Speech #960099807

Of all the counties in the four States located in the southwest border region. only one reaches the national average in per capita personal income. In one county. average personal income is only 36 percent of the national average. And nearly all must contend with a flow of legal immigration that strains their economic position even further. Mr. President. most of the these immigrants are "poverty refugees." and add little to the tax base of already distressed border communities. In Texas border counties. 82 percent participate in the free lunch program. Those of school age come with the hope of and the legal right to the quality education that will be their passport to success. and a better. more productive future in their new country. But this influx of legal immigration from Mexico places real and substantial hardships on communities least able to afford the expense of educating additional children. Because of their proximity to the border and because of Federal immigration policy. a disproportionate share of the cost of constructing school facilities falls on these communities that plainly and simply lack the resources to respond adequately. This system is inherently unfair to both the legal alien and American children of the region. and both groups suffer accordingly. Overcrowded facilities in school dis. tricts along the border are prevalent.