Speech #960102130

Mr. Speaker. I am today introducing the Illegal Alien Act of 1979. with several dozen cosponsors from both sides of the aisle. I am privileged to represent a district that has some 200 miles of United StatesMexican border. However. from Mexico. there is an invasion of our country occurring. The invasion is peaceful. but it is nonetheless an invasion. Last year. in the San Diego sector alone. some 350.000 illegal aliens were apprehended. It is estimated that for each one of these that were apprehended. at least four came into our country undetected. Incredible as it is to comprehend. that means that perhaps more than 1 million people per year enter illegally. at this one border point alone. There is no penalty for hiring an illegal alien. and the only penalty to the illegal alien for being here is to be hauled back across the border. only to try again the next day or the next. and eventually to make it undetected. The administration. and this Congress. has turned their backs on this problem for many years. We want. and we need. the best possible relations with our neighbor to the south. The uncontrolled flow of illegal aliens is not the route to good relations. I believe when the people of Mexico examine our proposal. they will support it with enthusiasm because we believe it to be good for both countries. In todays Extension of Remarks section have detailed explanations of the bill.