Speech #1020207143

President. I rise today to cosponsor the Port of Entry Inspections Improvement Act of 1992. which Senator SIMPSON is introducing. This legislation seeks to address the problem of undocumented and falsely documented aliens who apply for asylum and other immigration benefits upon their arrival in U.S. international airports. Under the provisions of this bill. any alien who uses a fraudulent document for entry. or to board a plane or other common carrier for the purpose of coming to the United States. would be subject to an order of exclusion by an immigration officer. Such an order would not be subject to direct judicial review. although limited review by writ of habeas corpus would continue to be available. The bill provides an exception for an alien who used such a document for attempted entry or boarding and who had a legitimate claim to asylum. An alien who states a desire to apply for asylum will be interviewed by specially trained officers who will determine whether the alien has a credible fear of persecution. Approximately 1.1 million immigrants enter the United States legally each year. 140.000 of these immigrants receive refugee status. Officials estimate that about 1 million more enter the country illegally. This legislation attempts to address primarily the problem of undocumented illegal aliens arriving in airports. During 1991 in airports nationwide. over 37.000 aliens who had either fraudulent or no proper documentation sought illegal entry into the United States. Unfortunately.