WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, voiced concerns about an immigration reform bill being proposed by the "Gang of Eight” senators, saying it would stifle the economy and depress wages for working-class Americans.
Sessions said during an appearance Sunday on ABC's "This Week" that the legislation – still in draft form – should do more to address border security before granting amnesty to illegal immigrants.
"I really respect the work of the gang of eight. But they have produced legislation…that will give amnesty now, legalize everyone that's here effectively today and then there's a promise of enforcement in the future,” Sessions said. "It's logical that if you bring in a massive supply of low-wage workers, you're going to pull the workers down."
Sessions said that even a good law is ineffective if it is not enforced.
“Even if you pass laws today that appear to be effective, it doesn't mean they're going to be enforced,” he said. “And we have in this administration, a failure to enforce. So that's a big deal right now.”
Sessions sparred with U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., over how the bill might impact the U.S. economy.
Sessions said the bill would flood the job market with low-skill, low paid workers.
“I think it's incumbent on Republicans, Democrats, and every one of us to ask what is going to happen to working Americans whose wages have been falling since 2000 who are unemployed at a very high rate,” Sessions said. “It will impact them adversely.”
Schumer countered that illegal workers already are pulling down U.S. wage rates and noted that American labor groups are supporting the proposed legislation.
"The bottom line is very simple, the number of illegal people will greatly decrease," Schumer said. "They will have to be part of our society, they will not be able to bring down wages, work for less than minimum wage."
Schumer said the immigration law would actually improve the economy, saying it would "be a real opportunity for Americans to gain more jobs."
Here's video of the exchange between Sessions and Schumer on ABC's "This Week," or click here to view it on your mobile device: