Speech #830189473

Mr. President. it is an anomaly to me. and I might say to millions of citizens of the United States. that we have bottled up the great ports of New York. San Francisco. and Boston with supersecurity regulation and enforcement which present an almost impenetrable barrier to foreigners who wish to enter the United States legally for a visit or for permanent residence. and yet on our Mexican border we find a picture of almost uncontrolled immigration. resulting in a situation fraught with dangers to our internal security. our economy. and the health and welfare of the many fine communities of the Southwest. I was greatly encouraged by the recent announcement by Attorney General Brownell of the new program he is initiating. beginning June 17. with respect to that portion of the Mexican border fronting on California and Arizona. The Attorney General has announced that a force of 491 border patrol officers from other places in the United States are being moved to the ArizonaCalifornia border to supplement the 256 border patrolmen already there. I was further encouraged to note that the Attorney General is recommending to the Congress two important legislative proposalsproposals that those of us who have been fighting this wetback situation for many years have suggested. The first of the proposals announced by the Attorney General would make it illegal for any employer knowingly to hire an illegal immigrant. This provision is. in my opinion. absolutely essential to any effective enforcement of our laws against illegal immigrants. The second proposal is already before the Congress. and would permit the seizure of any vehicle or vessel used to transport illegal aliens in violation of our immigration laws. I desire to assure the Attorney General of my full support of these two amendments to the immigration laws. If they are enacted. I believe it will be much easier to control the wetback influx.