24 Quotes by Ira Mehlman

That's the reason we have large-scale illegal immigration: because we send a clear message that there are no negative consequences to breaking our immigration laws. And if you persevere long enough, you are going to get what you want.

Most Americans feel it doesn't make any sense for people to come into the country illegally, give birth and have a new U.S. citizen. But the advocates for illegal immigrants will make a fuss; they'll claim you're punishing the children, and I suspect the leadership doesn't want to deal with that.

Why admit people with TPS if you know they're never going to leave.

The reason we set limits in the first place is because it has an impact on everyone else. Changing it will change the illegality, but it doesn't change the impact. Immigration affects labor markets and social institutions.

We think this could be a major, precedent-setting case.

You have to create conditions that encourage people to deport themselves. We didn't get to 12 million people overnight. We're not going to get back down overnight.

There is no reason to flood the labor market with more unskilled workers when we have a more than ample supply in this country.

The whole thing is a sham. At the end of nine years all these people are going to thank us and go home?

People should feel uncomfortable about breaking the law. If we have a policy that is demonstrated to be consistent, many people will get the message and decide that remaining here in the United States illegally isn't worth the price that they have to pay.