Source: CENTER FOR IMMIGRATION STUDIES, 9/10/18

 Video and transcript are now available from the Center for Immigration Studies' Immigration Newsmaker conversation with Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) last Wednesday at the National Press Club. Rep. Smith discussed his 30 years of leadership on the immigration issue and the future of immigration legislation. 

Video and transcript: https://cis.org/Press-Release/Conversation-Rep-Lamar-Smith

Highlights from Rep. Smith:
• "As far as what the Democrats would do if they did win [the House], it would be amnesty #1, #2, and #3."
• "The activist groups themselves have become radicalized. They're not really interested in border security anymore. They're more pro-open borders. They're more pro-amnesty."
• "The American people support E-Verify. It gets the highest percent approval of any immigration reform...I'd be happy to have it come to the House floor as a standalone bill and see who'd oppose it."
• "I haven't seen any other president in 30 years as willing to enforce immigration laws as this president is."
• "I almost never see an accurate immigration story. There are a few reporters who present both sides. Most of the time, it's more of an editorial than news. It's generally pro-amnesty, pro-open borders. I really worry about how the coverage affects public opinion."
• [On reviving the Goodlatte bill] "It had something for everybody and we were just 20-odd votes short. I think we could get those 20 votes if we brought it up again and tried hard."