Speech #910020716

New Mexico. and Texas. Something must be done in the interest of these workers and the wellbeing of their families. A second source of lowwage labor is found among Mexican nationals who enter the United States as bona fide visitors. usually on 72hour passescommonly known as "white cards." Statistics compiled by the Immigration and Naturalization Service are not adequate to gage the full extent of employment among these visitors. Nevertheless. it is estimated that some 1.250.000 white cards are currently in use. and that more than 200.000 new cards are issued annually. Because the cards are undated and no I record of entry is made at the border. Mexican nationals find them an extremely convenient vehicle to enter the United Statesand with impunity acquire employment. remaining for extended periods of time in violation of their limited ) status as 3day visitors. Moreover. there are no effective statutory or administraf tive regulations to deter employers from - knowingly hiring the alien visitors. In - fact. as it now stands. the Immigration e. and Nationality Act expressly facilitates - their employment. . Section 274 of the act. which prohibits s the harboring and concealing of aliens. e contains this proviso: For the purposes of this section. employit ment. including the usual and normal pracn tices incident to employment. shall not be 0 deemed to constitute harboring. .e During fiscal year 1968. Immigration and Naturalization Service officers located nearly 26.000 deportable aliens. nearly d all for illegal employment. among white I- card holders in the United States. ly I share the view of many. however. that e- this figure is probably an unfair reprei- sentation of the number of white carders er actually employed. But. again. regardless ig of their number. the 26.000 figure clearly underscores a problem in the illegal use T6 of white cards by Mexican nationals. k- And the number of those apprehended is rising annually. The Immigration and a- Naturalization Service recognizes this a- disgraceful situation. But I fail to understand why stronger remedial action is not being taken. The longterm progress of our border communities. and the immediate wellbeing of American workers and their families. demands it. Finally. the reservoir of lowpaid Mexican labor is substantially augmented by an undetermined number of illegal entrantsthe socalled "wetbacks." There Is agreement in nearly all quarters that this has once again become a serious problem. An indication is seen in the growing number of illegal entrants located by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. In fiscal year 1963. the number stood at 20.797. In the last fiscal year it reached 117.184.