Speech #990275356

Mr. Chairman. I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing the McCollum amendment which would strip immigration reform of one of its integral elements. Without the legalization provision. the effort to get control of our borders will certainly fail. Aside from the humanitarian considerations in support of legalization. the failure to regularize the status of millions of undocumented aliens within our borders will create an enforcement nightmare. Not only will the immigration authorities have to deal with new flows of illegal aliens at our borders. but they will have to deal with millions of undocumenteds inside the United States. With limited resources available to enforce our immigration laws. the amendment would make effective immigration enforcement prohibitive. if not impossible. Far from promoting further illegal immigration. legalization will enhance our capability to stem new flows of illegal immigration. Furthermore the legalization provision sets up stringent standards which all applicants must meet. It will require long residing applicants to show compliance with most of the 33 grounds of exclusion in current law applicable to all persons seeking to come to the United States. And. when legalized. a person will not be eligible for Federal financial assistance. Medicaid. or food stamps for 5 years. I urge my colleagues to vote against the McCollum amendment if they are serious about strengthening the enforcement of our immigration laws.