Speech #830189556

I shall not take much time in a further discussion of this question. .since it has already been debated at some length in the consideration of amendment J. on which the Senatehas already voted. The amendment which I am now proposing provides for an increase of $3 million in the budget of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. from $39 million to $42 million. My previous amendment provided for an increase of $6.500.000. which I believe was completely justified and necessary under the present conditions with which the Nation is confronted. The Senate. in its wisdom. has decided not to support that amendment. but I have heard no arguments today on the floor of the Senate. either by the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Appropriations or by any other member of the committee. which in any way refutes the statement that the situation which I have described at some length constitutes a grave problem. I have heard nothing to indicate that there is an adequate force to cope with the problem of illegal immigration into the United States. which certainly is an urgent one. I have heard nothing to disprove for a moment the contention that unhappy and dangerous conditions which affect the economy. health. and welfare of our communities have been caused by the great influx of illegal immigrants. I have not heard anything which negates the statement that the illegal entrants pose a tremendously important challenge to our security. The only argument I have heard presented today in refutation of what Ihave said has been that advanced by the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Appropriations. The first premise of his statement was that a doubling of the amount which is allocated to the border patrol is too great. that in one step we should not provide an increase so great as $61/2 million. The second argument is that we should wait for a report from the Attorney General. Mr. President. there is no factor in the situation which is not well known. Witness after witness has appeared before the Committee on Appropriations and other committees. testifying to the evergrowing swarm of illegal. immigrants who are coming into this country over the Mexican border. Every witness who is familiar with the situation has testified to that effect. including the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization and a number of his assistants. There has been no denial of that fact at all. Nor has there been any denial whatever that the force which has been at the disposal of the Government to work in this indescribably important activity is totally inadequate.