Speech #990275230

Chairman. I suggest that given the hemorrhaging that is occurring on our southern border. one could question our Nations sovereignty. And the tidal wave of immigrants flowing across our bordersan estimated 2 million this year on top of the 6 to 12 million who are here alreadywill continue to grow as long as a vast income gap remains between our Nation and those of Latin America. Consider that Latin America must create 4 million new jobs in each remaining year of this century just to maintain the regions current low rate of employment and underemployment. It is unlikely that this will occurgiven that the U.S. economy. which is 52 times larger than Latin Americas. has never created more than 3.2 million jobs in any one yeareven during the halcyon years of the 1970s. For these reasons I rise in support of the Moorhead amendment to increase the resources for the Border Patrol by 50 percent through fiscal year 1989. I urge my colleagues to support this effort. An increase in funding for the Border Patrol is a first step toward regaining control over our borders. but much more needs to be done. I regret that the House will not have the opportunity to consider the triggered amnesty provision that I proposed along with my colleagues from New Jersey and Florida . This provision would have required a Presidential Commission to determine that our borders were reasonably secured before amnesty for illegal aliens already residing here became effective. Such a provision would help to avoid an explosion of new illegals crossing our borders with the hope of gaining legal status under amnesty. As written. I am afraid that amnesty will act as a stimulus to an avalanche of further illegal immigration into the United States. The triggered amnesty provision is included in the bill approved by the Senate. Unfortunately. it was amended on the Senate floor to provide that amnesty cannot be delayed for more than 3 years. Another problem with this legislation is the agricultural guest worker provision. Regretfully. U.S. immigration policy in the past has been driven by agricultural interests and the bill