Rep. Mike Lawler on the ‘Dignity Act’: ‘This Is an Earned Pathway to Legal Status’

Varney: “the White House is not a fan of what they call the latest amnesty proposal on immigration from Republicans. Watch this.”

[Clip starts]

Reporter: “Congresswoman Salazar introduced legislation that would get some illegal immigrants in the country a path to citizenship. 10 Republicans signed on to what she’s calling the Dignity Act. I’m curious what the White House’s position is on the legislation and if the president would veto this bill if it made it to his desk.”

LEAVITT: “From my understanding, the White House nor the president has actually read through this legislation. The president has made it very clear he will not support amnesty for illegal aliens in any way.”

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Varney: “OK, one of the Republicans supporting this bill is Congressman Mike Lawler, who joins us now. Let’s get straight at it, Congressman. Do you want a carve-out, a special deportation deal favoring farm workers?”

LAWLER: “Well, Stuart, thanks for having me. Let’s be clear, this is not amnesty. And as Karoline Levitt said, the administration has not read the bill and we agree, we don’t want amnesty. That’s why what we are saying is that there needs to be an earned legal status, not citizenship. Not even a green card. The objective is to get people out of the shadows. They have to affirmatively apply for the program. They have to pay back taxes. They have to pay a fine. They cannot collect any government benefits. They cannot commit a crime. They need to be working or going to school while on this seven-year program. And the objective is to actually fix our broken immigration system. President Trump was absolutely correct about the need to secure our border. He has effectively done that. There is more work to do. We need to deport criminal aliens, we need to deport those who have violated deportation orders. But with 20 million people living in the shadows and people engaged in our economy, people working in agriculture, people working in construction, people working in hospitality, the reality is, and the president has said, you’re not rounding everybody up and kicking them out. You have to deal with reality. And so, this broken system that has failed the American people for 40 years, Stuart — I’m 38 years old — it hasn’t been reformed since I was born. It is an absolute abomination what has happened. And it starts with what we allowed at our southern border, what we have allowed with the illegal immigration. This bill actually strengthens the penalties on illegal re-entry. It strengthens the penalties on those who violate the law. The objective, though, here is to actually stop this broken system from continuing. So, yes, we do need ag workers. We do need hospitality workers, we do need, for instance, doctors, Stuart. We have a shortage of doctors and nurses and home health aides, engineers. India is producing 6 to 1 more engineers than we are. So, there are real challenges that we have to deal with and doing nothing is not an answer.”

Varney: “I think it would be politically popular if the president did this kind of thing. I know at the moment he’s opposed to it, but maybe he could be swayed.”

LAWLER: “He’s opposed to — he’s opposed to amnesty. And so are we.”

Varney: “Yes.”

LAWLER: “That is why we’re coming up with language that is very specific. There is no amnesty. You don’t get citizenship for being here illegally.”

Varney: “Right.”

LAWLER: “This is an earned pathway to legal status so that we can actually start to fix the system.”

Varney: “Good. I mean, I think this is a way out of the dilemma and I hope it’s supported. Congressman, always a pleasure. Thanks very much for being with us this morning. Appreciate it, sir. Thank you.”

LAWLER: “Thanks, Stuart.”

Varney: “Sure.”