Mr. President. the amendment that is at the desk is an effort to strengthen the enforcement provisions in the immigration bill and at the same time allow the States and Federal taxpayers a portion of their hardearned tax dollars to be put back in their own pockets. The immigration bill we are considering today establishes the sense of Congress regarding two essential elements necessary to regain control of illegal immigration. One of these elements is. "an Increase in * * * enforcement activities of the Immigration and Naturalizations Service and of other appropriate Federal agencies in order to prevent and deter the illegal entry of aliens into the United States and the violation of the terms of their entry." The principle that underlies my amendment is simple: a person who has broken U.S. immigration laws and entered this country illegally should not have access to U.S. Government benefits that are paid for by U.S. taxpayers. People want to come to the United States for many reasons. We have a waiting list. Some are fleeing persecution. and those we accept without reservation. and the Indochinese boat people are a good example. and the Mariel refugees. Others are looking to improve their lives for themselves. for their children. and for their grandchildren. The basis for our laws on legal immigration is family reunification. Only a small percentage of the aliens who want to live in the United States legally can do so without a family member being here before them. The first. second. fourth. and fifth preference categories are reserved for people related to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Keywords matched
Immigration family reunification immigration Naturalizations refugees illegal immigration