Speech #930193730

Mr. Speaker. I am in favor of this legislation to prevent the transfer of 900 immigration inspectors to the Bureau of Customs for very compelling reasons. There are 433 official ports of entry into the United States. We have about 1.200 inspectors who in 1971 had to cope with 225 million personsincluding 91 million citizens. many more than oncepassing through these points. In 1971 alone. inspectorsand border patrolmenhad to contend with the arrival of 383.000 aircraft flights originating outside the United States and 90.000 ship arrivals. The importance of the task of our immigration inspectors is further illustrated by the number of illegal aliens who have gained surreptitious entry into the United States. Estimates vary from 1 to 2 million and up to 10 million. With this alarming manpower shortage in our border enforcement program. the INS can ill afford to lose 900 immigration inspectors to the Bureau of Customs. where the crossover of jurisdictions between the Justice and Treasury Departments will almost surely hamper our border enforcement activities.