Speech #1010088010

This is not the Constitution according to James Madison. but rather Lewis Carroll. Only the Mad Hatter could have dreamed up such a policy. The passage of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 removes any justification for counting illegal aliens for congressional apportionment. Congress made a determination as to who would be eligible for legalization under the act. The deadline for applying for this legalization has passed. The issue should be considered settled. A person who has not applied for legalization should not be counted for apportionment. The opponents of this motion prefer to use the euphemism. "undocumented alien." By doing so. they show that they miss the entire point of the controversy. These people have not lost their identification papers. they are in the country illegally. If the census includes illegal aliens. representation in Congress and the electoral vote for President will be determined by people who are not legal residents. who can never become legal residents. who are violating the law just by being here. and who would be deported if the government could catch up with them. Regardless of questions of cost and difficulties. the fabric of social contract that binds the government to the people is torn when the makeup of the government is determined by people who came to the country in direct violation of the law. Mr.