Speech #970186247

The NAC refuses to accept this imposition. Speaking on this issue they said. "The Federal Governmentnot States and localitiesshould bear financial responsibility for the costs of the legalization program. It is the Federal Government which is responsible for national immigration policiesincluding responsibility for controlling our Nations borders against illegal immigration." Their estimate for State and local governments. during the first year of amnesty for illegal aliens in local cash and medical assistance. is $546 million. Again. taking previously mentioned estimates into consideration. this figure could realistically be $2.2 billion. The total accrued cost for Federal and State governments in the first year after granting amnesty might reach $4.2 billion. Amnesty discriminates against those seeking jobs who are coming to this Nation legally. There are currently 1.176.983 people waiting patiently to enter the United States as legal immigrants. Discriminatory amnesty would undermine the sense of justice upon which America is built. Such sweeping amnesty for illegal aliens also endorses lawbreaking. Speaking on granting amnesty to illegal aliens. Richard Schweiker. when Senator. said. "It put the Government squarely behind the lawbreakers. and in effect says. Congratulations. you have successfully violated our laws and avoided detectionhere is your reward." Efforts to prohibit sweeping amnesty for illegals do not originate from malevolence for newcomers. but rather because the United States can only assimilate a certain number of immigrants each year. if we are to maintain economic strength and social stability. The United States is the most generous nation in the world in allowing foreign nationals legal entry808.000 in 1980 alone. This figure is more than any previous year in our Nations history. and more than the rest of the world combined. Proponents of amnesty for illegal aliens are critical of what will happen to illegals if amnesty is not granted. Critics argue that mass deportation is not feasible because of the large number of illegals or because such a massive deportation is inhumane. However. several measures can be implemented which will mitigate these criticisms. In regard to the U.S. ability to deport aliens. last year alone the Immigration and Naturalization Service deported over a million people. To say that the United States neither has the capability nor the resources to deport 3 to 6 million lawbreakers is simply wrong. If other enforcement measures are implemented. mass deportations may not be necessary. Since jobs are the primary reason for illegal immigration. sanctions on employers that knowingly hire illegal aliens will cause many of the illegals to leave voluntarily. Jack W. Flynt. national commander of the American Legion. substantiated this argument by saying that "If jobs are unavailable. the illegals will depart on their own and at little cost to the Federal Government." Because there is no current law to prohibit businesses from hiring illegals. Attorney General Smith spoke of its immediate necessity. He said. "Without a law against [hiring] illegal aliens. illegal immigration will not be stopped or even slowed down." By creating a secure identification system through social security cards. draft cards. birth certificates. or even by a new identification system. the United States could ensure a nondiscriminatory method of refusing illegal aliens jobs sought by Americans. Most Americans do not want amnesty to be granted to illegal aliens. According to a November 30. 1980 Gallup poll. a majority of Americans opposed amnesty. One cannot blame the American people for feeling this way when. according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform. "onehalf of all the new jobs created in the late 1970s went to legal and illegal immigrants." With the current unemployment rate spiraling upward. I believe many more Americans are motivated to stop the illegal flow of workers coming into the United States. and are ready to send illegals home who now have jobs wanted by American citizens. I have recently introduced legislation. House Concurrent Resolution 334. which expresses the sense of the Congress that no amnesty be granted to illegal aliens. I urge my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring this measure to help provide Americans with more jobs and less taxes. and to maintain a sense of justice at home and abroad.*