Speech #1010080249

President. State governments do not have a Coast Guard. Local governments do not have a border patrol. Nor do they have a role in determining who should or should not enter this country. The fact is that States and local governments do not have a formal role in forming Federal immigration policy. Yet they are forced to deal with the very human consequences of the failure of these policies. Mr. President. immigration control is a Federal responsibility. Consequently. it is my belief that any costs associated with a failure to control U.S. borders should be borne by the Federal Government. However. a handful of State. and local governments in this country have historically been forced to shoulder these responsibilities with minimal assistance from the Federal Government. This amendment addresses one aspect of the Federal Governments responsibility in this areaits ability to assist States and local governments in an immigration emergency. It would appropriate $35 million to the Immigration Emergency Fund authorized at that level in section 113 of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 [IRCA]. I ask unanimous consent that the text of section 113 be printed in the RECORD at this point.