Lou Barletta Quotations

I saw my city gripped by fear. Because of violent acts committed by illegal aliens, my residents were afraid to shop - or even drive - on certain streets.

The federal government has failed us, so we, the elected officials of small-town America, are getting tough with illegal immigration.

In a city that is barely getting by with its small budget, something like illegal immigration can be the difference from being able to provide the level of public service that people expect.

I love the new legal immigrants; they want their kids to be safe just like I do.

Mayors do not have that authority to pick and choose what laws they're going to enforce.

Big government doesn't work! It just doesn't work!

I just want to keep America safe. Who could be against that?

I'm Lou Barletta, and I'm a small town defender.

People know that I'm going to do what's right.

Thousands of cities in America are crying out for relief from the burden of illegal immigration. Small towns like mine can no longer wait for Washington.

It's amnesty that America can't afford. We have to stop people from coming in illegally. This will be a green light for anyone who wants to come to America illegally and then be granted citizenship one day... The majority that are here illegally are low-skilled or may not even have a high school diploma. The Republican Party is not going to compete over who can give more social programs out. They will become Democrats because of the social programs they'll depend on.

I've been a voice for many people.

You wouldn't replace your carpet at home if you still had a hole in the roof...We're talking about any time you start waving a carrot such as American citizenship without securing the borders, that number [of undocumented immigrants] that we have today I believe will double or triple.