Speech #1010173353

Employers are also forced to determine eligibility from the 17 different approved verification documents. Businesses should not be asked to scrutinize these documents which are easily counterfeited. As I have asserted from the beginning. businesses are not equipped to act as the enforcer of immigration law. Mr. President. I believe the onus of reducing illegal immigration should be placed squarely back upon the shoulders of law enforcement where it belongs. not upon the business community. I have repeatedly supported and introduced measures to strengthen our border enforcement efforts. The Border Patrol is the logical instrument of our immigration law enforcement efforts. but it cannot be effective if it is understaffed and illequipped. By doubling tle number of Border Patrol agents. we can make some positive steps toward controlling the flow of aliens into this country. This bill gives the Border Patrol the resources it so badly needs to make an earnest effort to reduce illegal immigration. I also believe we can take a positive step in reducing illegal immigration by going forward with a free trade agreement with Mexico. An improvement in the economic situation in Mexico will reduce the incentive for illegal emigration to America. I recently traveled to Mexico and met with President Salinas regarding Mexicos trade with the United States. I am hopeful that our two countries can proceed toward an agreement that will enable both countries to prosper. By assisting Mexico in its desire to improve its economy. we can reduce the incentive many aliens have to emigrate to our country. Employer sanctions are not a viable solution to our immigration problems. Illegal Immigrants continue to pour across the border while our businesses are burdened with enforcing a useless law. Employer sanctions have only served to increase jobrelated discrimination. We cannot sit by and attempt to make justifications for such an unfair law while people are discriminated against simply because they appear to be of foreign extraction. Employer sanctions are not working to stem the tide of Immigration the way its proponents hoped they would. Lets correct this mistake and start enforcing the immigration laws where they should be enforcedat the border. By Mr. BUMPERS: