President Discusses Secure Borders in New Mexico

At the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia, N.M., President Bush witnessed the swearing-in of the new Commissioner for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Ralph Basham, and outlined his strategy for securing America's borders and reforming the nation's immigration laws. Addressing an audience that included Border Patrol agents in-training and Secretary Michael Chertoff, the President emphasized that "the United States is a nation of laws, and we're going to enforce our laws. We're also a nation of immigrants and we're going to uphold that tradition. And these are not contradictory goals. America can be a lawful society, and America will be a welcoming society at the same time."
press release