Speech #1030021542

I will." I will say that the Los Angeles International Airport acquired more detention space. and once they did that. it relieved that problem immeasurably because the aliens knew they would have to wait. and they would not be able to simply go out into the community. I think that is something that must also be addressed here. By enabling the Immigration Service to immediately remove these illegal aliens. we will deter those abroad who seek a free pass into the United States from inundating our airports. and we will spare U.S. communities the burden and potential risks of persons on whom we have no background information whatsoever. no health records. no criminal checks. no nothinga truly weird way to run the countrys immigration system. The bill would still protect those aliens who have legitimate claims to refugee status but who attempt to enter the country without proper documentswe do understand due process in this magnificent country. the problem is so many know how to misuse our due process. The legislation would prevent the Immigration Service from immediately removing any alien who has a credible fear of persecution in the country to which he or she would be returned. This determination of a credible fear of persecution would be made by a specially trained asylum officer at the port of entry. If an alien had such a fear. he or she would be paroled in the United States. and a hearing on the merits of the asylum on his or her asylum claim would be held. Similar legislation was passed by the Senate in 1982 and 1984 and passed by the House in 1984 as part of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. As the occupant of the chair knows. there has been a lot of thoughtful work by many Republicans and Democrats for many years on these issues. I consider some of my finest allies in this cause to be some of the Democratic Party in the U.S.