"I did not knowingly hire any illegal aliens."

- Sholom Rubashkin, former chief executive officer and vice president at Agriprocessors, responding to assistant U.S. attorney C.J. Williams during Thursday's trial in Sioux Falls. The former manager of the Postville, Iowa slaughterhouse and son of company founder Aaron Rubashkin testified that he never knowingly violated federal immigration laws.

House Representative Zack Space wants foreign countries to foot the medical bills incurred by undocumented immigrants in the United States.

Yesterday, Space introduced the Preventing All Your Bucks from Aiding non-Citizens is Key (PAYBACK) Act. Under the new bill, 110% of the costs of treating undocumented immigrants would be withheld from any foreign assistance provided to another country. If the United States does not offer any foreign assistance, the country would be billed for 110% of the medical costs. If we happen to be in debt to the foreign country, the amount of the debt would be reduced by 110% of the costs of caring for the foreign country's citizen.

"I am absolutely opposed to taxpayer dollars being used to support benefits and services for illegal immigrants," Space said. "It is fundamentally unfair and outrageous to foot the bill for immigrants unlawfully in the United States. The bill I intend to introduce will allow taxpayers to be reimbursed for the cost of care and services provided to illegal immigrants in our hospitals."

All funds collected under the PAYBACK Act would be transferred to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for the purpose of strengthening border security.

What do you think of Space's proposed legislation?

Photo: Barry Williams/Getty Images

Finally, more than a year after Congress voted to repeal the HIV travel and immigration ban, the policy barring HIV-positive immigrants from entering the U.S. is finally coming to an end. The regulations were published Monday in the Federal Register, which will be followed by the standard 60-day waiting period prior to the new rule taking effect.

President Obama announced the elimination of the ban during last week's signing of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009. Following are the President's comments regarding the HIV travel ban. From the White House blog:

"Twenty-two years ago, in a decision rooted in fear rather than fact, the United States instituted a travel ban on entry into the country for people living with HIV/AIDS.

We talk about reducing the stigma of this disease yet we've treated a visitor living with it as a threat. We lead the world when it comes to helping stem the AIDS pandemic, yet we are one of only a dozen countries that still bar people with HIV from entering our own country. If we want to be the global leader in combating HIV/AIDS, we need to act like it.

And that's why, on Monday my administration will publish a final rule that eliminates the travel ban effective just after the New Year.

Congress and President Bush began this process last year, and they ought to be commended for it. We are finishing the job. It's a step that will encourage people to get tested and get treatment, it's a step that will keep families together, and it's a step that will save lives."

Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

"They've now fired a shot at my house while my wife was standing next to the car. It's become something else, and if anybody thinks that we're not engaged in a battle for the soul of this country right now, you're sorely mistaken."

- CNN's Lou Dobbs, commenting on the recent news that a gun shot struck his home earlier this month. Dobbs believes the attack is from groups opposed to his stance on immigration.

Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images