Vice President Joseph R. Biden suggested to a crowd in Trinidad on Tuesday that it’s a shame the United States doesn’t give proper respect to nations of the world by allowing immigrants unfettered access to American citizenship.
“I believe in international relations, as in any relationship, it comes down to respect. Do we respect one another? And do we show respect? For my country, that means reforming our immigration system so the 11 million — 11 million — undocumented men, women and many children, who came through no choice of their own, can come out of the shadows and be full participants in American life because they are already in many cases participating and contributing to the growth and prosperity of my country, but required to constantly live in fear and live in the shadows,” he said, as posted on the White House Office of the Vice President’s website.
Mr. Biden was at the diplomatic center in the Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, to sign a trade agreement with Caribbean countries.
He also said: “It’s about time, and the president and I have been calling for this for a long time, even back in the days when he was a senator and I was in the Senate. It’s about time they’re afforded the dignity they deserve.”
Mr. Biden reiterated: “It’s about time — it’s about time we reform the system and afford them the dignity they deserve.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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