Speech #1030069254

Mr. President. just 2 days ago. President Clinton announced his immigration plan. In my opinion. that plan represents a significant step forward in our efforts to curb illegal immigration. The Clinton plan includes adding 600 agents to the Border Patrol. This is good. but more needs to be done. I realize it will not be easy. because it is very expensive to add Border Patrol agents to the border. Therefore. I believe it is very important to find costeffective methods to increase the Border Patrol. Mr. President. about 3 million people illegally cross the United StatesMexico border each year. and of those. 200.000 to 300.000 become permanent inhabitants. California absorbs about 100.000 each and every year. about onehalf of all the illegal immigrants in our Nation. It is a burden. According to the California Department of Finance. there are an estimated 1.3 million undocumented immigrants living in California. The State auditor general estimates that undocumented immigrants cost State and local governments about $3 billion per year in medical care. education. and other costs. Los Angeles County estimates that it spent $308 million on public services and $368 million to teach the children of the estimated 700.000 illegal residents. San Diego County says it spent $206 million for its 200.000 illegal residents. I want to be very clear. I support legal immigration and family reunification. I have fought for asylum for those from the former Soviet Union. Central America. the Caribbean.