Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano Friday called for an overhaul of the nation's immigration laws to stress enforcement while also providing a path to legalizing the millions of illegal immigrants already in the country.
Napolitano, speaking at the Center For American Progress, a Washington think-tank, said that immigration reform must proceed in three ways simultaneously.
"That includes a commitment to serious and effective enforcement, improved legal flows for families and workers, and a firm but fair way to deal with those who are already here," she said. "We need all three aspects to build a successful system."
She added, "This approach has at its heart the conviction that we must demand responsibility and accountability from everyone involved in the system: immigrants, employers and government. And that begins with fair, reliable enforcement."
Napolitano noted that amnesty for illegal immigrants had not worked under President Ronald Regan in 1986, in part because the enforcement that was promised had never been fulfilled.
"That helped lead to our current situation, and it undermined Americans' confidence in their government's approach to this issue. That mistake can't happen again, and it won't happen again," she said. "The American people expect us to act."
She added, "Americans value our identity as both a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. Unfortunately, too many politicians and pundits have treated these values as contradictory. They are not, and we will pursue reforms that emphasize both."
At the same time, Napolitano said that conditions have changed dramatically since comprehensive reform efforts fell short in 2007, noting that the security of the Southwest border has been transformed from where it was then.
"The federal government has dedicated unprecedented resources to the Mexican border in terms of manpower, technology and infrastructure—and it's made a real difference," she said. "Compared to last year, seizures in all categories—drugs, smuggled cash, and illegal weapons—are up dramatically."
She added, "Just looking at bulk cash, Customs and Border Protection has seized at the border more than $34 million in cash being smuggled southbound so far this year—more than four times as much as at this time last year."
The government, Napolitano said, has also worked to strengthen its enforcement of policies to identify illegal aliens who are booked into local jails as well as to crack down on employers who hire undocumented immigrants.
"We have replaced old policies that merely looked tough with policies that are designed to actually be effective," she said. "Improved interior and worksite enforcement is a critical part of comprehensive immigration reform. We've demonstrated that when it comes to that issue, this Administration is committed to action."
She added, "At the border, in the interior of the country, and when it comes to legal immigration, the government has made significant strides to improve enforcement."
However, Napolitano said that the current laws are insufficient to the task of enforcement and Congress needs to take action.
"If we are truly going to fix a broken system, Congress will have to act," she said. "Reform legislation would provide lasting and dedicated resources at our borders, and provide some critical legal tools that we don't currently have to combat smuggling organizations."
She added, "For example, we need tougher anti-smuggling laws in dealing with the aggravated crimes smugglers commit, including assaulting law enforcement officers, endangering children, threatening relatives and abandoning people in the desert— hundreds of whom succumb to death from heat and lack of water."
Napolitano also stressed the need to deal with the millions of illegal immigrants already in the country.
"We will never have fully effective law enforcement or national security as long as so many millions remain in the shadows," she said. "Making sure these people become full taxpayers and pay their fair share will both benefit our economy and make it easier to enforce the laws against unscrupulous or exploitive employers."
She added, "A tough and fair pathway to earned legal status will mandate that illegal immigrants meet a number of requirements—including registering, paying a fine, passing a criminal background check, fully paying all taxes and learning English."
Legal immigration procedures also need to be adjusted, Napolitano said, on both moral and economic grounds.
"We need to revise our current provisions for legal migration to help assure a legal workforce in cases where businesses can't find Americans to fill their jobs. These changes will make our economy stronger and more prosperous at all levels," she said. "Our immigration system is outdated where families are concerned, and we need to modernize and streamline the laws governing this process."
She added, "No one should have to wait in a line for years in order to reunite with a spouse or a young child."
President Barack Obama is committed to the task of immigration reform, Napolitano said, adding that she believed Congress would take up the issue sometime early next year.
"We are both a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. This is ingrained in our national character and it has helped make America the great nation that it is," she said. "But we must modernize our laws for the 21st century so that this vision can endure. This is a task that is critical, that is attainable, and that we are fully committed to fulfilling."
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June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.