Speech #760214625

CARTER. I visited El Paso. Tex.. for the express purpose of securing some firsthand knowledge regarding the effectiveness of our border patrol on the Mexican border and to look into several matters connected with the illegal entry of Mexicans into the United States. When I tell you gentlemen that we are spending well over $500.000 per year in maintaining. in our various Federal penal institutions. Mexicans who have been apprehended and convicted on a charge of being in this country illegally. it will be seen that it is a problem that should have the serious study and consideration of every Member of this House. I have come to the realization. as a result of the investigations I have made of this immigration problem. that until we contrive some means of registering all noncitizens in our country and prescribe requirements. such as fingerprinting. that will be effective in establishing positive identification of all such noncitizens. we are never going to successfully cope with the problem of properly enforcing our immigration laws. Therefore I want to take this occasion to commend the statement made by the Attorney General a few days ago in which he recognized the impelling need for just such a form of identification of the aliens in our country as I have suggested. If we are to ferret out those people in the United States who are accepting the benefits and liberties that flow from their residence here and at the same time are working surreptitiously and treasonably to undermine our democratic spirit and institutions. we must have some way of making positive identification or registration of them. Such a requirement is as much in the interest of the lawabidiing. patriotic aliens as it is against the interest of those who are endeavoring to destroy. by insidious means. our democratic ideals and processes. I am confident that the transfer of the Immigration and Naturalization Service to the Department of Justice will permit of a much closer liaison between those engaged in apprehending aliens In this country illegally and those charged with the duty of prosecuting such lawbreakers. and I am likewise confident that the House will see fit to approve of this projected transfer.