Thread by @CIS_org

In one hour, CIS will be hosting an immigration newsmaker conversation with @RepGoodlatte.

You can watch the event live: cis.org/Press-Release/…

The live conversation with @JessicaV_CIS and @RepGoodlatte is now beginning:

facebook.com/CenterforImmig…

Rep. Goodlatte: "Legislation I introduced went a long way to closing asylum loopholes, addressing DACA, funding the wall, and E-verify. I thought it was a great bill. Unfortunately it got tangled in house politics...If leadership worked to get us the votes, it would've passed."

"There's been no discussion of the fact that perhaps 40% of the people here illegally entered lawfully, and simply overstayed their visa. The wall is important, but it doesn't address that. We need greater attention for interior enforcement. That's why E-Verify is so important."

.@RepGoodlatte on cutting chain migration: "Once a child can petition to bring their parents here, their parents can then petition to bring their other kids, and it quickly spirals out."

"We don't need the wall coast-to-coast. But in a place like San Diego, when it gets foggy, they can cut out a section of the current fence in a matter of seconds and get through in the fog...We need the resources for better enforcement mechanisms in place. " @RepGoodlatte

"I support the end to the per-country caps [for green cards] because it means people from some countries have much longer waits. It means people from places like Great Britain might go up some, and from other countries it'll go down" @RepGoodlatte

Jessica: "Why not pair [the end of per-country caps] with provisions that would've protected American workers?"

Rep. Goodlatte: "I'd much prefer that. But the President really wants money for the wall...I wish he'd also ask for asylum reform, or an end to catch-and-release."

On sanctuaries: "It makes it much more dangerous for ICE agents--because now they have to go find these criminal aliens out in the community, rather than just pick them up from jail...It creates a risk for the whole community that these people will commit additional crimes."

"I'm going to introduce legislation to say that a district court judge cannot issue a nationwide injunction. It's ridiculous that a judge in Hawaii can block an immigration law that affects the whole country... It's none of his business. We don't have people swimming to Hawaii."

On the Dems passing immigration bills when they take over:

"I am dubious since when they were in the majority previously, they did virtually nothing on immigration. That was partially due to the position of some Democrats that unless they can do everything, they'll do nothing."

Is the current level of immigration too high, low, or right?

"It's too high. If I could write these laws myself, I'd have the levels fluctuate based on the economy and labor demands. I'd be happy to see things go down when there's an abundance of workers. " @RepGoodlatte

"This isn't just about immigration law. It's about respect for the law generally. If you can flout these immigration laws as so many people are doing--like we're seeing at the border--then you're going to flout other laws as well."

"When they did amnesty in 1986, half the people in agriculture working illegally left the farms. It created a huge labor crisis. And guess how they solved it? Yup--more illegal workers." @RepGoodlatte