Speech #910020846

This is the "commuter" in the true sense of the word. It would be my hope that in implementing this bill. if enacted into law. there would be some period of phasing it into effect so that it would not suddently impose a difficult burden on the aliens involved. Section 2 removes a provision in the Immigration and Nationality Act that exempts from criminal sanctions individuals who willfully and knowingly employ aliens who have entered the United States illegally. Such an amendment is necessary since the number of immigrants illegally entering the United States from Mexico is rapidly rising. For instance. the U.S. Border Patrol apprehended 115.000 illegal aliens last year. The majority of these illegal entrants come into the United States in hope of finding agricultural and factory employment. Many employers lure them into the United States to obtain inexpensive labor. Criminal sanctions against such employers would help stop the high number of illegal ertrants. Before closing. I must emphasize in no way does section I of this bill ban the use of green cards or terminate the commuter system. What it would attempt to do is to provide that holders of green cards will not use what is a continuing privilege in such a way as to depress wages and working conditions within the United States. The combined effect of both sections will be to substantially improve working conditions in our border areas. We feel it is necessary legislation.