Speech #920117948

I want to discuss a bill which I have introduced that is designed to help prevent aliens who have entered the United States illegally from taking jobs away from U.S. citizens and legally admitted permanent residents. The bill has what I consider a unique approach. All previous proposals along CXVII2343Part 28 this line would make a criminal out of the alien and also the employer who knowingly hires an illegal alien. with fines and imprisonment as a deterrent. Maybe he should be considered a criminal. but in my opinion. that is not an effective way to proceed. From a practical standpoint. criminal convictions are almost impossible to obtain. There are 3.500 border patrol agents. immigrant inspectors. and investigators in the Immigration and Naturalization Service. They are to be commended for apprehending as many illegal immigrants as they do420.000 in fiscal 1971. More Immigration Service staff is not the answer. however. We need the active. dedicated cooperation of the employer. and my bill is designed to obtain that cooperation. I do not mean this to be an attack on Mrs. Banuelos. the Presidents appointee to the Treasurers post. who received so much recent press coverage when a number of illegal aliens were picked up working at her Los Angeles plant. Actually. I first introduced this bill on September 21long before that case came to light.