Speech #990165785

Speaker. the current state of our sievelike border is an open invitation to the millions of people seeking a better life. To use the words of Senator ALAN SIMPSON of Wyoming. one of "1 -MAR fR722 (Pt. Congress foremost experts on immigration. our borders are "out of control." In January. I toured Border Patrol installations along the Southwest border with other members of the Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control. During visits to border facilities in El Paso. Nogales. and San Diego. Federal officials charged with border security told us time after time that 2 million or more illegals now are surging across our border yearly to join the estimated 6 to 12 million illegal aliens who are here already. Only last week. Immigration and Natural. ization Service Commissioner Alan Nelson said the United States is "seeing the greatest surge of people in history across our border." Mr. Speaker. the President must realize the fact we must take action now or it will be too late. President Reagan indicated last week that he supports efforts to push an immigration bill through Congress this session. I hope that he will put the full power of his office behind such an effort. There are several things we can do now: First. reduce the "push" factorswe can help Latin America reduce the poverty and the rampant population growth rate that is dooming the citizens of Central America and Mexico to the economic chaos and desperate privation that Is forcing them north in search of a better life.