Speech #930198509

Despite the dangers and hazards of crossing the border in such fashion. aliens continue to pay large fees for assistance. The Service in 1973 secured an agreement to prosecute 30 major commercial smuggling operators in Chicago and a $3.000.000 smuggling ring. the largest operation ever uncovered by the United States. was disbanded after a successful 3year probe and investigation by Service officers. Though the primary purpose of the Service is immigration :aw enforcement. the past year saw Service officers responding to public emergencies. For example. officers assisted local authorities in California in evacuating a section of a city which was faced with a munitions explosion. Furthermore. officers seized over 93 tons of marijuana valued at more than $19.6 million. Due to the Services cooperation with Federal. State. local. and foreign country law enforcement agencies. illegal firearms. merchandise. contraband. and. most important. hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine were seized by officers of the Service. The Immigration Service must be complimented for diligent efforts in enforcing the law. Though the Service is understaffed and sufficient funds have not been appropriated. the Immigration and Naturalization Service. even under these circumstances. continues to effectively monitor. administer and enforce the immigration laws. Extensive hearings and investigations were conducted by the Subcommittee on Immigration. Citizenship. and International Law regarding illegal aliens. The data collected led us to the conclusion that even with the inadequate manpower and available facilities of the Service. it is doing a remarkable job. Nevertheless. it becomes obvious when reviewing the facts as highlighted by this report. that additional personnel and appropriations are badly needed. The enactment of H.R. 982. a bill which provides a penalty on employers who knowingly employ illegal aliens. will assist enormously in preventing the surreptitious entry of many aliens into the United States and will assist the Immigration and Naturalization Service in combating the vexing illegal alien problem. This bill is designed to remove the incentives for aliens to illegally enter the United States in search of employment and for employers to exploit this source of labor. I would like to compliment the Immigration and Naturalization Service for this thorough report. I would also like to welcome Gen. Leonard Chapman as Commissioner of the Immigration Service. I am very impressed with the way that General Chapman has assumed his new duties and I look forward to working with him and with the Service in a new era of cooperation and dedication.