Speech #940094993

Chairman. I represent one of the richest agricultural regions in this country. We have a problem with the illegal aliens. The cost of the illegal aliens has been outlined by the gentleman from New York most succinctly and I will not add to that. but I wonder whether the committee ever really took into account the overall cost to the American taxpayer of the whole illegal alien problem aside from the fact that they are taking much needed jobs away from Americans. Let me give an example of what happened to me recently. I got a call from one of my constituents. a complaint about the presence of illegal aliens in an orchard in my district. The authorities went out there and they told me they were going to go out but that it was really an exercise in futility because they are outlaws and they have become so well organized and they have such a sophisticated business they are undermining our immigration laws and those who harbor the illegal aliens have found all the tricks in the trade as to how to undermine the system. I asked the authorities if something can be done. I was told that in 8 counties in central California. which after all cover a very large territory by any standards. the Immigration and Naturalization Service has a total of 12 enforcement officers to cover that area. If we think we can do a job or the Immigration Service can do a job with 12 officers there. then I think all we are doing here Is paying lipservice to the law. We have a problem of tremendous cost to the American taxpayers and I do not think we can handle it in the fashion the committee. with all due respect to it. is attempting to handle it. I urge the Members to vote in favor of the amendment.