Speech #920282716

Scandinavian Americans. Slovenian Americans. Greek Americans. and so many others. have made tremendous contributions to the growth and advancement of our countryand it is unfair to put legally admitted and illegal aliens in the same category. They are totally different. and this vast difference should be recognized. I do not advocate a ban on immigration--our immigrants are the ones who built America. What I do advocate is a halt to the entry of illegal aliens into our country. since it is they who are adversely affecting our unemployment situation. The legislation before us today aims to deter the illegal alien from coming by eliminating his incentive for comingemployment. It is currently not illegal for U.S. employers to hire illegal aliens. with the result that many employers do not attempt to ascertain the immigration status of prospective employees. It seems probable that most employers would be deterred from hiring illegal aliens if it were in violation of a Federal criminal statute. H.R. 16188 would make it unlawful to knowingly hire aliens who have not been lawfully admitted for permanent residence or who are not authorized to work while in the United States. The criminal provisions of the bill are not aimed at the employer who unwittingly hires an illegal alien or even at the onetime offender. A graduated threestep procedure for the imposition of sanctions against the employer would be established. consisting of a warning for the first offense. a civil penalty of not more than $500 per alien for a second offense. and a fine of $1.000 and/or 1year imprisonment for each alien for a third offense. The threestep civil and criminal penalty provision is expressly aimed at the employer who has established a clear pattern of violation.