Speech #960171916

Mr. President. a great deal of controversy has been raging around the issue of illegal aliens for several years. Conflicting views on the number of illegal aliens and their impact on the United States have made this debate often less than enlightening. However. there is gradually emerging out of this swirl of opinions and conflicting statements a strong indication that the presence of large numbers of illegal aliens in this country is imposing a heavy cost upon our economy and society. Secretary of Labor Ray Marshall stated in an interview appearing in the December 2. 1979. Los Angeles Times that the unemployment rate in the United States could be reduced to less than 4 percent if illegal aliens were not present in the United States since our unemployment rate is now 6 percent. this would mean 2 million or more citizens or legal residents could be gainfully employed. The significance of this will be even greater in 1980 during which many economists are predicting an unemployment rate as high as 8 percent. Secretary Marshalls assessment is clearly supported by the Interagency Task Force on Immigration Policy which issued its staff report in March 1979. This report found that: If immigration occurs near the bottom of the business cycle. when many U.S. workers are unemployed. it is unlikely to produce any significant benefits and it clearly will exacerbate unemployment or lower relative wages of lowskilled workers or both. The significance of this loss of employment to illegal aliens can be translated to direct costs to American taxpayers. The Director of the Congressional Budget Office. Alice M.