Speech #930114122

I am gratified that the Appropriations Committee. supported by the entire Senate. has seen fit to delete this unfortunate language. and I .wholeheartedly support this move. I urge the House conferees to accede to the Senate position and remove this language once and for all from our statutes. Also of grave concern to many Americans. particularly to friends of Mexico. was language providing for "acquisition of land as sites for enforcement fence and construction incident to such fence." There has been some misunderstanding as to what such funds are to be used for and I think it is appropriate to take this opportunity to clarify this language. a0097 The Immigration and Naturalization Service has assured me that such funding is simply to provide for an extension of border patrol capability to monitor the illegal entry of aliens Into the United States. Immigration statistics point out that the use of this electronic equipment has been highly successful in reducing the incidence of illegal border crossings. Better border patrol enforcement could have a significant influence on reducing drug smuggling and this country cannot afford to relent in Its efforts to get at the foreign sources of drug trade. A thoughtful editorial in the Houseton Post recently pointed out in regard to the electronic system thatIt would allow a better organized and more efficient apprehension of suspects. which would reduce the chances for violence or unexpected confrontations and would also reduce the demands on the limited manpower of the border services. It should perhaps be noted that these mobile electronic detection devices are detectors onlythere is nothing lethal or injurious about their function. and the only thing they can damage is the successful completion of an illegal operation. These mobile electronic sensor devices work to the mutual benefit of both Mexico and the United States. They help us to prevent criminal elements from infiltrating into Mexico while at the same time they help our border patrol and Bureau of Customs agents in detecting and apprehending persons engaged in illegal traffic on our long. unguarded border. Mr. President. it is propitious for me to reiterate that Mexico and the United States have a wideopen border. that is to say. we enjoy a policy. custom and system of long standing which permits practically free and unrestricted border crossings of our citizens through the many border stations where both nations provide the necessary services of immigration and customs to facilitate the international flow of commerce and visitors. It is the criminal element from both countries whom we seek to deter in their surreptitious attempts to enter either country in furtherance of their illegal goals. Mr. President. I am sure all of us concur in the desire of the border patrol to curb the entry of illegal aliens and the international drug traffic. However. I think it is of the greatest importance that a full and complete explanation be made to the Government of Mexico. The Government of Mexico has expressed concern over this electronic detection device and I urge the Department of State and the Immigration and Naturalization Service to render a complete clarification of the detection system. its mode of implementation. and its purpose. The United States enjoys with Mexico one of the longest unprotected borders in the world2.000 miles. Our tradition of peace along that border without the presence of armed troops is an enviable one.