Speech #1020218312

Today. I am introducing the Criminal Aliens Impact and Removal Act. a tough. comprehensive. and responsible action plan to reinvigorate our border policy and to finally crack down on the criminal alien crisis that is draining the fiscal resources of our States and communities. The current Federal system with respect to criminal aliens consists of two cumbersome procedures: Identification and deportation. My bill will streamline both in two ways. First. my bill directs the Attorney General to devote his resources to reducing the current backlog in deportation cases in the Department of Justice. Second. it encourages greater cooperation with State and local officials in the identification process. By reforming both operations. once a criminal alien finishes his jail or prison sentence. his first step of freedom will be into a vehicle that will take him to his home country. But why stop there? If we can deport them sooner. if we can reach an agreement with foreign governments to incarcerate their nationals for the full duration of their sentences. then lets do it. We presently have an Alien Transfer Treaty with the Government of Mexicoa treaty that is sparingly used in part because of the cumbersome identification and deportation procedures. My bill calls on the American and Mexican Governments. with the cooperation of affected State and local governments. to pursue strategies to increase the use and effectiveness of this treaty. My bill also calls on the United States to negotiate similar treaties with other countries. In short. if criminal aliens can be transferred with the guarantee they will serve their full sentence in their home country. then lets get them out of our country. Why should we continue to shoulder the high costs of incarceration? Deportation is not enough. The ease of aliens crossing our borders is proof of that. Lets kick them out. and keep them out. That means we need a tough and responsible border enforcement policy. First and foremost. we need adequate levels of personnel along our border. Fortunately. we have an administration that understands this need. Earlier this year. Governor Wilson and I urged the President to make a strong commitment to border enforcement. He responded by funding an additional 300 Border Patrol agents for the southwest border. Much more support is needed. My bill calls for an additional 1.500 Border Patrol agents by October 1. 1994. which will bring our total Border Patrol force level to 6.600. Most important. my bill requires that the force level at Americas busiest border crossingthe San Diego sectorbe at 1.600 by October 1. 1994. an increase of nearly 600 over its current force level. A commitment of manpower is not enough. We need to match that commitment with a dedication of resources toward vehicles and technological support. In sparse open regions. vehicles are essential to patrol our borders. The southwest border also needs lowlightlevel television camera systems. which are useful to monitor alien and smuggler traffic in both remote and densely populated areas. According to one Border Patrol official. several cameras and 3 agents could monitor the same area normally patrolled by 25 agents. Just as important. vehicles and camera systems enable the Border Patrol to quickly and efficiently mobilize personnel. My bill would authorize funding to enable this kind of equipment and technical support to be put in place. Indeed. this kind of enforcement. this kind of commitment. this show of force and responsibility. will make a real difference to prevent the entry and reentry of criminal aliens into our country. However. we need the help of our neighbors north and south. My legislation calls on the Department of Justice to coordinate border enforcement strategies with the law enforcement agencies of Canada and Mexico. The flow of criminal aliens back and forth. north and south is an international problem and thus requires an international response. Speaking of responses. my legislation sends a strong response to those who have reaped the advantages of criminal aliens. American drug traffickers. alien smugglers. and those who manufacture false documentation for illegal aliens for too long have profited from our criminal alien crisis. My bill will put the profits of their criminal activity to good use. My bill expands our asset forfeiture law to enable the Federal Government to seize property used or gained in alien smuggling or document falsification.