Speech #1030056043

Chairman. I would say with respect to the previous speaker that I am deeply concerned over his reaction and his assessment of opinions expressed. This is one reason I think that we have to exercise far greater control over illegal immigration and people overstaying in this country. Fifty percent of our legal immigration represents families of citizens and the families. immediate relatives of those admitted for permanent residence. And I am afraid. and I think the gentleman should think about this. that if we allow hundreds of thousands to violate our laws. to come in with impunity. that the American public will soon evidence a reaction that will actually do harm to those I think the gentleman is concerned about. the legal immigrants that we want in this country. largely for family reunification. Mr. Chairman. I just want to point out that our Committee on the Judiciary is working right now on the response to what are the contributing factors to the growing numbers of undocumented aliens. One of these is the abuse of the asylum privilege. a law that we put into effect in a relatively recent time when only 2.000 or 3.000 applications were contemplated a year. Now we have a backlog of 260.000 pending applications that can only be described as a total breakdown in our system where we have fewer officers to adjudicate these claims than do countries like Canada and Sweden.