Mr. President. I rise to introduce legislation to prohibit the payment of direct Federal benefits to illegal aliens. This legislation will help deter illegal immigration and reduce unintended Federal spending. In 1986. the Congress made good progress in the effort to control illegal immigration into the United States. By making it illegal to hire illegal aliens. the Congress removed one of the magnets for illegal immigration. Another powerful "magnet" still remains. That attraction to illegal immigration is the real or perceived availability of U.S. Government benefits to illegal aliens. This legislation would establish a Governmentwide policy that direct Federal financial benefits not be paid to illegal aliens unless specifically provided by the Immigration and Nationality Act. Over the years. the Congress has crafted ad hoc qualifications in Federal benefit statutes. At times. due to congressional inaccuracy or expansive court interpretations. these statutes have been used to provide Federal financial benefits to illegal aliens. This situation has led to the payment of unemployment benefits. Social Security benefits. health care benefits and housing benefits to individuals who have no legal right to even be in the United States.
Keywords matched
Immigration illegal immigration illegal aliens