Speech #990165785

In California. I watched thousands of illegals sneak through the underbrush at night. As it now stands. anyone with a strong desire can enter the United States virtually without hindrancethe sheer numbers overwhelm our dedicated and hardworking Border Patrol. We dont need a Berlin Wall. but we must use the latest in sensor technology and increase manpower to establish a relatively secure border. Finally. we must reduce the "pull" factorthe magnet of job opportunitythe promise that draws illegals across our border. The best way to reduce that pull pressure is to impose stiff employer sanctions against firms knowingly employing illegal aliens. I have an amendment I plan to offer to the immigration bill that would implement the goals I have outlined. My amendment. which was included in Senator SIMPSONS immigration bill. would require our Nation to take appropriate steps to secure our border before an amnesty program would be implemented. The amendment would establish a Presidential Commission which would study the Justice Departments Alien Interdiction Program. focus on the trade in fraudulent documents that permit illegals to show residency in the United States. and investigate the flourishing alien smuggling networks. Amnesty for Illegals already residing here would be delayed until the Commission ruled that our borders were substantially secure. This concept of triggered amnestya proposal I have sponsored for the last 5 yearswould insure that an even greater explosion of illegals would not attempt to enter the United States to seek relief under amnesty in addition to the several million illegals a year who are surging across our borders. It is a gross injustice to let illegal aliens crash our borders while legitimate wouldbe immigrants. who play by the rules. must wait for years to enter this country and receive legal status. If necessary. let us expand legal immigration to relieve some of the pressures on our border and border security. But we must control illegal Immigration. Mr. Speaking.