Speech #1010043823

I intend to vote against the amendment offered by the Senator from Nebraska. In theory. his amendment makes sense. We should do everything we can to discourage illegal entry of undocumented aliens into the United States. It is absolutely vital that we maintain control of our borders and that immigration be managed in a lawful. orderly manner. The Senator from Nebraska argues that the Federal Government should ensure that limited Federal funds go to their intended beneficiaries. We should not. he says. reward those who violate our immigration laws by providing them direct Federal financial benefits. In theory. Mr. President. he is right. However. the reality is that the Federal Government has not done the job of managing our borders. Tens of thousands of undocumented aliens enter the United States every year and settle in a handful of States and communities. The failure of the Federal Government to enforce a rational immigration policy has cost communities in Florida. Texas. California. and elsewhere millions of dollars in emergency care. shelter. police services. education. and a host of other services.