June 12, 2007

1:54 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: I just had a good exchange with my fellow Republicans. We talked about a lot of issues. I briefed them on my trip to Europe. We talked about -- they were very interested in the Ahtisaari plan for Kosovo. They were interested in my conversations with Vladimir Putin on missile defense¹. We talked about the energy bill. We talked about the appropriations² process, and we talked about immigration.

Some members in there believe that we need to move a comprehensive bill, some don't, I understand that. This is a highly emotional issue, but those of us standing³ here believe now is the time to move a comprehensive bill that enforces our borders and has good workplace enforcement, that doesn't grant automatic citizenship⁴, that addresses this problem in a comprehensive way.

I would hope that the Senate Majority Leader has that same sense of desire to move the product that I do, or the bill that I do and these senators do, because now is the time to get it done. It's going to take a lot of hard work, a lot of effort. We've got to convince the American people that this bill is the best way to enforce our border. I believe without the bill that it's going to be harder to enforce the border. The status quo is unacceptable. I want to thank those senators on both sides of the aisle⁵ who understand the time is now to move a comprehensive piece of legislation. The White House will stay engaged.

Thank you very much.