Speech #930121033

Also notable is the extent to which officials at all levels have been willing to look at need rather than entitlement in handing out welfare funds. Our subcommittee staff has developed information as to lack of communication equipment. motor vehicles in serious state of inefficiency. inadequate office machinery and other deficiencies in the tools needed by INS to function properly. INS and Border Patrol personnel have volunteered information to the subcommittee and provided substantiation for their allegations concerning voluminous complaints that have never been acted upon. cessation of area control activities because there are no facilities for detention and no money for deportation. Only this morning the subcommittee staff received photostatic documentation of a case in which permission for entry into the United States was given. on August 21. 1973. to an alien subject who had previously served a prison term in this country for attempted rape. he had been charged with bigamy while here illegally but had fled the country before prosecution and he had been the subject of deportation proceedings following illegal entry into this country 11 times since 1946. Furthermore. the Public Health Service report on this individual indicated that he had an active case of syphilis. Although I have not decided how I will vote on H.R. 981 on final passage. I am not strongly persuaded as to the propriety of considering such legislation as this when no visible effort is being made at any level of government to stem the tide of illegal aliens whose presence in this country threatens the integrity of the comparatively very few of their countrymen who have taken the time and gone through the trouble to enter the United States legally. It may well be that. to those classes of aliens who will benefit by H.R. 981. this is highly important legislation. But on this side of the border where new horror stories are developing everyday in connection with the growing presence of illegal aliens. it seems to me that we are dealing with the wrong aspect of the immigration problem.