Mr. Speaker. I have today introduced legislation which would make it a criminal penalty for an employer to knowingly employ or hire an illegal alien. All of us are aware of the tremendously high unemployment rate in the United States today. Millions of Americans are desperately seeking employment but are unable to find it. In my own State of Ohio. the unemployment rate for January was 8 percent. At the same time. hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens who have already entered our labor market continue to deprive Americans and legal residents of needed job opportunities. The impact of these illegal aliens upon our Nation and the economy is severe. particularly in this recessionary period. A Department of Labor witness In 1974 testified that illegal aliens. indeed. take jobs that would normally be filled by American workers. They depress wages and impair working conditions and compete with unskilled and less educated Americansthe disadvantaged to whom our manpower programs are directed. Illegal aliens also adversely affect the economy by failing to pay taxes. claiming nonexistent dependents for tax purposes. and by sending vast sums of money to their families abroad. Since the illegal aliens are usually unskilled or low skilled workers. they compete most directly with members of minority groups who have been traditionally denied opportunities to improve their skills and always make up the largest portion of unemployed persons. In many instances. these are aliens lawfully admitted to the United States. Immigration is basically good for the United States. Immigrants have built this Nation and will continue to benefit our country by offering their skills and talents. But immigration must be orderly. Aliens coming to the United States. whether as immigrants or nonimmigrants. must come within the provisions of the law. Our Government cannot condone fraud in connection with its immigration laws. Nor can we look the other way when aliens admitted as nonimmigrants violate their status by taking unauthorized employment. which means one more job opportunity is lost for a citizen or legal alien. More particularly. firm action must be taken against those unscrupulous employers who cruelly and selfishly exploit this source of cheap labor for their economic advantage. The adverse impact of millions of illegal aliens on the labor market. public service programs. and our balance of payments deficit is overwhelming and a comprehensive legislative solution is urgently needed.
Identified stereotypes
Illegal aliens are usually unskilled or low skilled workers.