -- sir great to have you here.
Thank you -- to be rescued.
Let me ask you first up what's your reaction to former President Bush's support for immigration reform at a time.
When many Republicans are odds over what kinds of reforms are needed.
I'm not surprised the chorus he supported a similar plan 2007 which I help defeat on the senate floor so it.
It's not surprising anyway you know the house is drafting up as you know its own bill which will contain a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants -- we're hearing.
And this aspect of the -- -- something that you were very concerned about in the senate version since you saw this as amnesty.
Do you predict an uphill battle in the house.
Well I think what the house is looking at it several bills and that's a big big difference a step by step approach.
So that we do enforcement first I just promise and again.
But do it verify it see it feel it.
Validated verified trust but verify so that is a very very different approach I'm still looking to see the details -- the house bills.
But certainly broad brush I liked that very different approach.
You know border enforcement never really amounted to much after the immigration reform efforts back in 1986.
What measure -- means should be in place that would satisfy Republican lawmakers like yourself -- are calling for tighter border security.
Well only hit the nail on the head you know we've been through this promise before amnesty now enforcement may be later.
That has never worked we shouldn't try it again so fundamentally we don't just need promises of enforcement again.
For the fifth or tenth or twentieth time.
We need to enact that enforcement and see it.
And validate -- and verify it before we move on to anything else and that's what we're trying to accomplish something that's the general position in the house.
Specifically though what does that you would like to see when it comes to border enforcement.
Well there are three big big areas first of all is.
The border you know.
Personnel -- saying on.
Other.
Things.
Surveillance.
On night vision all on the border but it's not just the border we usually talk about the -- workplace enforcement.
Is just as important so we need to expand and make mandatory the and then also something that's often lost in the discussion very very important.
Our system of checking entry and exits with regards to visas.
That I had an amendment on that on the senate floor -- member of the 9/11 terrorist entered the country with -- Visas they overstayed their visas we don't have a system to really catch that.
Flag that do anything about it so that's very important to -- and enforcement in general those of the three big big areas we'll stakes remain very high -- and I know you're keeping.
Close tabs on the developments in the house and we shell as well so thank you so much for joining us today.
Banks have a very much.