Speech #960178634

Members of this body. myself included are attempting to respond to situation such as limitations on foreign conven. tions and duty on Mexican freight can that stand as irritants to our friendship For decades this Nation has tacitl3 - accepted millions of Mexican worker. who cross our borders illegally in searcel of employment and opportunity noi readily available in Mexico. Mexicos already high unemployment rate would reach unbearable levels if they were not * able to export a substantial amount ol their unemployment to the United States. No other nation in the world would tolerate millions of uninvited illegal aliens competing with its own citizens for jobs. Consider. Mr. President. the impact of the Mexican economy if we were to institute and enforce penalties on employers who hire illegal aliens. President Lopez Portillo was the first head of state invited to visit President Carter in Washingtonan indication of the importance this administration attaches to United StatesMexican relations. I accompanied President Carter on his return visit to Mexico in February of this year.